Egypt Travel Guide: Useful Egyptian Words and Phrases
When traveling to a foreign country, there is nothing worse than experiencing language barriers. Although a majority of big cities in the world nowadays speak English (or a little of it), a lot still maintain their native tongue. If you are going to travel to a country such as Egypt, you should know that a majority of the populace speaks their native language and not English.
As a visitor to this foreign land, you simply cannot expect them to understand your language whenever you attempt to communicate with the locals. Since you are the tourist, learning a few words and popular key phrases is a wise idea before you get on the plane headed towards Egypt.
In this country, a minority of the inhabitants speaks certain dialects but the predominant language spoken is the Egyptian Arabic. Therefore, if you are headed to some of the big cities, learning a few of the basic phrases and words in Arabic will be beneficial to you. While you may get by using a phrase book for a short stay in Egypt, those of you who are planning to stay longer for work, study or business should think about enrolling in a language class to learn Egyptian Arabic. This will help you learn the right pronunciation and tenses and grammar that will facilitate better communication. If you need to have some documents translated, however, it is best to hire the services of a professional language translation agency to ensure that your documents are translated accurately and efficiently.
World Interpreting, Inc. is a company that specializes in professional language translation services. It is our goal is to provide clients with accurate translation in Egyptian Arabic and in almost all languages. With every translation work that we do, we make it a point to submit only the highest quality of work possible. Our company’s objective is to provide unparalleled customer service, to ensure that each and every client is treated professionally, no matter how small or how big the project may be. We guarantee the quality of our work as a corporate member of the American Translators Association (ATA). World Interpreting, Inc. aims to provide you with fast and accurate translations, anytime, anywhere.
If you are in need of document translation, whether for your business, school or personal needs, please contact us now using the online formprovided. For faster response, you can also opt to email your documents to info@worldinterpreting.com.
Egypt Useful Words and Phrases – (Useful Arabic Words and Phrases)
Listed below are some of the most common words and useful phrases you can use while visiting the wonderful and historic country of Egypt.
Basic Greetings
Welcome
Hello
(response)
ahlan wa sahlan
(response)
How are you?
I’m fine, thanks. And you?
What’s your name?
My name is …
Where are you from?
I’m from …
Pleased to meet you
Nice to meet you
Good morning
(response)
Good afternoon/evening
(response)
Good night
(response)
Goodbye
Good luck
Have a nice day
Bon appetit
(response)
Bon voyage
(response)
Yes
No
ahlan wa sahlan
is salām ‘alaykum
wa ‘alaykum is salām
–
ahlan beek
Ez zayyak? (m) / ez zayyek ? (f)
m/f/pl – izayyak/izayyik/izayyuku
esmak eh? / ma esmok?
esmi…
Inta/inti minayn?
ana min …
tašarrafna
Saadot belkak
sabah el-kheir
ṣabā in noor
masa el-kheir
misa’ in noor
tesbah ala kheir
winta min ahla
bai, ma’is salāma/ salam
hazz sa’eed
youm sa’eed
bil hana wish shifa’!
allah yihanneek/i
tirooh wa tigi bis salaama!
allah yisallimak/yisallimik
Naam, aywa
La
Basic Phrases
I don’t understand
Please speak more slowly
Could you repeat that?
I speak English
Do you speak English?
Can you help me?
What time is it?
Please write it down
Do you speak Arabic?
How do you say … ?
Excuse me
How much is this?
Sorry / Excuse Me
Thank you
Reply
Where’s the toilet?
I love you
to a woman – (ana baħibbik)
Call the police!
Happy Birthday
I am from America
I am an American
We are American.
ana mišh fāhem
mumkin titkallim bilrrāha
mumkin ti’ool/ee taani?
Ana batkallem inglizi
Int betetkalem inglizi?
Mumken tsaa’dni?
El-saa kam?
mumkin tiktibuh/tiktibeeh?
Ma-batkallamsh ‘arabi?
Izzay a’ ool …?
‘an iznak/iznik/izniku – m/f/pl
bikam da?
Aseef
mut shakkrān / shukrān / shukrān gazēlan
‘afwan
el-ḥammām fain?
to a man – (ana uħibbuk)
–
itaṣṣal bil bulees
kull sana wa inta tayyib (for male)/ kull sana wa inti tayyiba (for female)
Ana min Amrika
Ana Amriki (m), Ana Amrikeya (f),
Ahna Amrikaneyeen
Note on Greetings:
When you are saying hello or goodbyes, you should utter the phrase “asalamu alaykum.” On the other hand, your response to this phrase when spoken to you should be “wa alaykum esalam.”
Other popular words and phrases:
Hi
Good morning
Welcome:
Response to the above welcome:
How
How are you:
Good
I’m fine.
And you?
Thank you (very much):
You’re welcome
Please
I missed you.
Can I take your picture?
Would you take my picture?
Ahlan
Sabah el khair
Ahlan or Ahlan wa sahlan
Ahlan beek (m), beeki (f), beekom (p)
Izay
Izayak (m), Izayik (f), Izayokum(p)
kwaYes
ana kwaYes (m), ana kwayesa (f) ahna
Winta (m), winti(f), wintoo (p)
Shookrun (gazeelan)
Ahlan beka
Men fadlak (m) / men fadlik (f)
Ahashtini (m), wahashteeni (f)
Hal yomken an akhoz lak sora?
