What's That Noise You're Making...?

In many Middle Eastern songs, and in practically any Middle Eastern dance performance, you'll hear a distinctive "Lilililililiiiiii!" sound, like this:

That sound you hear is called a zagharoot, (in the plural, zaghareet). It's a sound of delight and joy, so it's not uncommon to hear musicians or dancers zaghareeting during or after a performance.

It's not hard to learn how to zagharoot. And, unlike Western dance performances, in which audiences are often expected to sit quietly and observe, Arabic dancers love to hear a little appreciation from their audience as they're performing! Here's how to show your Middle Eastern dancer just how much you're enjoying his or her dancing:

1. Put your hand in front of your mouth, just above your upper lip, with your palm facing up just a bit. (Your hand should be roughly at a 45-degree angle.)
2. Touch your tongue to your upper gum, just above your teeth.
3. Say, "Li-li-li-li-liiiii," as quickly as you can.

That's all there is to it! Don't worry if you can't zagharoot quickly at first. With a little practice, you'll master it. And in fact, the speed of a zagharoot varies from region to region. In some countries (like Egypt), the zagharoot is fast, but in other countries (like Saudi Arabia and Sudan) it's much slower. Your Middle Eastern dancer will appreciate you, no matter how quickly or slowly you zaghareet!