Beach & Activities

1. فين البحر؟

   Fēn il-baḥr?

   Where is the beach?

   Usage

   "Il-baḥr" means "the sea"; in Egypt "going to the sea" is how people talk about going to the beach.

   Grammar Note

   Just put the question word first; no verb is needed.

2. الشمس قوية أوي النهارده

   Ish-shams ʾawiyya awi in-nahārda

   The sun is very strong today

   Usage

   A handy opener before asking for sunscreen or shade.

   Grammar Note

   "Ish-shams" is feminine, so the adjective takes the feminine form (qawiyya); "awi" means "very".

3. المية حلوة أوي، ينفع نعوم

   Il-mayya ḥilwa awi, yinfaʿ niʿūm

   The water is lovely, we can swim

   Usage

   Literally "the water is very sweet; it is fine to swim". "Ḥilw" also means "nice" in general.

   Grammar Note

   "Yinfaʿ" + verb means "it is OK to / one can". "Niʿūm" is the subjunctive "we swim". A composed sentence with regular grammar.

4. حاسب من التيارات!

   Ḥāsib min it-tayyārāt!

   Watch out for the currents!

   Usage

   A warning shout. To a woman say "ḥāsibi".

   Grammar Note

   "Ḥāsib" is an imperative that changes with the listener (m. ḥāsib / f. ḥāsibi / pl. ḥāsibu). A composed sentence with regular grammar.

5. الغروب هنا حلو أوي

   Il-ghurūb hina ḥilw awi

   The sunset here is beautiful

   Usage

   A common remark at sunset time.

   Grammar Note

   A noun followed by an adjective; "ḥilw" is masculine to match "il-ghurūb".

6. فين أقرب مطعم على البحر؟

   Fēn aʾrab maṭʿam ʿala l-baḥr?

   Where is the nearest restaurant on the beach?

   Usage

   "ʿAla l-baḥr" means "on the sea front".

   Grammar Note

   "Aʾrab" is the comparative/superlative of "ʾarīb" (near).

7. فين اقدر اعمل غطس؟

   Fēn aʾdar aʿmil ghaṭs?

   Where can I go diving?

   Usage

   Handy at Red Sea resorts, for asking a dive shop where you can dive. The same for men and women.

   Grammar Note

   "Aʾdar" + subjunctive means "I can ...". "Aʿmil ghaṭs" is literally "do diving". A composed sentence with regular grammar.

8. يلا بينا عالبحر!

   Yalla bīna ʿal-baḥr!

   Let's go to the beach!

   Usage

   A casual way to invite your companions.

   Grammar Note

   "Yalla bīna" is "let's go"; "ʿal-baḥr" is a contraction of ʿala + il-baḥr.

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