Food & Drinks

1. المنيو لو سمحت

   Il-minyu law samaḥt

   The menu, please

   Usage

   The first request at a restaurant table. "المنيو" is borrowed from English "menu". To a woman say "لو سمحتي".

   Grammar Note

   A noun followed by "لو سمحت" makes a polite request. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

2. الحساب لو سمحت

   Il-ḥisāb law samaḥt

   The bill, please

   Usage

   The standard way to ask for the bill after a meal, said while catching the waiter's eye.

   Grammar Note

   الحساب means "calculation" and by extension "the bill". A composed sentence built from regular parts.

3. مية لو سمحت

   Mayya law samaḥt

   Water, please

   Usage

   For asking for water. The same spelling "مية" also means "hundred"; context tells them apart.

   Grammar Note

   Water (mayya) and hundred (miyya) are spelled the same. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

4. ممكن كوباية قهوة لو سمحت؟

   Mumkin kubbāyit ahwa law samaḥt?

   Could I have a cup of coffee, please?

   Usage

   A request for coffee. In Egypt "قهوة" also names the coffee-house. What arrives is often a strong Turkish-style cup.

   Grammar Note

   ممكن followed by a noun asks "could I have …". The form kubbāyit is the construct state.

5. أنا نباتي

   Ana nabāti

   I am vegetarian

   Usage

   Tells people you are vegetarian. A woman says "أنا نباتية" (Ana nabātiyya). It is wise to ask whether meat stock is used.

   Grammar Note

   A verbless sentence; the feminine adds -ة. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

6. عندي حساسية من المكسرات

   ʿAndi ḥassāsiyya min il-mukassarāt

   I have a nut allergy

   Usage

   Tells people about a food allergy. Swap "المكسرات" for another ingredient to say something else.

   Grammar Note

   Possession is expressed with the preposition عند; "to" an allergen is من. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

7. من غير شطة لو سمحت

   Min ghēr shatta law samaḥt

   Without hot sauce, please

   Usage

   Asks for no heat. "شطة" is the chili sauce that street-food stalls add.

   Grammar Note

   من غير + noun means "without". A composed sentence built from regular parts.

8. الأكل ده حلو أوي

   Il-akl da ḥilw awi

   This food is very good

   Usage

   A compliment on the food. To the cook one can also say "تسلم ايدك" (bless your hand).

   Grammar Note

   The demonstrative ده follows the noun; the sentence has no verb. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

9. ترابيزة لاتنين لو سمحت

   Tarabēza litnēn law samaḥt

   A table for two, please

   Usage

   Says the party size on arrival. "لاتنين" is ل ("for") joined to اتنين ("two").

   Grammar Note

   The preposition ل is written attached to the next word. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

10. أنا جعان

    Ana gaʿān

    I am hungry

    Usage

    Says you are hungry. A woman says "أنا جعانة" (Ana gaʿāna).

    Grammar Note

    A verbless sentence; the feminine adds -ة.

11. رز

    Ruzz

    Cooked rice

    Usage

    A staple on the Egyptian table. The colloquial form of MSA أرز.

    Grammar Note

    The colloquial form drops the initial ا of MSA.

12. عيش

    ʿĒsh

    Bread

    Usage

    In Egypt bread is called عيش, which also means "life".

    Grammar Note

    Use عيش rather than MSA خبز.

13. مكرونة

    Makarōna

    Pasta, noodles

    Usage

    Covers macaroni and other pasta in general.

    Grammar Note

    Borrowed from Italian maccheroni.

14. حار

    Ḥārr

    Spicy hot

    Usage

    Describes heat from chili. It is also used for hot weather.

    Grammar Note

    The feminine is حارة.

15. حلو

    Ḥilw

    Sweet

    Usage

    Describes a sweet taste; it can also mean "nice".

    Grammar Note

    The feminine is حلوة.

16. ني

    Nayy

    Raw, uncooked

    Usage

    Not cooked. Useful for checking that meat or fish is not raw.

    Grammar Note

    The feminine is نية.

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