Hal toheb an takhoz soraty?
Egypt Useful Words and Phrases – When Asking for Directions
When does the … arrive?
When does the … leave?
I want to go to …
Stop here, please.
Can you wait for me?
Can you get me a taxi?
Wait.
I need a tourist policeman.
I need a ticket, please.
Where is a photo shop?
Can I smoke here?
I must leave tomorrow.
Where are your restrooms?
Where is … ?
Is it near?
Is it far?
Can you take me to this address?
I will get my own taxi.
I will get out of here.
Please slow down.
Go straight, please.
Turn left, please.
Turn right, please.
Can you wait for me here?
Airplane
Airport
Bus
Ticket
Change
Customs
Station
Porter
Train
Suitcase
Arrival
Departure
Delay
Bus station
Travel agent
On the left
On the right
Above
Below
Outside / in front of
Behind
Here
Before
After
Over there
North
South
West
East
Street
Village
Town
Sea
Car
Driver
Hire
Bridge
Gate
Road
Taxi
Emta wussul…
Emta qiyam …
Ayez arrouh ella …
Wakeff hena men fadlak.
Mumkin tantazirni?
Hal yomken an tohder lee taxi?
Intazir.
Oreed ragol shorted al seyaha.
Menfadlak aoreed tazkara.
Ayn yogad studio el tasweer?
Hal youmken le an odakhen hona?
La bod an arhal ghadan.
Ayn dawret al meyah?
Fein … ?
Hal qarieb?
Hal baied?
Hal yomken an takhozny ela haza alaonwan?
Sawf asqatel taxi.
Sawf akhrog men hona.
Men fadlak abte’ al soraa.
Etageh lel amam.
Etageh yamenan.
Etageh yasaran.
Hal youmken an tantazerony hona?
tayara
matter
auto bees
tazkara
sarf / taghieer
gumruk
mahatta
shaial / hammal
atre / kittar
shanta
wussul
zehab
taakhear
mehatet el-autobees
wikalat safar
shmal
yamin
fuq
that
uddam
wara
hena
abl
baa’d
henak
shamal
janub
gharb
sharq
shari
qaria
medina
bahr
sayara
sawaq
ejar / ajar
kubri
bab
tariq
taxi
Egypt Useful Words and Phrases – When Shopping
I want to pay for this.
Can I pay in euros?
Who is in charge?
Can I speak to your manager?
Leave me alone.
I would like to change some money.
Have you any change?
Where can I buy … ?
How much?
How much does this cost?
How much is this?
How much is that?
It’s too expensive.
That’s fine. /Perfect.
Money
Coins/change
Price
A little
A lot
Grocer
Baker
Shop
Bookshop
Newspaper
Book
Jeweller
Gold
Silver
Iron
Bronze
Copper
Terracotta
Silk
Cotton
Synthetic
Wool
Glass
Paper
Original
Imitation
White
Black
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Orange
Pink
Purple
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Ten
Fifty
One hundred
Five hundred
One thousand
Oreed an adfaa lehaza.
Hal yomkeny an adfaa bel euro?
Man al masoul?
Hal yomkeny al tahadoth maa moderak?
Etrokny wahdy.
Ayez asarraf fuluss.
Andokom fakka?
Fein mumken ashtari … ?
Bekam?
Bekam haza?
Bi kam di?
Bi kam da?
Ghali awi.
Tamam.
fuluss
fakka
el-taman
shuaya
keteer
baqqal
khabbaz
mahal
maktaba
journaal
kitab
sayegh
dahab
fadda
hadid
bronz
nehas
fokhar
harir
gotn
polyester / synthetic
souf
ezaz
waraq
assli
taa-leed / taqlead
abiad
asuad
ahmar
akhdar
azrak
asfar
burtuqali
wardi
banafsegy
wahed
etnein
talata
arbaa
khamsa
sitta
sabaa
tamania
ashraara
khamsin
mia
khams mia
alf
Egypt Useful Words and Phrases – When Dining Out
Can you recommend a restaurant?
Do you have beer?
May I have the tab, please?
May I have more ice, please
I need a table for four.
May I have a bottle of water, please.
Restaurant
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Water
Mineral water
Wine
Juice
Glass
Plate
Bread
Butter
Olives
Cheese
Salad
Vegetables
Meat
Chicken
Fish
Dessert
Ice cream
Coffee
Coffee without sugar
Tea
Sugar
Milk
Hot
Cold
Hal youmken an torasheh mataam?
Hal ugad ladaykom beera?
Momken, el-he-ssab men fadlak?
Hal le mazeed min al thalg?
Oreed trabeza larbaat ashkhas.
Hal yomken an aakhoz zogaget meyah?
mataam
fetar
ghada
asha
mayya
mayya maadania
nebite
assir
kas
tabaq
aish
zebda
zeitun
jibna
salata
khodar
lahma
dajaj
samak
helu
ice cream
ahua
ahua sada
shay
sokkar
halib
sokhn
bared
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