'''Egyptian Arabic''' (''maSri'' ????) is the modern Egyptian vernacular and the most widely spoken and understood colloquial variety of Arabic. It is spoken by 77 million people, mainly in Egypt. It is used in everyday speech, comics, advertising, song lyrics, teen magazines, plays, and TV shows, but rarely in novels, newspapers, and never in news reporting, which use Modern Standard Arabic instead.

Pronunciation

Vowels

Egyptian Arabic has many more vowels (''Harakat'' ?????) than the three of Classical Arabic, and it differentiates between short and long vowels. Long vowels are shown in this phrasebook with a macron above the vowel. The stress falls on the long vowels. ''Long vowels can be shortened when not stressed.''

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Dotless ? is intentional, as its pronunciation is in between i - e -->

  • '''alef'''; '''?''': /a/, /a/
  • '''waw'''; ?: /o/, /u/
  • '''ye'''; ?: /e/, /i/<br>
  • Acting as semi-vowels, mainly pronounced as:<br>
  • '''waw'''; ?: /w/
  • '''ye'''; ?: /j/ ("'''y'''" as in the English word "'''yes'''")}}
  • ; a : like '''?''' but shorter. {{IPA|[a]}} ; ? : as in "hand" (long). {{IPA|[a?]}} ; a : like '''a''' but shorter. {{IPA|[?]}} ; a : as in "bar". {{IPA|[??]}} ; o<small> ~ </small>u : similar to "put" (short). Tends to be merged into short /o/, or in between /u/ & /o/ {{IPA|/?/}} ; ? : similar to "float". {{IPA|/o?/}} ; ? : as in "shoe" (long). {{IPA|/u?/}} ; e<small> ~ </small>? : as in "fig" (short). Tends to be merged into short /e/, or in between /i/ & /e/ {{IPA|/?/}} ; ? : similar to "fate" (long). {{IPA|/e?/}} ; ? : as in "sheet" (long). {{IPA|/i?/}}

    Consonants

    <!-- This is a hidden comment: Do not unify IPA brackets, because [] mean that this is the exact sound, & // mean that it is an approximation

    Dotless ? is intentional, as its pronunciation is in between i - e -->

    Most Arabic consonants (''Sawa<big>_f</big>et'' ?????) are not too difficult: :You should notice, also, that in Egyptian Arabic, consonants can be long (doubled).

    ; b <big> ? </big> (be): as in English ; f <big> ? </big> (fe): as in English ; t <big> ? </big> (te): as in English, pronounced more forward in the mouth ; d <big> ? </big> (d?l): as in English, pronounced more forward in the mouth ; g <big> ? </big> (g?m): as in English, ''not'' "j" {{IPA|/d?/}} as in Modern Standard Arabic ; k <big> ? </big> (k?f): as in English ; r <big> ? </big> (re): as in English, pronounced trilled (as in Spanish) ; l <big> ? </big> (l?m): as in English, pronounced more forward in the mouth ; h <big> ?? </big> (he): as in English, but occurs in unfamiliar positions ; m <big> ? </big> (m?m): as in English ; n <big> ? </big> (n?n): as in English ; s <big> ? </big> (s?n): as in English ; s <big> ? </big> (se): as in English, ''not'' "th" {{IPA|[__]}} as in Modern Standard Arabic ; z <big> ? </big> (z?n): as in English ; z <big> ? </big> (z?l): as in English, ''not'' {{IPA|[d]}} as in Modern Standard Arabic ; w <big> ? </big> (waw): as in English ; y <big> ? </big> (ye): as in English ; ? <big> ? </big> (??n): as "'''sh'''" in the English word "'''she'''". {{IPA|[?]}} <!--WEB-START--> ; j <big> ? </big> : as "'''s'''" in the English word "plea'''s'''ure" (''only found in loanwords''). {{IPA|[?]}}. Its counterpart <big> ? </big> may be used instead, in transliterations. ; p <big> ? </big> : as in English (''only found in loanwords''). Its counterpart <big> ? </big> may be used instead, in transliterations. ; v <big> ? </big> : as in English (''only found in loanwords''). Its counterpart <big> ? </big> may be used instead, in transliterations. <!--WEB-END-->

