Adjectives

1. كبير

   Kibīr

   Big

   Usage

   For sizes of clothes or rooms. About a person it can also mean "older".

   Grammar Note

   Feminine كبيرة (kibīra). The opposite is صغير.

2. صغير

   Ṣughayyar

   Small

   Usage

   The basic word for asking for something smaller. About a person it means "young".

   Grammar Note

   Feminine صغيرة (ṣughayyara). The opposite is كبير.

3. تقيل

   Tiʾīl

   Heavy

   Usage

   For the weight of luggage. About a person it can mean "hard to bear", so do not use it for people.

   Grammar Note

   The Egyptian form of MSA ثقيل. ث becomes t and ق becomes the glottal stop ʾ.

4. خفيف

   Khafīf

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight; a different word from "light" meaning bright.

   Grammar Note

   The opposite is تقيل. The feminine is خفيفة.

5. غالي

   Ghāli

   Expensive

   Usage

   High in price; the opening move when haggling.

   Grammar Note

   Feminine غالية. The opposite is رخيص.

6. رخيص

   Rikhīṣ

   Cheap

   Usage

   Low in price; also used when asking for something cheaper.

   Grammar Note

   Feminine رخيصة. The opposite is غالي.

7. سخن

   Sukhn

   Hot (to the touch)

   Usage

   For tea, water or a plate that is hot to the touch. Hot weather is "الجو حر".

   Grammar Note

   The Egyptian counterpart of MSA ساخن. The feminine is سخنة.

8. ساقع

   Sāʾiʿ

   Cold (to the touch)

   Usage

   Said of cold drinks and food. Cold weather is "الجو برد".

   Grammar Note

   Feminine ساقعة. The opposite is سخن.

9. جديد

   Gidīd

   New

   Usage

   Brand new; also used when asking for a replacement.

   Grammar Note

   ج is read as a hard g. The feminine is جديدة.

10. قديم

    Adīm

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    For old things and old buildings; not used for people.

    Grammar Note

    The ق is a glottal stop, not written initially in the romanization. The feminine is قديمة.

11. عجوز

    ʿAgūz

    Old (person)

    Usage

    It describes an elderly person but can sound blunt to someone's face. To show respect call an older man "يا حاج" and an older woman "يا حاجة".

    Grammar Note

    Used for both genders (a feminine عجوزة is also heard).

12. نضيف

    Nadīf

    Clean

    Usage

    For praising cleanliness, or checking whether a room or dish is clean.

    Grammar Note

    The Egyptian form of MSA نظيف, where ظ becomes d. The feminine is نضيفة.

13. مش نضيف

    Mish nadīf

    Dirty

    Usage

    Not clean; the reason you give when asking for a change of room or dishes. It is built as "not clean" rather than as a single word for dirty.

    Grammar Note

    مش negates adjective sentences. The feminine is مش نضيفة. A composed sentence with regular grammar.

14. كويس

    Kuwayyis

    Good

    Usage

    A positive verdict; also used to agree: "fine".

    Grammar Note

    The feminine is كويسة. It also works as an adverb ("well").

15. وحش

    Wiḥish

    Bad

    Usage

    A negative verdict; also said of health and weather.

    Grammar Note

    The feminine is وحشة. The same spelling is also a separate word for "monster" and "to miss".

16. قريب

    Arīb

    Near

    Usage

    Close by; useful for checking whether you can walk. "قريب من هنا" means "near here".

    Grammar Note

    The feminine is قريبة. The ق is a glottal stop.

17. بعيد

    Baʿīd

    Far

    Usage

    Far away; your cue to look for transport.

    Grammar Note

    The feminine is بعيدة. The opposite is قريب.

18. بدري

    Badri

    Early

    Usage

    Early in time; for first departures and opening hours.

    Grammar Note

    The same form works as adverb and adjective. The opposite is متأخر.

19. متأخر

    Mitʾakhkhar

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time; for last departures and closing hours.

    Grammar Note

    A word taken from MSA; the feminine is متأخرة. It is about time, not about slow speed.

20. كتير

    Katīr

    A lot / many

    Usage

    A large amount or number; also used of crowds.

    Grammar Note

    Works as adjective and adverb. The opposite is شوية.

21. شوية

    Shuwayya

    A few / a little

    Usage

    A small amount or number; for asking for less of something.

    Grammar Note

    It can come before a noun or after a verb.

22. الجو حر

    Il-gaww ḥarr

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    Hot weather; for a hot object use "سخن".

    Grammar Note

    Literally "the weather is hot". "الجو حار" is also said. The ج is read as a hard g.

23. الجو برد

    Il-gaww bard

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    Cold weather; for a cold object use "ساقع".

    Grammar Note

    Literally "the weather is cold(ness)". برد is a noun, so no adjective is needed.

24. كيوت

    Kiyūt

    Cute

    Usage

    Used broadly for people, objects and animals. Borrowed from English "cute".

    Grammar Note

    A borrowing from English; it keeps the same form for feminine nouns.

25. جامد

    Gāmid

    Cool / awesome

    Usage

    Praise for how a person or thing looks or turned out. A casual word.

    Grammar Note

    Originally "solid". The feminine is جامدة.

26. طعمه حلو أوي

    Ṭaʿmu ḥilw awi

    It tastes very good

    Usage

    The most common compliment at a meal. For a feminine noun say "طعمها حلو أوي".

    Grammar Note

    Literally "its taste is nice, very". حلو means both "sweet" and "nice".

27. تحفة!

    Tuḥfa!

    Amazing!

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration. Originally a noun meaning "masterpiece".

    Grammar Note

    A noun used on its own as an exclamation.

28. اكتر

    Aktar

    More

    Usage

    Shown when asking for more of something. "شوية اكتر" means "a little more".

    Grammar Note

    A comparative form that does not change for gender or number.

29. شوية بس

    Shuwayya bass

    Just a little

    Usage

    Said when you want only a small amount.

    Grammar Note

    بس means "only". A composed sentence with regular grammar.

30. نص

    Nuṣṣ

    Half

    Usage

    Shown when asking for half the amount; it is also the "half" in clock times.

    Grammar Note

    The colloquial form of MSA نصف.

31. كله

    Kullu

    All of it

    Usage

    Shown to say you want all of it, or that something is the total.

    Grammar Note

    كل plus the suffix -u ("it"). For a feminine noun it is كلها (kullaha).

32. كفاية

    Kifāya

    That is enough

    Usage

    Said to stop someone pouring or serving more.

    Grammar Note

    A noun used on its own; "كفاية كده" is also heard.

33. دلوقتي حالا

    Dilwaʾti ḥālan

    Right now

    Usage

    Said to show something is needed immediately.

    Grammar Note

    دلوقتي ("now") is strengthened by حالا ("at once"). A composed sentence with regular grammar.

34. شخص واحد

    Shakhṣ wāḥid

    One person

    Usage

    Shown when stating a party size for a table or room.

    Grammar Note

    The number follows the noun. A composed sentence with regular grammar.

35. احنا اتنين

    Iḥna itnēn

    There are two of us

    Usage

    Shown when stating a party size for a table or room.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "we, two"; no verb is needed. A composed sentence with regular grammar.

36. احنا تلاتة

    Iḥna talāta

    There are three of us

    Usage

    Shown when stating a party size for a table or room.

    Grammar Note

    A standalone number uses the form تلاتة. A composed sentence with regular grammar.

Browse all TravelPhrases languages