๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ฌ

Egypt ยท Arabic (Egyptian) Travel Phrases

The most useful local expressions, ordered by importance. Pronunciations are approximate.

Greetings

  1. 1
    ุงู„ุณู„ุงู… ุนู„ูŠูƒู…
    Hello (peace be upon you) “as-salaamu alaykum”
  2. 2
    ุฅุฒูŠูƒุŸ
    How are you? (Egyptian way to ask) “izzayyak?”
  3. 3
    ุดูƒุฑุงู‹
    Thank you “shukran”
  4. 4
    ุฃู‡ู„ุงู‹
    Hi / Welcome “ahlan”
  5. 5
    ู…ู† ูุถู„ูƒ
    Please / Excuse me “min fadlak”
  6. 6
    ู…ุนู„ุด
    It's okay / Sorry / Never mind (all-purpose) “maalesh”
  7. 7
    ุฅู† ุดุงุก ุงู„ู„ู‡
    Inshallah (God willing) “inshallah”
  8. 8
    ู…ุน ุงู„ุณู„ุงู…ุฉ
    Goodbye “maa as-salaama”
Local etiquette
  • Egyptians exchange long greetings and small talk. A simple "izzayyak?" instantly warms things up.
  • Same-sex handshakes are warm, and close friends may kiss cheeks. With the opposite sex, only shake hands if they offer first.
  • The left hand is considered unclean โ€” shake hands, pass things, and eat with the right hand.

Basics

  1. 1
    ุฃูŠูˆุฉ / ู„ุฃ
    Yes / No (Egyptian colloquial) “aywa / laa”
  2. 2
    ู…ุด ูุงู‡ู…
    I don't understand “mish faahim”
  3. 3
    ุจุชุชูƒู„ู… ุฅู†ุฌู„ูŠุฒูŠุŸ
    Do you speak English? “bititkallim ingliizi?”
  4. 4
    ู„ุฃ ุดูƒุฑุงู‹
    No, thank you (to refuse touts) “laa shukran”
  5. 5
    ู…ุด ุนุงูŠุฒ
    I don't want it / I'm not buying “mish aayiz”
  6. 6
    ููŠู† ุงู„ุญู…ุงู…ุŸ
    Where is the restroom? “fein al-hammaam?”
  7. 7
    ูƒุงู…ุŸ
    How much? / How many? “kaam?”
  8. 8
    ุณุงุนุฏู†ูŠ ู…ู† ูุถู„ูƒ
    Please help me “saaidni min fadlak”
Local etiquette
  • Touts and tip-seekers are common at sights. If you're not interested, smile and firmly repeat "laa shukran" (no, thank you).
  • Someone may 'help' or guide you unasked, then demand a tip. If you didn't ask, you don't have to pay.
  • "Maalesh" is an all-purpose word meaning "it's okay / sorry / never mind."

Shopping

  1. 1
    ุจูƒุงู… ุฏู‡ุŸ
    How much is this? “bikaam da?”
  2. 2
    ุบุงู„ูŠ ุฃูˆูŠ
    That's way too expensive “ghaali awi”
  3. 3
    ุขุฎุฑ ูƒู„ุงู… ูƒุงู…ุŸ
    What's your final price? (to close a bargain) “aakhir kalaam kaam?”
  4. 4
    ุฃู†ุง ุจุณ ุจุชูุฑุฌ
    I'm just looking “ana bass batfarrag”
  5. 5
    ุนุงูŠุฒ ุฏู‡
    I'll take this “aayiz da”
  6. 6
    ุจุชุงุฎุฏ ููŠุฒุงุŸ
    Do you take cards? (only bigger stores) “bitaakhud viza?”
Local etiquette
  • Bargaining is expected in bazaars like Khan el-Khalili. Start at about 30โ€“50% of the first price asked.
  • If you're only browsing, say "ana bass batfarrag" (I'm just looking) to ease the pressure.
  • Cash (Egyptian pounds) rules; only big stores take cards, so carry plenty of small notes.

