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  

 
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

 

 
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

 

 
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