Basic Words

26 phrases · Egyptian Arabic with romanization, English and audio

  1. ايوه

    Aywa

    Yes

    Usage

    The ordinary way to say yes. Casually also "آه" (Ā). The negative is "لأ".

    Grammar Note

    MSA "نعم" is not used in speech.

  2. لأ

    Laʾʾa

    No

    Usage

    "No". In speech it is usually pronounced Laʾʾa even when written "لا". For a firm no, "لأ خالص".

    Grammar Note

    Pronounced with a glottal stop, shown as ʾʾ in the romanization.

  3. من فضلك

    Min faḍlak

    Please

    Usage

    Added to a request to mean "please". To a man Min faḍlak; to a woman the spelling is identical but it is read Min faḍlik. A more casual alternative is "لو سمحت".

    Grammar Note

    Literally "out of your kindness". The ending -ak (m.) / -ik (f.) is written the same.

  4. شكرا

    Shukran

    Thank you

    Usage

    The basic thanks. Stronger: "شكرا جدا". Reply with "العفو". In Cairo you will also hear the French-derived "ميرسي".

    Grammar Note

    Standard Arabic writes شكرا with a tanwin mark at the end; Egyptian writing leaves it out.

  5. لو سمحت

    Law samaḥt

    Excuse me

    Usage

    The most useful polite tag, both to get someone's attention and to end a request. To a man Law samaḥt; to a woman "لو سمحتي" (Law samaḥti).

    Grammar Note

    Literally "if you allowed". The feminine adds -ي at the end, so the spelling changes.

  6. آسف

    Āsif

    Sorry

    Usage

    A short apology. This is the form for a male speaker; a woman says "آسفة" (Āsfa). Also "أنا آسف".

    Grammar Note

    An adjective, so it agrees with the speaker's gender (آسف m. / آسفة f.).

  7. مفيش مشكلة

    Mafīsh mushkila

    It's OK / No problem

    Usage

    "It's OK, no problem", in reply to an apology or when checking that something is fine.

    Grammar Note

    "مفيش" is the existential negative (there is no ...), the counterpart of MSA "لا يوجد". A composed sentence built from regular parts.

  8. مش فاهم

    Mish fāhim

    I don't understand

    Usage

    The form for a male speaker. A woman says "مش فاهمة" (Mish fahma). The pronoun "أنا" is normally dropped.

    Grammar Note

    "مش + participle" forms the present negative. MSA "لا أفهم" is not used in speech.

  9. فهمت

    Fihimt

    I understand

    Usage

    Said when you have followed an explanation. It is a past form meaning "I have got it", the same for men and women.

    Grammar Note

    First-person past of the verb فهم "to understand"; the ending -t marks "I".

  10. خلصت

    Khallaṣt

    I'm finished / Done

    Usage

    Said when you have finished a meal, a form or a task. Many people simply say "خلاص" (Khalāṣ, "that's it").

    Grammar Note

    First-person past of khallaṣ "to finish"; the ending -t marks "I". A composed sentence built from regular parts.

  11. استنى لو سمحت

    Istanna law samaḥt

    Please wait

    Usage

    The form for a man. To a woman: "استني لو سمحتي" (Istanni law samaḥti).

    Grammar Note

    An imperative softened by "لو سمحت". A composed sentence built from regular parts.

  12. استنى لحظة

    Istanna laḥẓa

    Just a moment

    Usage

    For asking someone to hold on briefly. To a woman: "استني لحظة" (Istanni laḥẓa). Add "لو سمحت" to be more polite.

    Grammar Note

    An imperative plus a noun. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

  13. معنديش حجز

    Maʿandīsh ḥagz

    I don't have a reservation

    Usage

    Tells a hotel or restaurant that you have no booking. The same for men and women.

    Grammar Note

    ma + ʿand + -i + -sh "I do not have"; the negation wraps the word as ma...sh. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

  14. عندي حجز

    ʿAndi ḥagz

    I have a reservation

    Usage

    The first thing to say at a hotel or restaurant desk; follow it with your name.

    Grammar Note

    Possession is expressed with the preposition عند plus a pronoun suffix, not with a verb. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

  15. ساعدني لو سمحت

    Sāʿidni law samaḥt

    Please help me

    Usage

    The form for a man. To a woman: "ساعديني لو سمحتي" (Sāʿidīni law samaḥti).

    Grammar Note

    An imperative with the object suffix -ni "me".

  16. مرة تانية لو سمحت

    Marra tānya law samaḥt

    Once more, please

    Usage

    Used to ask someone to say it again when you did not catch it.

    Grammar Note

    marra is feminine, so the adjective takes the feminine tānya. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

  17. اتكلم براحة لو سمحت

    Itkallim bi-rāḥa law samaḥt

    Please speak slowly

    Usage

    The form for a man. To a woman: "اتكلمي براحة لو سمحتي" (Itkallimi bi-rāḥa law samaḥti). "براحة" means "slowly, calmly".

    Grammar Note

    MSA "ببطء" sounds bookish; speech uses براحة. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

  18. باتكلم شوية

    Batkallim shuwayya

    I speak a little

    Usage

    The same for men and women. To name a language, add it (for example "باتكلم انجليزي شوية").

    Grammar Note

    The first-person present is b- + atkallim contracted to batkallim (distinct from second-person bititkallim). A composed sentence built from regular parts.

  19. بتتكلم انجليزي؟

    Bi-titkallim ingilīzi?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    The form for a man. For a woman add -ي: "بتتكلمي انجليزي؟" (Bi-titkallimi ingilīzi?). More politely: "حضرتك بتتكلم انجليزي؟".

    Grammar Note

    Egyptian has no question particle هل; a statement order with question intonation is used. ب is the present/habitual prefix.

  20. ده

    Da

    This

    Usage

    Used when pointing at something near. For a feminine noun use "دي" (Di), for plurals "دول" (Dōl). It follows the noun ("الاوضة دي").

    Grammar Note

    Demonstratives: da (m.), di (f.), dōl (pl.). MSA هذا is not used.

  21. اللي هناك

    Illi hināk

    That one over there

    Usage

    Used to point at something farther away. Everyday Egyptian has no common separate distal demonstrative, so you say "the one over there".

    Grammar Note

    illi is the relative word "the one that". A composed sentence built from regular parts.

  22. هنا

    Hina

    Here

    Usage

    "Here", usually said while pointing.

    Grammar Note

    A place adverb, identical to the MSA form.

  23. هناك

    Hināk

    There

    Usage

    "There", usually said while pointing.

    Grammar Note

    A place adverb, identical to the MSA form.

  24. أنا

    Ana

    I, me

    Usage

    First-person singular. It is often dropped in sentences because the verb or participle already shows the person.

    Grammar Note

    Same spelling as MSA. The initial glottal stop is not shown in the romanization.

  25. انت

    Inta

    You

    Usage

    "You" to a man. To a woman "انتي" (Inti). For a polite "you" use "حضرتك".

    Grammar Note

    Masculine انت and feminine انتي are spelled differently. There is no T-V split; politeness comes from حضرتك.

  26. سوا

    Sawa

    Together

    Usage

    "Together". It follows the verb, as in "ممكن ناخد صورة سوا؟".

    Grammar Note

    An adverb placed after the verb.

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