Dating a Jordanian man or woman, what to actually expect

Dating a Jordanian person means the family name matters

In Jordan, a family name tells people a lot: where the family is from, sometimes which tribe, and who they're related to. That carries over to Jordanian families in the US. Don't be surprised if your partner's parents ask your family name and then try to place it.

Jordanian families include East Bank families with tribal roots, many families of Palestinian origin, Circassians and Chechens, and Christian families from Fuheis, Madaba, Salt and Amman. Ask your partner about their background. It shapes a lot of what follows.

Coffee comes first

Jordanian hospitality is famous for a reason. You'll be offered coffee as soon as you sit down, often the bitter Arabic coffee poured into small cups. Holding your cup out means you want more. A small shake of the cup tells the host you're done.

Bring something for the house: sweets, a box of chocolates or flowers.

Mansaf is not just a meal

Mansaf is lamb cooked in jameed, a dried yogurt sauce, served over rice on a big shared tray. At weddings and big family events it's the main event. Traditionally it's eaten with the right hand, standing. Plenty of families now use spoons at a table. Watch what everyone else does.

If someone asks whether you like mansaf, say yes.

When things get serious

Many Jordanian families still do a jaha when a couple is ready to get engaged. A delegation of respected men from the groom's side visits the bride's family to ask for her hand, and coffee is only drunk once the answer is yes. Some families keep it short and simple. Others make it a big event.

Talk with your partner about what their family expects, and what yours does, before the families start planning.

Meet someone Jordanian

On HeyArab you can see someone's country of origin, their languages, and how involved their family is before you match. See Jordanian singles in the US, or read meeting Arab parents for the first time.