Basic Nouns

1. مية

   Mayya

   Water

   Usage

   Drinking water. "مية معدنية" is mineral water. The same spelling also means "hundred" (Miyya), so context decides.

   Grammar Note

   The colloquial counterpart of MSA ماء.

2. أكل

   Akl

   Food

   Usage

   Food in general. The verb "أكل" (to eat) has the same spelling.

   Grammar Note

   The verbal noun of the verb أكل "to eat".

3. فلوس

   Filūs

   Money

   Usage

   Money in general. It is plural in form but treated as a feminine singular.

   Grammar Note

   Plural in form (of fils) but treated as a singular collective.

4. حمام

   Ḥammām

   Toilet

   Usage

   Toilet or bathroom. Signs sometimes say "دورة مياه". The same spelling also means pigeon; context decides.

   Grammar Note

   In speech it alone means "toilet".

5. مناديل ورقية

   Manādīl waraʾiyya

   Tissue

   Usage

   Tissues. In speech often just "مناديل".

   Grammar Note

   manādīl is the plural of mandīl "handkerchief"; waraʾiyya means "made of paper".

6. دوا

   Dawa

   Medicine

   Usage

   Medicine. Often heard as "الدوا" (the medicine). MSA دواء is the written form.

   Grammar Note

   MSA دواء with the final hamza dropped.

7. شنط

   Shunaṭ

   Luggage

   Usage

   Luggage, as the plural of "شنطة" (bag). For a single bag say "شنطة".

   Grammar Note

   Plural of شنطة.

8. مفتاح

   Muftāḥ

   Key

   Usage

   A key for a room or car. At a hotel: "مفتاح الاوضة" (the room key).

   Grammar Note

   Same word as in MSA.

9. تذكرة

   Tazkara

   Ticket

   Usage

   A ticket. "تذكرة واحدة" means one ticket.

   Grammar Note

   ذ is pronounced z in this word borrowed from MSA.

10. باسبور

    Basbōr

    Passport

    Usage

    Passport. Forms and signs also write "جواز السفر".

    Grammar Note

    A loan from English passport.

11. موبايل

    Mubayil

    Mobile phone

    Usage

    A mobile phone. A landline is "تليفون". "موبايلي" means my phone.

    Grammar Note

    A loan from English mobile. MSA هاتف is not used in speech.

12. شاحن موبايل

    Shāḥin mubayil

    Phone charger

    Usage

    A phone charger. Often just "شاحن".

    Grammar Note

    shāḥin means "charger"; mubayil says which kind.

13. محطة

    Maḥaṭṭa

    Station

    Usage

    A station or stop. "محطة المترو" is a metro station.

    Grammar Note

    The ending -a becomes -it before a following noun (maḥaṭṭit il-metro).

14. مستشفى

    Mustashfa

    Hospital

    Usage

    Hospital.

    Grammar Note

    Same word as in MSA.

15. بوليس

    Bulīs

    Police

    Usage

    The police. Signs and official documents write "شرطة". To call for help, shout "بوليس!".

    Grammar Note

    A loan from police (English/French).

16. محل

    Maḥall

    Shop

    Usage

    A shop, as in "محل هدايا" (gift shop).

    Grammar Note

    MSA متجر is not used in speech.

17. اوضة

    Ōḍa

    Room

    Usage

    A room, including a hotel room. MSA غرفة is not used.

    Grammar Note

    A word of Turkish origin (oda).

18. طريق

    Ṭarīʾ

    Road

    Usage

    Road or way.

    Grammar Note

    The q is pronounced as a glottal stop in Cairene.

19. عيلة

    ʿĒla

    Family

    Usage

    Family. "عيلتي" means my family. The MSA counterpart is عائلة.

    Grammar Note

    The colloquial form of MSA عائلة.

20. اسم

    Ism

    Name

    Usage

    Name. "اسمي ..." means my name is ....

    Grammar Note

    Same word as in MSA.

21. راس

    Rās

    Head

    Usage

    Head. "راسي بتوجعني" means my head hurts.

    Grammar Note

    MSA رأس with the hamza dropped.

22. عين

    ʿĒn

    Eye

    Usage

    Eye. The dual is "عينين" (two eyes).

    Grammar Note

    The diphthong ay becomes ē.

23. سنان

    Sinān

    Teeth

    Usage

    Teeth (the plural). One tooth is "سنة" (Sinna). MSA has أسنان.

    Grammar Note

    A plural. The singular سنة shares its spelling with "year" and "Sunna".

24. زور

    Zōr

    Throat

    Usage

    Throat, as in "الزور بيوجعني" (my throat hurts).

    Grammar Note

    The diphthong aw becomes ō.

25. بطن

    Baṭn

    Stomach, belly

    Usage

    Stomach or belly. "وجع البطن" means stomach ache.

    Grammar Note

    Same word as in MSA.

26. ضهر

    Ḍahr

    Back

    Usage

    The back. "وجع الضهر" means back pain. MSA has ظهر.

    Grammar Note

    The colloquial form of MSA ظهر, with ض for ظ.

27. رجل

    Rigl

    Foot, leg

    Usage

    Foot or leg; Egyptian uses one word for both. MSA قدم is not used in speech.

    Grammar Note

    ج is pronounced g (Rigl).

28. ايد

    Īd

    Hand

    Usage

    Hand, the counterpart of MSA يد. "ايدي بتوجعني" means my hand hurts.

    Grammar Note

    The colloquial form of MSA يد.

29. صدر

    Ṣadr

    Chest

    Usage

    The chest. Chest pain is an important thing to report in an emergency.

    Grammar Note

    Same word as in MSA.

30. فندق

    Funduʾ

    Hotel

    Usage

    Hotel. Tell a taxi driver "فندق ..." plus the hotel name.

    Grammar Note

    Same word as in MSA; the final ق is pronounced [ʔ].

31. مطار

    Maṭār

    Airport

    Usage

    Airport, for example "مطار القاهرة" (Cairo airport).

    Grammar Note

    Same word as in MSA.

32. عربية مطافي

    ʿArabiyyit maṭāfi

    Fire engine

    Usage

    A fire engine. "عربية" is a car or vehicle and "مطافي" is the fire service.

    Grammar Note

    A noun-noun construct; the first noun takes -it when read (ʿarabiyyit maṭāfi).

33. قنصلية

    Unṣuliyya

    Consulate

    Usage

    Consulate. An embassy is "سفارة".

    Grammar Note

    Same word as in MSA; ق is pronounced [ʔ], hence Unṣuliyya.

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