Arabic phrases for Egypt

Essentials

• Yes

  أيوه

  Aywa

  AY-wah

  Egyptian colloquial; formal Arabic uses "naʿam".

• No

  لأ

  Laʾ

  LAH

• Please

  من فضلك

  Min fadlak

  min FAHD-lak

  To a man. To a woman: "من فضلِك" (min fadlik).

• Thank you

  شكراً

  Shukran

  SHOOK-rahn

• Do you speak English?

  بتتكلم إنجليزي؟

  Betetkallem ingilīzi?

  beh-tet-KAL-lem en-geh-LEE-zee

  To a man. To a woman: "بتتكلمي إنجليزي؟" (betetkallemi ingilīzi).

• I don't understand

  مفهمتش

  Mafhimtish

  maf-HIM-tish

• Please speak slowly

  ممكن تتكلم بشويش؟

  Momken tetkallem bishwēsh?

  MOM-ken tet-KAL-lem beh-SHWAYSH

  To a man. To a woman: "ممكن تتكلمي بشويش؟" (momken tetkallemi bishwēsh).

• How much does it cost?

  بكام ده؟

  Bikām da?

  beh-KEHM dah

• Where is the bathroom?

  فين الحمام؟

  Fēn el-hammām?

  fayn el-ham-MEHM

Greetings

• Hello

  أهلاً

  Ahlan

  AH-lahn

• Good morning

  صباح الخير

  Sabāh el-khēr

  sah-BAH el-KHAYR

  A warm reply is "sabāh en-nūr" — morning of light.

• Goodbye

  مع السلامة

  Maʿa s-salāma

  MAH-ah sah-LEH-mah

• How are you?

  إزيك؟

  Izzayyak?

  ez-ZAY-yak

  To a man. To a woman: "إزيّك؟" (izzayyik).

• Nice to meet you

  تشرفنا

  Tasharrafna

  teh-shar-RAF-nah

  Literally: “We are honored”

Courtesy

• Excuse me

  لو سمحت

  Law samaht

  lao sah-MAHT

  To a man. To a woman: "لو سمحتي" (law samahti).

• I'm sorry

  آسف

  Āsif

  EH-sef

  Men say "آسف"; women say "آسفة" (āsfa). For a small slip, anyone can say "معلش" (maʿlish).

• You're welcome.

  العفو.

  Il-ʿafw.

  il-AFW

• Cheers!

  في صحتكم!

  Fī ṣiḥḥitkum!

  fee sih-HIT-koom

  Alcohol is not part of most gatherings; use this for any drink.

Restaurants

• A table for two, please.

  ممكن ترابيزة لاتنين؟

  Mumkin tarabēza li-tnēn?

  MUM-kin ta-ra-BAY-zah lit-NAYN

• Do you have a menu in English?

  عندكم منيو بالإنجليزي؟

  ʿAndukum menyu bil-ingilīzi?

  AN-du-kum MEN-yoo bil-in-gi-LEE-zee

• I'll have this, please.

  ممكن آخد ده؟

  Mumkin ākhud da?

  MUM-kin AH-khud dah

• Water, please

  ممكن مية؟

  Momken mayya?

  MOM-ken MAY-yah

• The check, please

  ممكن الحساب؟

  Momken el-hisāb?

  MOM-ken el-heh-SEHB

• Can I pay by card?

  بتقبلوا فيزا؟

  Bitiʾbalu vīza?

  bi-TI-bah-loo VEE-zah

  “Visa” is the everyday Egyptian word for any bank card.

Directions

• How do I get to the station?

  أروح المحطة إزاي؟

  Arūḥ il-maḥaṭṭa izzāy?

  ah-ROOH il-mah-HAT-tah iz-ZAY

• Is it far from here?

  بعيدة من هنا؟

  Baʿīda min hina?

  bah-EE-dah min HEH-nah

• Can I walk there?

  أقدر أروح مشي؟

  Aʾdar arūḥ mashy?

  A-dar ah-ROOH mahshy

Getting Understood

• I only speak a little.

  بتكلم شوية بس.

  Batkallim shwayya bas.

  bat-KAL-lim SHWY-yah bahss

• Could you say that again, please?

  معلش، ممكن تاني؟

  Maʿlish, mumkin tāni?

  MAH-lish, MUM-kin TAH-nee

• Could you write it down, please?

