The Language
Arabic is the official language in Egypt. Egyptian Arabic is a separate dialect from the language spoken in other Arab countries; although standard Arabic in written form is used in newspapers and literature. However, most hotels, touristic and business facilities speak other languages such as English, French and sometimes German, Italian or Spanish.
The table below will give you a quick idea about the basic Arabic words and phrases that are common in every day life in Egypt.
|
Basics
|
|
English
|
Arabic
|
| I |
ana |
| You (singular m/f) |
inta/inti |
| He |
howa |
| She |
heya |
| Yes |
aiwa |
| No |
la'/la'a |
| Maybe |
mumkin |
| Please (addressing m/f) |
min fadhlak/min fadhlik |
| Thank you |
shukran |
| You are welcome |
afwan |
| What is your name? (m/f) |
Esmak eh/Esmek eh? |
| Excuse me (addressing m/f) |
law samaht/law samahti |
| OK |
mashy or tayeb |
| No problem |
mafish mushkila |
|
Greetings
|
| Hello (peace be upon you) |
assalamu alaykum |
| Hello (response) |
wa alaykum essalam |
| Goodbye |
ma'a esalama |
| Good morning |
sabah el-kheir |
| Good afternoon |
masa' el-kheir |
| Good night |
tisbah ala-kheir |
| Welcome |
ahlan wa sahlan |
| I do not speak Arabic |
ana mabatkalemsh arabi |
|
Commercial
|
| Water |
Mayya |
| Tea |
Shai |
| Coffee |
Ahwa |
| Milk |
laban |
| With Milk |
bel-laban |
| How much? |
Bekam? |
| How many? |
Kam? |
|
Small talk
|
| How are you? (m/f) |
ezzayak/ezzayik |
| Fine (thank God) |
al-hamdulillah |
| What is your name? (m/f) |
ismak eh/esmek eh? |
| My name is … |
ismi … |
| I do not understand (m/f) |
mesh fahim/mesh fahma |
| English |
ingleezi |
| American |
Amrikani |
| French |
faransawi |
| German |
almani |
| Spanish |
aspani |
| Chinese |
Seeni |
| Japanese |
yabani |
| Explain to me |
fahemni |
|
Getting Around
|
| Where is the …? |
fein el … ? |
| When? |
Emta? |
| Airport |
el-matarr |
| Bank |
Bank |
| Money |
Feloos |
| Hotel |
otel |
| Bus |
Bus |
| Taxi |
taxi |
| Good |
kway-yes |
| Very |
Awy |
| Very Good |
kway-yes awy |
|
Directions
|
| Address |
'enwan |
| Street |
share' |
| Number |
raqam |
| Here |
hena |
| There |
henak |
| Behind |
wara |
|
Signs
|
| Toilets |
Ham-mam |
| Hospital |
mustashfa |
| Police |
bolees |
|
Days
|
| Monday |
el etneen |
| Tuesday |
el talat |
| Wednesday |
el-arba' |
| Thursday |
el-khamees |
| Friday |
el-goma'a |
| Saturday |
el-sabt |
| Sunday |
el-had |
| Morning |
el sobh |
| Afternoon |
el dohr |
| Night |
bel-leil |
|
Numbers
|
| Zero |
sifr |
| One |
wahid |
| Two |
etnein |
| Three |
talata |
| Four |
arba'a |
| Five |
khamsa |
| Six |
sitta |
| Seven |
sab'a |
| Eight |
tamanya |
| Nine |
tis'a |
| Ten |
ashara |