    The following are a little more unusual:

    ; S <big> ? </big> (Sad): emphatic '''s''' pronounced with the tongue raised and mouth tensed. {{IPA|/s?/}} ; T <big> ? </big> (Ta): emphatic '''t''' pronounced with the tongue raised and mouth tensed. {{IPA|/t?/}} ; D <big> ? </big> (Dad): emphatic '''d''' pronounced with the tongue raised and mouth tensed. {{IPA|/d?/}} ; Z <big> ? </big> (Za): emphatic '''z''' pronounced with the tongue raised and mouth tensed. {{IPA|/z?/}} ; q <big> ? </big> (qaf): a hard '''k''' pronounced in the back of the mouth {{IPA|/q/}}, not the glottal stop of Modern Standard Arabic ; x <big> ? </big> (xa): a harsh sound found in some English words like ''bach'' and ''loch''. {{IPA|[x]}} ; ? <big> ? </big> (??n): a voiced '''x''' like a French "r". {{IPA|[?]}} ; H <big> ? </big> (Ha): a hard '''h''' made in the pharynx. {{IPA|[?]}}

    And the last two are very hard indeed for non-native speakers to get right, so try to get a native speaker to demonstrate. That said, most beginners tend to opt for the simple approach of ignoring those pesky apostrophes entirely, but it's worth it to make the effort.

    ; <font size=4> _f </font> : a glottal stop {{IPA|?}}, or the constriction of the throat as between the syllables ''uh-oh'', but in Arabic this is often found in strange places such as the beginning of a word. Known in Arabic as '''hamza''' ?

    ; <font size=5> ` </font> : a voiced ''H'' {{IPA|?}}, famously equated to the sound of someone being strangled. Known in Arabic as <big>`</big>ayn <big>?</big> or <big>`</big>'''?n'''.

    <!-- Please, do not remove text enlargement of _f & ` -->

    Phrase list

    : lestet el <big>`</big>ebarat ????? ????????

    Basics

    : asaseyy?t ???????

    Many Arabic expressions are different for men and women, depending both on the gender of the person talking (you) and the person being addressed.

    ; Hello : <big>_f</big>es-sal?mu-<big>`</big>al?ku ?????? ????? ; Hello (''informal'') : <big>_f</big>ahlan ?????

    ; Good morning. : SabaH el-x?r ???? ?????

    ; Good evening. : mas?<big>_f</big> el-x?r ???? ?????

    ; Good night (''to sleep'') : teSbaH <big>`</big>ala x?r ???? ??? ??? (''to a male'')<br>teSbaHi <big>`</big>ala x?r ????? ??? ??? (''to a female'')<br>teSbaHu <big>`</big>ala x?r ????? ??? ??? (''to a group'')

    ; How are you? : <big>_f</big>ezzayyak? ???? (''to a male'')<br><big>_f</big>ezzayyek? ???? (''to a female'')<br><big>_f</big>ezzayyoku? ????? (''to a group'')

    ; Fine, thank you. : kowayyes ?ukran ???? ???? (''male'')<br>kowayyesa ?okran ????? ???? (''female'')<br>kowayy?s?n ?okran ?????? ????? (''group'')

    ; What is your name? : <big>_f</big>esmak <big>_f</big>?h? ???? ???? (''to a male'')<br><big>_f</big>esmik <big>_f</big>?h? ???? ???? (''to a female'')

    ; My name is ______ . : <big>_f</big>ana <big>_f</big>esmi ______ ??? ????

    ; Please. : min faDlak ?? ???? (''to a male'')<br> men faDlek ?? ???? (''to a female'')<br>men faDloku ?? ????? (''to a group'')

    ; Thank you. : ?okran ?????