  ممكن تديهولي مكتوب؟

  Mumkin tiddihūli maktūb?

  MUM-kin tid-di-HOO-lee mak-TOOB

Time & Opening Hours

• What time do you open?

  بتفتحوا الساعة كام؟

  Bitiftaḥu s-sāʿa kām?

  bi-TIF-tah-hoo es-SAH-ah kahm

• What time do you close?

  بتقفلوا الساعة كام؟

  Bitiʾfilu s-sāʿa kām?

  bi-TI-fi-loo es-SAH-ah kahm

Transport & Tickets

• One ticket, please.

  ممكن تذكرة واحدة؟

  Mumkin tazkara waḥda?

  MUM-kin TAZ-kah-rah WAH-dah

• Which platform?

  من أنهي رصيف؟

  Min anhi raṣīf?

  min AN-hee rah-SEEF

• Does this go to the airport?

  ده بيروح المطار؟

  Da biyrūḥ il-maṭār?

  dah bee-ROOH il-mah-TAR

• Stop here, please.

  ممكن على جنب هنا؟

  Mumkin ʿala ganb hina?

  MUM-kin AH-lah ganb HEH-nah

  “ʿAla ganb” — pull over — is what Egyptians actually say to a driver.

Hotels & Lodging

• I have a reservation.

  عندي حجز.

  ʿAndi ḥagz.

  AN-dee hagz

• What time is check-out?

  الخروج الساعة كام؟

  Il-khurūg is-sāʿa kām?

  il-khoo-ROOG es-SAH-ah kahm

• Could I leave my bags here?

  ممكن أسيب شنطي هنا؟

  Mumkin asīb shunaṭi hina?

  MUM-kin ah-SEEB SHU-na-tee HEH-nah

Airport & Border

• I'm here on holiday.

  أنا هنا في أجازة.

  Ana hina fi agāza.

  AH-nah HEH-nah fee ah-GAH-zah

• Where is baggage claim?

  استلام الشنط فين؟

  Istilām ish-shunaṭ fēn?

  is-ti-LAHM ish-SHU-nat fayn

Shopping & Money

• I'm just looking, thank you.

  بتفرج بس، شكراً.

  Batfarrag bas, shukran.

  bat-FAR-rag bahss, SHOOK-ran

• That's too expensive.

  ده غالي أوي.

  Da ghāli awi.

  dah GHAH-lee AH-wee

• Could I have a receipt, please?

  ممكن فاتورة؟

  Mumkin fatūra?

  MUM-kin fa-TOO-rah

Wi-Fi & Phone

• Is there Wi-Fi here?

  فيه واي فاي هنا؟

  Fīh Wi-Fi hina?

  feeh WY-fy HEH-nah

• I'd like a SIM card with data.

  ممكن خط بإنترنت؟

  Mumkin khaṭṭ bi-internet?

  MUM-kin khatt bi-IN-ter-net

  “Khatt” (a line) is the everyday word for a SIM.

Meeting People

• My name is…

  اسمي…

  Ismi…

  ESS-mee

• Where are you from?

  من أنهي بلد؟

  Min anhi balad?

  min AN-hee BA-lad

What you'll hear

Questions and answers people are likely to say to you. You only need to recognize them.

• Passport, please.

  الباسبور، يا فندم.

  Il-bāsbōr, ya fandim.

  il-BAHS-bore, yah FAN-dim

• How long will you be staying?

  مدة الإقامة قد إيه؟

  Muddit il-iʾāma ʾadd ēh?

  MUD-dit il-ee-AH-mah add eh

• For how many people?

  كام واحد؟

  Kām wāḥid?

  kahm WAH-hid

• Are you ready to order?

  تحبوا تطلبوا؟

  Tiḥibbu tiṭlibu?

  ti-HIB-boo TIT-li-boo

• Cash or card?

  كاش ولا فيزا؟

  Kāsh walla vīza?

  cash WAL-lah VEE-zah

• Go straight ahead.

  امشي على طول.

  Imshi ʿala ṭūl.

  IM-shee AH-lah tool

• Turn left.

  على الشمال.

  ʿAla sh-shimāl.

  AH-lash shi-MAHL

• Turn right.

  على اليمين.

  ʿAla l-yimīn.

  AH-lal yi-MEEN