Hello everybody!

There are many phrases in English containing two words joined by and .The order of the words is usually fixed, but have you ever asked yourself why we say them in such order?. For example, all people say " Black and white" Have you ever heard someone said" White and Black" I don't think so

Here there are lots of them, let's see some examples:

Life and death
Trial and error
Peace and quiet
Stocks and shares
Rules and regulations
Supply and demand
Toast and marmalade
Ladies and gentlemen
Pros and cons
Up and down

There are lots of such collocations, who can provide us more of them?

Do you think that there is a reason of using this order or it is just a matter that's how people used to say them in such order? Maybe when you utter these collocations in such order it may sound like native speakers or it is easier to be pronounced.
These words are often synonyms or near synonyms, opposites or near opposites, or things which often go together.
Even in our mother toungue ,Arabic, we face so many examples of these collocations, for instance:
In Arabic we say: "White and black" but in English it is said "Black and white" so each language has its own context

In Arabic, we always say "Zayt & Za'tar and not "Za'tar and Zayt"
I have a funny and real story about this point I'll tell you about it later on

 
عبير,


I really didn't think about it
However , I agree that they are in this order because it will be easier to pronounce

 
عبير,
It is the first time I read a topic like that I'm so glad to read it
I think that they don't have a specific rule but people prnounce them in such order because they hear such expressions from one another
and cucumber
Also we have cheese and marmalade
Thank u Abora for this toic

 
عبير,

It's really too important topic.Many many many thanks to you Miss

 
عبير

 
Thanks alot for this nice topic
I think that it`s some thing which is related to culture and people use this order because they used to hear it . But what is the real cause behind ordering them in such a way ? I think that they put the most important or the positive words first with regard to the pronounciation. For example, "Black and white" Not "White and black". In the English culture , white color is not a good one . It means paleness and sickness while our culture regards it as a very pure color

 

 
you can say just in Syria . According to me I say Za'tar and Zayt

 
فارس,
Welcome Yes, that's a reason among the other ones
Raghad,
Welcome sweety Me too; it is the first time I wrote a topic like that Yes here is another suggestion Yeah, there is also toast and marmalade
Ala' Al-Ibrahim,
You are welcome. Thank you
ِِِِِِA..R..W..A,
You are the most welcome
Good piont
So we have these suggested reasons till now
* It is easier to be pronounced
* People used to hear it in such order
* According to their importance in addition to pronunciation
* Cultural differences So where do you come from? Just to know the cultural differences

Now it's the story time

Once my cousin, who's Arabic is very poor, was having supper with us then my young sister said: "Oh I'd like to eat "Zayt & Za'tar" pass it to me ,please " Suddenly my cousin said seriously "oh no nooo it is "Za'tar and Zayt" We all could not help laughing Because of the funny way that he said the statement Then he said "Why are you laughing? We told him because it is always said "Zayt & Za'tar" and not "Za'tar and Zayt". He replied:" My father tought me to say it in such way .. he always say "Za'tar and Zayt"
P.S. My cousin do not know Arabic except some words and we were takling in English all the time.

So we can conclude two points from this simple story
The first is cultural one as we always say "Zayt & Za'tar" we find it strange when we hear it in a different order
The second point is that my cuosin is a nutral person (know nothing about Arab -Syrian- culture) I mean he heard that from the first time in a different order but it seemd to him the correct one and it became easier to pronounce for him

By the way, I think we say "Zayt & Za'tar" because Zayt is added first then Za'tar when the sandwich is made no more no less so it is a logical order

I know it is not that big matter if we change the order but it is nice to know about that and pay attention when we say them so try your best to learn these English collocations type in the right order

Now who can add more examples?

 
you have ordered reasons and they seem to be logical . However not only "Za'tar and Zayt"
do I say but also :rice and milk and many collocations that differ in order . I live in Syria but I am Palestinian and all of us say "Za'tar and Zayt simply

 
we hear it , learn , and then pronounce

 

 
Abeer , with out Za'tar can you eat Zayt alone ????

 
So, Za'tar should come first

 
A..R..W..A,
First of all I'm glad to know that you're Palestinian .I haven't known before No but also without Zayt you cannot eat Za'tar

So let's say:
In Syrian it is "Zayt & Za'tar"
In Palestinianit is "Za'tar & Zayt "

(Cultural differences)

I think it is better if the title is changed to be "Za'tar & Zayt " OR " Zayt & Za'tar"
Yes, you're right. I also say so (In Arabic) but it is "rice pudding" in English

It is really nice to talk about such topic and the more examples are provided the more differences we'll discover

 
Why not . A nice idea

I don`t mind to talk more about cultural differences . It`s really interesting because it is not only words , but also an entire live
And we can also speak about Arab cultural differences among them selves and their differences with Western world
I you agree with me we will start a nice project

 
عبير,
It is a very interesting topic... This piece of information is very important...I remember that one of our doctors told us that piece of information...