Compliments

1. انت لطيف أوي

   Inta laṭīf awi

   You are very kind

   Usage

   To a woman say انتي لطيفة أوي.

   Grammar Note

   The adjective agrees in gender and number.

2. الأكل كان ممتاز

   Il-akl kān mumtāz

   The food was excellent

   Usage

   Say it to the host or restaurant after a meal.

   Grammar Note

   The past "to be" is كان.

3. المدينة دي حلوة أوي

   Il-madīna di ḥilwa awi

   This city is very beautiful

   Usage

   A good conversation opener with locals.

   Grammar Note

   Both the demonstrative and the adjective agree with the feminine noun (دي, حلوة).

4. بتتكلم عربي كويس أوي

   Bi-titkallim ʿarabi kuwayyis awi

   You speak Arabic very well

   Usage

   Praise for a learner. To a woman say بتتكلمي (bi-titkallimi).

   Grammar Note

   عربية also means "car", so the language is said as عربي.

5. شاطر أوي!

   Shāṭir awi!

   Wonderful! Well done!

   Usage

   To a woman say شاطرة أوي.

   Grammar Note

   The adjective alone works as an exclamation.

6. انت ذكي أوي

   Inta zaki awi

   You are very smart

   Usage

   To a woman say انتي ذكية أوي.

   Grammar Note

   In this loan ذ is pronounced z.

7. ما شاء الله

   Mā shāʾ Allāh

   What God has willed! (How wonderful!)

   Usage

   A set phrase said when praising. It also wards off the evil eye when praising people, babies or belongings.

   Grammar Note

   A fixed phrase that keeps its MSA form.

8. الضيافة كانت حلوة أوي

   Id-diyāfa kānit ḥilwa awi

   The hospitality was wonderful

   Usage

   Adds to thanks after being invited. Literally "the hospitality was very nice".

   Grammar Note

   The subject is feminine, so كان becomes كانت.

9. ده كويس أوي

   Da kuwayyis awi

   This is very good

   Usage

   Works for food or goods; for a feminine noun say دي كويسة أوي.

   Grammar Note

   No verb is needed for "this is good".

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