    ; You're welcome. : el <big>`</big>afw ?????

    ; Yes. : <big>_f</big>aywa ????

    ; No. : la<big>_f</big> ??

    ; Excuse me. (''getting attention'') : law samaHt ?? ???? (''to a male'')<br>law samaHti ?? ????? (''to a female'')<br>law samaHtu ?? ????? (''to a group'')

    ; Excuse me. (''avoiding offence'') : ba<big>`</big>d <big>_f</big>eznak ??? ???? (''to a male'')<br>ba<big>`</big>d <big>_f</big>eznek'' ??? ???? (''to a female'')''<br>ba<big>`</big>d <big>_f</big>eznoku ??? ????? (''to a group'')

    ; Excuse me. (''begging pardon'') : l? mu<big>_f</big>axza ?? ??????

    ; I'm sorry : <big>_f</big>ana <big>_f</big>?sef ??? ??? (''male'')<br><big>_f</big>ana <big>_f</big>asfa ??? ???? (''female'')

    ; Goodbye : ma<big>`</big>as-sal?ma ?? ???????

    ; Goodbye (''informal'') : sal?m ????

    ; I can't speak Arabic well. : mabakkallem? <big>`</big>arabi kwayyes ?? ?????? ???? ????

    ; Do you speak English? : betekkallem <big>_f</big>?ng?l?zi? ?????? ???????? (''male'')<br>betekkallemi <big>_f</big>?ng?l?zi? ??????? ???????? (''female'')

    ; Is there someone here who speaks English? : f? Hadd hena beyekkallem <big>_f</big>?ng?l?zi? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ????????

    ; Help! : <big>_f</big>elHa<big>_f</big>?ni! ???????

    ; Look out! : H?seb ???? (''to a male'')<br>Hasbi ????? (''to a female'')<br>Hasbu ????? (''to a group'')

    ; I don't understand. : <big>_f</big>ana me? f?him ??? ?? ???? (''male'')<br><big>_f</big>ana me? fahma ??? ?? ????? (''female'')

    ; Where is the toilet? : f?n <big>_f</big>el-Hamm?m? ??? ???????

    Problems

    : ma??kel ?????

    ; Leave me alone. : s?bni! ????? (''to a male), <br>s?b?ni! ?????? ('' to a female'') <br>s?b?ni! ?????? (''to a group'')

    ; Go away! : <big>_f</big>em?i! ???? (''to a male or a female'')<br><big>_f</big>em?u! ???? (''to a group'')

    ; Don't touch me! : matelmesn??! ?? ??????? (''to a male'')<br>matelm?s?n??! ?? ???????? (''to a female'')

    ; I'll call the police. : <big>_f</big>ana hakallem <big>_f</big>el-bul?s ??? ???? ???????

    ; Police! : bul?s! ?????

    ; Thief! : Harami! ?????

    ; I need help. : <big>_f</big>ana meHt?g mosa<big>`</big>da ??? ????? ?????? (''male speaking'')<br><big>_f</big>ana meHt?ga mosa<big>`</big>da ??? ?????? ?????? (''female'')

    ; It's an emergency. : H?la Tare<big>_f</big>a ???? ?????

    ; I'm lost. : <big>_f</big>ana taayeh ??? ???? (''male speaking'')<br><big>_f</big>ana tayha ??? ????? (''female'')

    ; I lost my purse/handbag. : <big>_f</big>ana Dayya<big>`</big>t ?anTeti ??? ???? ??????

    ; I lost my wallet. : <big>_f</big>ana Dayya<big>`</big>t maHfaZti ??? ???? ??????

