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.
| English |
Arabic |
عربي |
| Basics |
| I |
ana |
أنا |
| You (singular m/f) |
inta/inti |
أنت |
| He |
howa |
هو |
| She |
heya |
هي |
| Yes |
aiwa |
نعم |
| No |
la'/la'a |
لا |
| Maybe |
mumkin |
ربما |
| Please (addressing m/f) |
min fadhlak/min fadhlik |
من فضلك |
| Thank you |
shukran |
شكرا |
| You are welcome |
afwan |
العفو |
| What is your name? (m/f) |
Esmak eh/Esmek eh? |
ما اسمك؟ |
| Excuse me (addressing m/f) |
law samaht/law samahti |
لو سمحت |
| OK |
mashy or tayeb |
حسنا |
| No problem |
mafish mushkila |
لا توجد مشكلة |
| Greetings |
| Hello (peace be upon you) |
assalamu alaykum |
أهلا/ السلام عليكم |
| Hello (response) |
wa alaykum essalam |
أهلا/ عليكم السلام |
| Goodbye |
ma'a esalama |
مع السلامة |
| Good morning |
sabah el-kheir |
صباح الخير |
| Good afternoon |
masa' el-kheir |
مساء الخير |
| Good night |
tisbah ala-kheir |
تصبح على خير |
| Welcome |
ahlan wa sahlan |
أهلا وسهلا |
| I do not speak Arabic |
ana mabatkalemsh arabi |
أنا لا أتحدث العربية |
| Commercial |
| Water |
Mayya |
ماء |
| Tea |
Shai |
شاي |
| Coffee |
Ahwa |
قهوة |
| Milk |
laban |
لبن |
| With Milk |
bel-laban |
باللبن |
| How much? |
Bekam? |
؟ بكم |
| How many? |
Kam? |
كم؟ |
| Small talk |
| How are you? (m/f) |
ezzayak/ezzayik |
كيف حالك؟ |
| Fine (thank God) |
al-hamdulillah |
الحمد لله |
| What is your name? (m/f) |
ismak eh/esmek eh? |
ما اسمك؟ |
| My name is … |
ismi … |
.... اسمي |
| I do not understand (m/f) |
mesh fahim/mesh fahma |
لم افهم |
| English |
ingleezi |
الانجليزية |
| American |
Amrikani |
أمريكي |
| French |
faransawi |
فرنسي |
| German |
almani |
ألماني |
| Spanish |
aspani |
أسباني |
| Chinese |
Seeni |
صيني |
| Japanese |
yabani |
ياباني |
| Explain to me |
fahemni |
فهمني |
| Getting Around |
| Where is the …? |
fein el … ? |
اين يوجد ... ؟ |
| When? |
Emta? |
متى؟ |
| Airport |
el-matarr |
مطار |
| Bank |
Bank |
بنك |
| Money |
Feloos |
نقود |
| Hotel |
otel |
فندق |
| Bus |
Bus |
اتوبيس |
| Taxi |
taxi |
تاكسي |
| Good |
kway-yes |
جيد |
| Very |
Awy |
جدا |
| Very Good |
kway-yes awy |
جيد جدا |
| Directions |
| Address |
'enwan |
عنوان |
| Street |
share' |
شارع |
| Number |
raqam |
رقم |
| Here |
hena |
هنا |
| There |
henak |
هناك |
| Behind |
wara |
خلف |
| Signs |
| Toilets |
Ham-mam |
حمام / دورة مياه |
| Hospital |
mustashfa |
مستشفى |
| Police |
bolees |
شرطة |
| Days |
| Monday |
el etneen |
الاثنين |
| Tuesday |
el talat |
الثلاثاء |
| Wednesday |
el-arba' |
الأربعاء |
| Thursday |
el-khamees |
الخميس |
| Friday |
el-goma'a |
الجمعة |
| Saturday |
el-sabt |
السبت |
| Sunday |
el-had |
الأحد |
| Morning |
el sobh |
الصباح |
| Afternoon |
el dohr |
الظهر |
| Night |
bel-leil |
الليل |
| Numbers |
| Zero |
sifr |
صفر |
| One |
wahid |
واحد |
| Two |
etnein |
اثنين |
| Three |
talata |
ثلاثه |
| Four |
arba'a |
أربعه |
| Five |
khamsa |
خمسه |
| Six |
sitta |
سته |
| Seven |
sab'a |
سبعه |
| Eight |
tamanya |
ثمانيه |
| Nine |
tis'a |
تسعه |
| Ten |
ashara |
عشره |