Basic Verbs

1. راح

   Rāḥ

   To go

   Usage

   "To go". The dictionary form is the past "راح" (he went). Present "يروح" (Yirūḥ), imperative "روح" (Rūḥ).

   Grammar Note

   Egyptian has no infinitive, so the card shows the dictionary form: the 3rd person masculine singular past ("he ...ed").

2. جه

   Gih

   To come

   Usage

   "To come". The dictionary form is the past "جه" (he came). Present "ييجي" (Yīgi); participle "جاي" (coming).

   Grammar Note

   Egyptian has no infinitive, so the card shows the dictionary form: the 3rd person masculine singular past ("he ...ed").

3. أكل

   Akal

   To eat

   Usage

   "To eat". The dictionary form is the past "أكل" (he ate). Present "ياكل" (Yākul). The noun "أكل" means food.

   Grammar Note

   Egyptian has no infinitive, so the card shows the dictionary form: the 3rd person masculine singular past ("he ...ed").

4. شرب

   Shirib

   To drink

   Usage

   "To drink". The dictionary form is the past "شرب" (he drank). Present "يشرب" (Yishrab).

   Grammar Note

   Egyptian has no infinitive, so the card shows the dictionary form: the 3rd person masculine singular past ("he ...ed").

5. اشترى

   Ishtara

   To buy

   Usage

   "To buy". The dictionary form is the past "اشترى" (he bought). Present "يشتري" (Yishtiri).

   Grammar Note

   Egyptian has no infinitive, so the card shows the dictionary form: the 3rd person masculine singular past ("he ...ed").

6. شاف

   Shāf

   To see

   Usage

   "To see". The dictionary form is the past "شاف" (he saw). Present "يشوف" (Yishūf). MSA رأى is not used in speech.

   Grammar Note

   Egyptian has no infinitive, so the card shows the dictionary form: the 3rd person masculine singular past ("he ...ed").

7. استنى

   Istanna

   To wait

   Usage

   "To wait". The dictionary form is the past "استنى" (he waited). Present "يستنى" (Yistanna). The imperative has the same spelling.

   Grammar Note

   Egyptian has no infinitive, so the card shows the dictionary form: the 3rd person masculine singular past ("he ...ed").

8. عايز اروح

   ʿĀyiz arūḥ

   I want to go

   Usage

   The form for a male speaker. A woman says "عايزة اروح" (ʿĀyza arūḥ). Add the destination after it ("عايز اروح الفندق").

   Grammar Note

   "ʿāyiz + subjunctive" means "want to". MSA أريد أن is not used. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

9. عايز أكل

   ʿĀyiz akul

   I want to eat

   Usage

   The form for a male speaker. A woman says "عايزة أكل" (ʿĀyza akul).

   Grammar Note

   "ʿāyiz + subjunctive". A composed sentence built from regular parts.

10. عايز ده

    ʿĀyiz da

    I want it

    Usage

    "I want this", said while pointing. The form for a male speaker; a woman says "عايزة ده" (ʿĀyza da).

    Grammar Note

    ʿāyiz is a participle and agrees with the speaker (ʿāyza f. / ʿāyzīn pl.). A composed sentence built from regular parts.

11. مش محتاجه

    Mish miḥtāgu

    I don't need it

    Usage

    Also useful for turning down a sales pitch. The form for a male speaker; a woman says "مش محتاجاه" (Mish miḥtāgāh).

    Grammar Note

    "mish + participle" is the present negative; the suffix -u is "it". A composed sentence built from regular parts.

12. بدور عليه

    Badawwar ʿalē

    I'm looking for it

    Usage

    Says what or whom you are looking for. The same for men and women. To name the object: "بدور على ...".

    Grammar Note

    The verb dawwar takes the preposition ʿala for "look for". A composed sentence built from regular parts.

13. عندي

    ʿAndi

    I have it

    Usage

    "I have". Add the thing after it ("عندي حجز").

    Grammar Note

    Possession is shown by the preposition ʿand plus the suffix -i "my", not by a verb.

14. معنديش

    Maʿandīsh

    I don't have it

    Usage

    "I don't have it". You can add the thing after it.

    Grammar Note

    ma + ʿand + -i + -sh; the negation wraps the word as ma...sh.

15. هسحب فلوس

    Ha-sḥab filūs

    I'll withdraw money

    Usage

    For taking cash out at an ATM or bank. The same for men and women.

    Grammar Note

    The future is ha- (or ḥa-) plus the subjunctive. A composed sentence built from regular parts.

16. هعمل حجز

    Ha-ʿmil ḥagz

    I'll make a reservation

    Usage

    For making a booking. The same for men and women.

    Grammar Note

    The future of "ʿamal ḥagz" (make a booking). A composed sentence built from regular parts.

17. ساعدني في ده لو سمحت

    Sāʿidni fi da law samaḥt

    Please help me with it

    Usage

    The form for a man. To a woman: "ساعديني في ده لو سمحتي" (Sāʿidīni fi da law samaḥti).

    Grammar Note

    An imperative with the object suffix -ni "me". A composed sentence built from regular parts.

18. قولي لو سمحت

    Ūlli law samaḥt

    Please tell me

    Usage

    The form for a man. To a woman: "قوليلي لو سمحتي" (Ūlīli law samaḥti).

    Grammar Note

    The imperative ūl of qāl + li "to" + -i "me". A composed sentence built from regular parts.

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