Restaurant

  1. 1
    ุงู„ู…ู†ูŠูˆ ู…ู† ูุถู„ูƒ
    The menu, please “al-menyu min fadlak”
  2. 2
    ุชู†ุตุญู†ูŠ ุจุฅูŠู‡ุŸ
    What do you recommend? “tinsahni bi-eh?”
  3. 3
    ู…ู† ุบูŠุฑ ู„ุญู…ุฉ
    Without meat, please “min gheir lahma”
  4. 4
    ู…ูŠู‘ุฉ ู…ู† ูุถู„ูƒ
    Water, please (bottled) “mayya min fadlak”
  5. 5
    ุดุงูŠ ู…ู† ูุถู„ูƒ
    Tea (shai), please “shaai min fadlak”
  6. 6
    ุนู†ุฏูŠ ุญุณุงุณูŠุฉ
    I have an allergy “indi hasaasiyya”
  7. 7
    ุงู„ุญุณุงุจ ู…ู† ูุถู„ูƒ
    The bill, please “al-hisaab min fadlak”
  8. 8
    ุงู„ุฎุฏู…ุฉ ู…ุดู…ูˆู„ุฉุŸ
    Is service included? “al-khidma mashmoola?”
Local etiquette
  • Tipping (baksheesh) is strong here โ€” around 10% at restaurants, more if no service charge is added.
  • Drink only sealed bottled water; tap water and ice can upset your stomach.
  • If offered shai (tea) or karkadeh (hibiscus tea), accepting is seen as polite.
  • During Ramadan many places close by day and get busy at sunset for iftar.

Getting around

  1. 1
    ุนุงูŠุฒ ุฃุฑูˆุญ ู‡ู†ุง
    I want to go here (show the address) “aayiz aruuh hena”
  2. 2
    ุจูƒุงู… ู„ู„ู…ูƒุงู† ุฏู‡ุŸ
    How much to this place? (agree before riding) “bikaam lil-makaan da?”
  3. 3
    ุดุบู‘ู„ ุงู„ุนุฏุงุฏ
    Turn on the meter “shaghghal al-addaad”
  4. 4
    ููŠู† ู…ุญุทุฉ ุงู„ู…ุชุฑูˆุŸ
    Where is the metro station? “fein mahattat al-metro?”
  5. 5
    ุนู„ู‰ ุงู„ูŠู…ูŠู† / ุงู„ุดู…ุงู„
    To the right / left “ala al-yamiin / ash-shimaal”
  6. 6
    ู‡ู†ุง ูƒูˆูŠุณ
    Stop here, please “hena kwayyis”
  7. 7
    ุงุณุชู†ู‰ ุดูˆูŠุฉ
    Wait a moment, please “istanna shwayya”
Local etiquette
  • Agree the fare before getting into a street taxi โ€” meters are often 'off'. Uber and Careem are easier and safer.
  • Cairo's metro has women-only cars โ€” men should not board them.
  • Carry small change; drivers often claim to have none to keep the difference.

Hotel

  1. 1
    ุนู†ุฏูŠ ุญุฌุฒ
    I have a reservation “indi hajz”
  2. 2
    ุนุงูŠุฒ ุฃุนู…ู„ ุชุดูŠูƒ ุฅู†
    I'd like to check in “aayiz aamil check-in”
  3. 3
    ุงู„ุชุดูŠูƒ ุฃูˆุช ุงู„ุณุงุนุฉ ูƒุงู…ุŸ
    What time is check-out? “at-check-out as-saaa kaam?”
  4. 4
    ู…ู…ูƒู† ุชุญูุธ ุดู†ุทุชูŠุŸ
    Could you hold my luggage? “mumkin tihfaz shantiti?”
  5. 5
    ุจุงุณูˆุฑุฏ ุงู„ูˆุงูŠ ูุงูŠุŸ
    What's the Wi-Fi password? “password al-wai-fai?”
Local etiquette
  • A small baksheesh (5โ€“20 pounds) is customary for porters and anyone who helps or guides you.
  • When visiting mosques or churches, cover shoulders and knees; women should bring a scarf.

Emergency

  1. 1
    ุงู„ู†ุฌุฏุฉ!
    Help! (emergency) “an-najda!”
  2. 2
    ุงุชุตู„ ุจุงู„ุจูˆู„ูŠุณ
    Call the police “ittasil bil-boliis”
  3. 3
    ุงุชุตู„ ุจุงู„ุฅุณุนุงู
    Call an ambulance “ittasil bil-isaaf”
  4. 4
    ููŠู† ุงู„ู…ุณุชุดูู‰ุŸ
    Where is the hospital? “fein al-mustashfa?”
  5. 5
    ุถุงุน ุฌูˆุงุฒ ุณูุฑูŠ
    I lost my passport “daaa jawaaz safari”
  6. 6
    ุฃู†ุง ุชุนุจุงู†
    I feel sick “ana taabaan”
Local etiquette
  • Emergency numbers: police 122, ambulance 123, tourist police 126. The tourist police handle issues at sights.
  • Don't photograph people (especially women), soldiers, police, bridges or government sites; always ask permission first.