Praktisch · Kapitel 16
Arabic Phrasebook
Egyptian Arabic (Masri) is the most widely understood Arabic dialect — thanks to the Egyptian film industry, Arabs from Morocco to Iraq understand Egyptian. A few words in Arabic open hearts and doors. Here are the most important expressions for everyday life.
Basics
| German | Egyptian Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | أهلاً | Ahlan |
| Hello (response) | أهلاً وسهلاً | Ahlan wa sahlan |
| Good morning | صباح الخير | Sabah el-kheir |
| Good evening | مساء الخير | Masa' el-kheir |
| How are you? | إزيّك؟ (m) / إزيّك؟ (f) | Izzayyak? (m) / Izzayyik? (f) |
| I'm fine | الحمد لله | El-hamdu lillah |
| Please | من فضلك | Min fadlak (m) / Min fadlik (f) |
| Thank you | شكراً | Shukran |
| Thank you very much | شكراً جزيلاً | Shukran gazilan |
| Yes | أيوه | Aiwa |
| No | لا | La |
| No, thank you | لا شكراً | La, shukran |
| Sorry | آسف | Aasif (m) / Asfa (f) |
| Goodbye | مع السلامة | Ma'a salama |
| If God wills | إن شاء الله | Inshallah |
On the Go
| German | Egyptian Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is...? | فين...؟ | Fein...? |
| How much does this cost? | بكام ده؟ | Bikam da? |
| Too expensive! | غالي أوي! | Ghali awi! |
| Last price? | آخر سعر؟ | Akher se'r? |
| Right | يمين | Yimiin |
| Left | شمال | Shimal |
| Straight ahead | على طول | Ala tuul |
| Stop / Halt | وقّف | Wa''af |
| Hotel | فندق | Fundu' |
| Restaurant | مطعم | Mat'am |
| Train station | محطة | Mahatta |
| Airport | مطار | Mataar |
In the Restaurant
| German | Egyptian Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| The bill, please | الحساب، من فضلك | El-hesab, min fadlak |
| Water | مية | Mayya |
| Tea | شاي | Shai |
| Coffee | قهوة | Ahwa |
| Without sugar | من غير سكر | Min gheir sukkar |
| With a little sugar | على الريحة | Ala er-riiha |
| Medium sweet | مظبوط | Mazbout |
| Bread | عيش | Aish |
| Rice | رز | Ruz |
| Meat | لحمة | Lahma |
| Chicken | فراخ | Firaakh |
| Fish | سمك | Samak |
| Delicious! | حلو أوي! | Helw awi! |
Numbers
| Number | Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | واحد | Wahed |
| 2 | اتنين | Itnein |
| 3 | تلاتة | Talaata |
| 4 | أربعة | Arba'a |
| 5 | خمسة | Khamsa |
| 6 | ستة | Sitta |
| 7 | سبعة | Sab'a |
| 8 | تمانية | Tamania |
| 9 | تسعة | Tis'a |
| 10 | عشرة | Ashara |
| 20 | عشرين | Ishriin |
| 50 | خمسين | Khamsiin |
| 100 | مية | Miyya |
| 1000 | ألف | Alf |
Emergency & Help
| German | Egyptian Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | !النجدة | En-nagda! |
| I need a doctor | عايز دكتور | Ayez doktoor (m) / Ayza (f) |
| Where is the hospital? | فين المستشفى؟ | Fein el-mustashfa? |
| I don't understand | مش فاهم | Mish fahem (m) / Mish fahma (f) |
| I don't speak Arabic | مش بتكلّم عربي | Mish batkallim arabi |
| Do you speak English? | بتتكلّم إنجليزي؟ | Bititkallim ingleezi? |
| Police | بوليس / شرطة | Buliis / Shurta |
| Embassy | سفارة | Sifaara |
At the Bazaar
| German | Egyptian Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| How much? | بكام؟ | Bikam? |
| This is too expensive | ده غالي | Da ghali |
| Can you make it cheaper? | ممكن أرخص؟ | Mumkin arkhas? |
| I'm just looking | بتفرّج بس | Batfarrag bass |
| I don't want this | مش عايز ده | Mish ayez da |
| Last price | آخر كلام | Akher kalaam |
| Agreed! / Deal! | !تمام | Tamam! |
| I'll come back | هرجع تاني | Harga' tani |
Tipp
"La, shukran" (No, thank you) is your most important phrase in Egypt. Say it kindly but firmly — and move on. If you stop and discuss, you signal interest and the negotiation begins.
Cultural Expressions
You hear these expressions constantly in Egypt — knowing them helps to understand the culture:
| Expression | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| إن شاء الله | Inshallah | "If God wills" — used in response to almost any question about the future. Can mean: Yes, maybe, probably not, never. |
| الحمد لله | El-hamdu lillah | "Thank God" — standard response to "How are you?" and an expression of gratitude. |
| ما شاء الله | Mashallah | "What God willed" — admiration, amazement, also protection against the evil eye. |
| يلّا | Yalla | "Let's go! Come on! Let's get going!" — the universal motivator. |
| يلّا يلّا | Yalla yalla | "Quick, quick!" — especially popular in taxis. |
| خلاص | Khalas | "Finished! Done! Enough!" — ends any discussion. |
| حبيبي / حبيبتي | Habibi (m) / Habibti (f) | "My darling / sweetheart" — used liberally, even among strangers. |
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