Levantin

Levantin is a term that may refer to something of or from the Levant, the eastern Mediterranean coastal region. In English, the more common form is Levantine; Levantin is a much less frequent variant that appears mainly in historical texts or in non-English spellings. As a demonym, a Levantin can denote a person from the Levant, but the standard English demonym is Levantine.

In linguistic and cultural usage, Levantine Arabic is the widely recognized term for the group of dialects spoken in the Levant. The word Levantin is not commonly used to name the language in contemporary English, though it may appear in older sources or in translations.

Geography and history: The Levantine region covers the eastern Mediterranean coast, including present-day Syria, Lebanon, Israel/Palestine, and Jordan, with sometimes southern Turkey and Cyprus included in broader definitions. The Levant has a long history of cross-cultural exchange among Arab, Mediterranean, Ottoman, Armenian, Jewish, and European communities, especially in port cities such as Beirut, Damascus, and Jerusalem. This cosmopolitan heritage has influenced Levantine cuisine, music, and commerce.