Indulgences

1. كنافة

   Kunāfa

   Kunafa (shredded pastry dessert)

   Usage

   Thin vermicelli-like dough filled with cream or nuts and soaked in syrup; especially popular on Ramadan nights.

   Grammar Note

   A short u follows the k; ā is long.

2. بسبوسة

   Basbūsa

   Basbousa (semolina cake)

   Usage

   Semolina cake soaked in syrup, a staple at celebrations.

   Grammar Note

   The final ة is -a; ū is long.

3. بقلاوة

   Baʾlāwa

   Baklava

   Usage

   Layers of thin pastry with nuts, drenched in syrup.

   Grammar Note

   The ق is a glottal stop in speech: baʾlāwa.

4. قطايف

   Aṭāyif

   Qatayef (stuffed Ramadan pancakes)

   Usage

   Half-moon pancakes stuffed with nuts or cream, a Ramadan staple.

   Grammar Note

   The ق is a glottal stop in speech, so the romanization starts with a vowel (Aṭāyif).

5. أم علي

   Umm ʿAli

   Umm Ali (bread and milk pudding)

   Usage

   Warm baked dessert of pastry, milk and nuts, with the name "Ali's mother"; one of Egypt's best-known sweets.

   Grammar Note

   أم + name means "mother of ...".

6. رز بلبن

   Ruzz bi-laban

   Rice pudding

   Usage

   Rice cooked in milk and sugar, served cold at shops and stalls.

   Grammar Note

   The prefix بـ means "with".

7. بلح الشام

   Balaḥ ish-Shām

   Balah el-Sham (fried sweet fritters)

   Usage

   Small fried dough sticks dipped in syrup; the name refers to their date-like look.

   Grammar Note

   Literally "Syrian dates".

8. لقمة القاضي

   Luʾmit il-ʾāḍi

   Luqmat el-Qadi (syrup-soaked fritters)

   Usage

   Small fried dough balls in syrup, named "the judge's morsel".

   Grammar Note

   لقمة is in the construct state (luʾmit).

9. حلاوة المولد

   Ḥalāwit il-Mawlid

   Halawet el-Mawlid (Mawlid sweets)

   Usage

   Sugar sweets bought around the Prophet's birthday; boxes of nut and sesame candy are sold everywhere.

   Grammar Note

   حلاوة is in the construct state; المولد means "birth".

10. عروسة المولد

    ʿArūsit il-Mawlid

    Arousa el-Mawlid (sugar doll)

    Usage

    Sugar doll in the shape of a bride, sold at the Mawlid season; children love them.

    Grammar Note

    عروسة means "bride".

11. كحك

    Kaḥk

    Kahk (holiday cookies)

    Usage

    Small cookies dusted with powdered sugar, baked and shared at Eid al-Fitr.

    Grammar Note

    ح is a throat h and ك is k.

12. غريبة

    Ghurēba

    Ghorayeba (butter shortbread)

    Usage

    Buttery crumbly shortbread served on holidays and to guests.

    Grammar Note

    ē is a long vowel in speech.

13. معمول

    Maʿmūl

    Maamoul (date-filled cookies)

    Usage

    Moulded cookies filled with dates or nuts, eaten at Eid and Easter.

    Grammar Note

    Contains ʿ (ʿayn).

14. ملبن

    Mulabban

    Mulabban (Egyptian Turkish-delight-style candy)

    Usage

    Soft sweet candy made of sugar and starch, sometimes with nuts.

    Grammar Note

    The b is doubled.

15. مشبك

    Mishabbak

    Mishabbak (fried syrup lattice)

    Usage

    Fried lattice-shaped dough dipped in syrup.

    Grammar Note

    The b is doubled.

16. مهلبية

    Muhallabiyya

    Muhallabia (milk pudding)

    Usage

    Cold milk pudding thickened with starch, topped with nuts or syrup.

    Grammar Note

    The l is doubled.

17. بليلة

    Balīla

    Baleela (sweet wheat porridge)

    Usage

    Hot sweet dish of wheat cooked in milk and sugar, eaten from stalls in cool seasons.

    Grammar Note

    ī is long.

18. ترمس

    Turmus

    Termes (salted lupini beans)

    Usage

    Brined lupini beans eaten after peeling; sold on the street.

    Grammar Note

    ت is t and ر is a tapped r.

19. زلابية

    Zalābya

    Zalabia (fried dough sweets)

    Usage

    Fried dough rings or discs in syrup, eaten as a festive sweet.

    Grammar Note

    The ending is read -ya and written with ة.

20. شيشة

    Shīsha

    Shisha (water pipe)

    Usage

    Water pipe smoked in cafes. It contains tobacco and is harmful, so decide for yourself whether to try it.

    Grammar Note

    sh stands for ش; ī is long.

21. معسل

    Muʿassal

    Muassel (shisha tobacco)

    Usage

    Tobacco for shisha flavored with honey or fruit; it contains nicotine and is harmful.

    Grammar Note

    Contains ʿ; ss is doubled.

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