    ; I'm sick. : <big>_f</big>ana <big>`</big>ayy?n ??? ???? (''male speaking'')<br><big>_f</big>ana <big>`</big>ayy?na ??? ????? (''female'')

    ; I'm injured. : <big>_f</big>ana met<big>`</big>awwar ??? ????? (''male speaking'')<br><big>_f</big>ana met<big>`</big>awwara ??? ?????? (''female'')

    ; I need a doctor. : <big>_f</big>ana meHt?g dokt?r ??? ????? ????? (''male speaking'')<br> <big>_f</big>ana meHt?ga dokt?r ??? ?????? ????? (''female'')

    ; Can I use your phone? : momken <big>_f</big>asta<big>`</big>mel tel?f?nak? ???? ?????? ???????? (''to a male'')<br> momken <big>_f</big>asta<big>`</big>mel tel?f?nek? ???? ?????? ???????? (''to a female'')<br> mumken <big>_f</big>asta<big>`</big>mel tel?fonku? ???? ?????? ????????? (''to a group'')

    ; Can I use your cell phone? : momken <big>_f</big>asta<big>`</big>mel mobaylak? ???? ?????? ???????? (''to a male'')<br>momken <big>_f</big>asta<big>`</big>mel mobaylek? ???? ?????? ???????? (''to a female'')<br> momken <big>_f</big>asta<big>`</big>mel mobayloku? ???? ?????? ????????? (''to a group'')

    Numbers

    : <big>`</big>arqam ?????

    It is not uncommon to see what is formally called "Eastern Arabic Numerals", in Arabic known as "Indian numbers" (????? ????? arq?m hendeyyah). Be careful in that zero is represented as a dot (?) while five (?) looks like the zero with which we're familiar. Furthermore, numbers are read left-to-right and '''not''' right-to-left as is text.

    ; 0 (?): Sefr ???

    ; 1 (?): w?Hed ????

    ; 2 (?): <big>_f</big>etn?n ?????

    ; 3 (?): tal?ta ?????

    ; 4 (?): <big>_f</big>arba<big>`</big>a ?????

    ; 5 (?): xamsa ????

    ; 6 (?): setta ???

    ; 7 (?): sab<big>`</big>a ????

    ; 8 (?): tamanya ??????

    ; 9 (?): tes<big>`</big>a ????

    ; 10 (??): <big>`</big>a?ara ????

    ; 11 (??): Heda?ar ?????

    ; 12 (??): <big>_f</big>itna?ar ??????

    ; 13 (??): talatta?ar ???????

    ; 14 (??): <big>_f</big>arba<big>`</big>ta?ar ????????

    ; 15 (??): xamasta?ar ???????

    ; 16 (??): setta?ar ?????

    ; 17 (??): saba<big>`</big>ta?ar ???????

    ; 18 (??): tamanta?ar ???????

    ; 19 (??): tesa<big>`</big>ta?ar ???????

    ; 20 (??): <big>`</big>e?r?n ?????

    ; 21 (??): w?Hed we-<big>`</big>??r?n ???? ? ?????

    ; 22 (??): <big>_f</big>etn?n we-<big>`</big>??r?n ????? ? ?????

    ; 23 (??): tal?ta we-<big>`</big>??r?n ????? ? ?????

    ; 30 (??): talat?n ??????

    ; 40 (??): <big>_f</big>arb?<big>`</big>?n ??????

    ; 50 (??): xams?n ?????

    ; 60 (??): s?tt?n ????

    ; 70 (??): sab<big>`</big>?n ?????

    ; 80 (??): taman?n ??????

    ; 90 (??): t?s<big>`</big>?n ?????

    ; 100 (???): meyya ???

    ; 200 (???): met?n ????

    ; 300 (???): toltomeyya ??????

    ; 400 (???): rob<big>`</big>omeyya ??????

    ; 1000 (????? ): <big>_f</big>alf ???

    ; 2000 (?????): <big>_f</big>alf?n ?????

    ; 1,000,000 (?????????): mely?n ?????

    ; number : nemra ???? or raqam ???

    ; half : noSS ??

    ; less : <big>_f</big>a<big>_f</big>all ???

    ; more : <big>_f</big>aktar ????

    Time

    : wa<big>_f</big>t ???

    ; now : delwa<big>_f</big>ti ??????

