Egypt Discussion Forum

Discussions regarding holidays in Egypt.
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beer? In Arabic is beer

where mc donnalds ? where = fain mc donalds?
where = fain
wheres the bank? Fain el bank?

more beer! Beer zyada
or you say
ana= I
ayaz= want
more beer = Beer zyada
  • Edited by sara_uk 2009-01-23 13:58:29
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Govan Jaggie , it is not offensive if you mix the male/female while speaking in Arabic. Anyhow I speak Arabic as first language, and I never use Arabic while in Egypt unless I have to, most tourists places, taxi etc can speak English fine. It also give me the chance to know what they are saying behind my back, and it always happen, when someone try to be clever and rip that western women off.
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Most Egyptians can talk acceptable standard of English, especially the ones who deal with tourists, so you do not have to learn any Arabic BUT if you throw few words of Arabic around, they will be more wary not to cheat you. I have British friend who lives in Cairo, and she is learning Arabic as she said it defiantly helps to throw few words around.
The best phrase you need to learn is La shukran = no thank you, as you will be offered a lot of things/services you do not want.
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I'll have probably spelt these phrases wrong but I'll spell them as you should say them. These are just a few phrases we learnt during our recent holiday in Taba:-
Beer- Bira
Water- Maya
Wine is Wine- red-Ahmar. White- Abead. Rose- Rose.
Hello- Salemalecwm.
Thank you- Shokran.
Excuse me- Low samat.
Good morning- Saba el kheer.
Good Afternoon- Masaa el kheer.
Hello- Ahlan.
Welcome- Marhaba.
Fork- Choka. Knife- Sakena. Spoon- Malaka. Plate- Tabak
Goodbye- Ma el salama
Friend- Sadiki.

As you can see I was fluent :rofl :rofl :rofl
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Well done Marlou - I do think it helps if you can say a few basic words or phrases. I'll have to brush up on my Spanish before Beni at Easter.
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Hiya all, I'm off on the 27th April and on this trip would like to have a go at the local lingo. I'm ok with most of the basics but I am a bit confused with one word. In what context would I use inshallah (God willing)?
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Hi in sha'allaah nearly always automatically follows each sentence.

ahlan wa sahian = hello, nice to meet you
SabaaH ilkheer = good morning
misaa' ilkheer = good evening
izzayyak = how are you (to a man)
izzayyik = how are you (to a woman)
itneen biira min faDlak = two beers please
ashuufik bukra, in sha'allaah = i'll see you tomorrow god willing
ismak 'eeh = what is your name? (to a man)
ismik 'eeh = what is your name (to a woman)
isma ?? = my name is ??
maasa laama = goodbyebi kam = how much?
mumkin = possible
mish mumkin = not possible
ghaali 'awi = very expensive - this is a good one to use with taxi drivers and shop keepers!
bi balaash = free
tawarek - emergency
men fadlak - please
shay - tea
sokkar - sugar
haliyb - milk
bekam - how much does it cost
badel - change
Kollo Sana wa into tayibeen - It is used for most occasions: Christman, Eed, New year, Birthday etc.
Kollo Sana wa inta tayib : said to a male
Kollo Sana wa inti tayiba: said to a female
Kollo Sana wa into tayibeen: said to a group of people
tammam means "good" "fine" "cool" "perfect and you can also answer miya miya - means 100%
ma-sa-ul-khayr - good afternoon!!
tafad-dal - how are you?
min ay-na anta? Where are you from?
ana inglezi - I am English
hal tata qualam inglesia - do you speak English
My mum is diabetic so this is handy - anaa ma-rii-th bis-suk-kar - I am diabetic
ah-taaj in-su-liin - I need insulin
When inviting someone to have a drink, say tishrab 'eeh? (to a man) or tishrabi 'eeh? (to a woman).
doorit amyya - lavatory
takyiif hawa - air conditioning
mish shaghgaal -not workiing
bit bos ala eh? What are you looking at useful for the women!
imshi - go away - another useful one
huwa zowgi - and another - he is my husband
El ham dulilah - thank god/bless you if you sneeze
Enta magnune - you are crazy to male
Enti magnuna - you are crazy to female

There is no letter P so you will hear them say Bebsi, Shob etc.

Hope you will find some of these useful x
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Hiya nana26, Wow! thanks for this, it will be most helpful.xx
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Hi could someone help with the right phrase here , i had several holidays in Egypt with my husband who sadly died 18 months ago, they always remebered us when we went back and i know they will ask where my husband is, i have bravely or stupidly booked to go back with my children in 11 days time and i would like to be able to explain that he died .
Thanks for your help
Catherine
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Extremely sorry to hear of your sad news. I'm not able to help you with your phrases though :(
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fil mish mish in your dreams
akrass get lost/go away

you could find these useful
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Shockran - thank you
La shockran - no thank you
Maya Maya - very good
Inta Labeat - you idiot
Salam - How are you
Afwan - your welcome

hope they help :D
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hello: Ahlan

yes: aiwa

no: la

thankyou: shukran

no thankyou: la shukran

how much?: bikamp

go away: imshi

good morning: salam elekum

goodbye: marsalama
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Dont kno how to spell it so ill write it how i pronounce it-

Fill-ah-meesh-meesh ... Say it in one go, its equivalent to when the bar men or whoever are looking at you because they fancy abit, you say this and it means, keep dreaming, you wish, never going to happen!!!
Its very good and they laugh their heads off and clap you!!!
Also,
Shock ran means thankyou!

A little bit of their language and they will look after you!! Their appreciative of you learning it!!
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