    ; later : ba<big>`</big>d?n ?????

    ; before : <big>_f</big>abl ???

    ; after : ba<big>`</big>d ???

    ; morning : SabaH ????

    ; in the morning : <big>_f</big>eS-SobH ?????

    ; afternoon : ba<big>`</big>d <big>_f</big>eD-Dohr ??? ?????

    ; in the afternoon : <big>_f</big>eD-Dohr ?????

    ; evening : mesa ??? or mas?<big>_f</big> ????

    ; in the evening : mes?<big>_f</big>an ??????

    ; night : l?la ????

    ; in the night : bel-l?l ?????

    Clock time

    : wa<big>_f</big>t el s?<big>`</big>a ??? ??????

    ; what time is it? : <big>_f</big>es-s?<big>`</big>a k?m? ?????? ????

    ; it is ___ : <big>_f</big>es-s?<big>`</big>a ___ ??????...?

    ; it is 3 o'clock : <big>_f</big>es-s?<big>`</big>a tal?ta (beZZabT) ?????? ????? (??????)?

    ; quarter past : we rob<big>`</big> ? ???

    ; quarter to : <big>_f</big>ella rob<big>`</big> ??? ???

    ; half past : we noSS ? ??

    ; it is half past 3 : <big>_f</big>es-s?<big>`</big>a tal?ta we noSS ?????? ????? ? ??

    Duration

    : el modda ?????

    Days

    : el <big>_f</big>ayy?m ??????

    ; Monday : y?m <big>_f</big>el-etn?n ??? ???????

    ; Tuesday : y?m <big>_f</big>el-tal?t ??? ??????

    ; Wednesday : y?m <big>_f</big>el-<big>_f</big>arba<big>`</big> ??? ??????

    ; Thursday : y?m <big>_f</big>el-xam?s ??? ??????

    ; Friday : y?m <big>_f</big>el-gom<big>`</big>a ??? ??????

    ; Saturday : y?m <big>_f</big>es-sabt ??? ?????

    ; Sunday : y?m <big>_f</big>el-Hadd ??? ????

    Months

    : e?-?oh?r ??????

    ; January : yan?yer ?????

    ; February : febrayer ??????

    ; March : m?res ????

    ; April : ebr?l ?????

    ; May : m?yu ????

    ; June : yonya ?????

    ; July : yolya ?????

    ; August : a?osTos ?????

    ; September : sebtamber ??????

    ; October : okt?bar ???????

    ; November : nofamber ??????

    ; December : d?samber ??????

    Writing time and date

    : ketabet el wa<big>_f</big>t wet-tar?x ????? ????? ? ???????

    Colors

    : alw?n ?????

    ; white : abyaD ????

    ; black : eswed ????

    ; red : aHmar ????

    ; green : axDar ????

    ; blue : azra<big>_f</big> ????

    ; yellow : aSfar ????

    ; orange : borto<big>_f</big>ani ???????

    ; pink : bambi ????

    ; purple : banafsegi ??????

    Transportation

    : el mowaSlat ?????????

    Bus and train

    : el baSS wel-<big>_f</big>aTr ????? ? ?????

    ; Can I buy a ticket? : momken A?teri tazkara? ???? ????? ?????

    ; I will step down in (Heliopolis) : Ana n?zel fe (maSr el-g?d?da) ??? ???? ?? (??? ???????)? (''male speaking'')<br>Ana nazla fe (maSr el-g?d?da) ??? ????? ?? (??? ???????)? (''female'')

    Directions:

    ettegah?t ???????

    ; front : odd?m ????

    ; back : wara ???

    ; right : yem?n ????

    ; left : ?em?l ????

    ; up : f?<big>_f</big> ???

    ; down : taHt ???

    Taxi

    : taksi ?????

    <!-- Dotless ? is intentional, as its pronunciation is in between i - e -->

    ; Can you drive me to (the hospital)? : momken tewaSSalni (elmosta?fa)? ???? ?????? (????????)?