Basic Egyptian Arabic Phrases for Travellers

Egypt speaks its own dialect of Arabic - Egyptian Arabic (Masri) - which differs significantly from the Modern Standard Arabic taught in textbooks. Egyptian Arabic is the most widely understood dialect in the Arab world thanks to Egyptian cinema and music. While the written language uses Arabic script, we have provided phonetic transliterations below. English is spoken in tourist infrastructure, but local markets, taxis and neighbourhood restaurants operate almost entirely in Arabic.

Greetings and Basics

English	Egyptian Arabic	Pronunciation
Hello	Ahlan	AH-lan
Hello (formal)	Assalamu alaikum	as-sa-LA-mu a-LAY-kum
Goodbye	Ma’a salama	MA-a sa-LA-ma
Please	Min fadlak (m) / Min fadlik (f)	min FAD-lak / min FAD-lik
Thank you	Shukran	SHUK-ran
Yes	Aywa	AY-wa
No	La’	LA
Excuse me	Law samaht	law sa-MAHT
Sorry	Ana asef (m) / Ana asfa (f)	a-na A-sef / a-na AS-fa
How are you?	Izzayak? (m) / Izzayik? (f)	iz-ZAY-ak / iz-ZAY-ik

Getting Around

English	Egyptian Arabic	Pronunciation
Where is…?	Fein…?	FEIN
How much is it?	Bi kam da?	bi KAM da
Left	Shimal	shi-MAL
Right	Yimeen	yi-MEEN
Stop here	Hena kwayyes	HE-na KWAY-yes
Taxi	Taxi	TAK-si
Bus station	Mahattit al-otobees	ma-HAT-tit al-o-to-BEES
Airport	Matar	ma-TAR
I don’t understand	Mish fahem (m) / Mish fahma (f)	mish FA-hem / mish FAH-ma
Too expensive	Ghali awi	GHA-li A-wi

Food and Dining

English	Egyptian Arabic	Pronunciation
The menu, please	El-menu, law samaht	el-ME-nu law sa-MAHT
The bill, please	El-hesab, law samaht	el-he-SAB law sa-MAHT
Water	Mayya	MAY-ya
Delicious	Helw awi	HEL-w A-wi
Not spicy	Min gheir harr	min GHEIR HARR
I am vegetarian	Ana nabati	a-na na-BA-ti
Bread	Eish	EISH
Tea	Shai	SHAI
Coffee	Ahwa	AH-wa
Cheers!	Fi sehetak!	fi se-HE-tak

Numbers

Number	Egyptian Arabic	Pronunciation
1	Wahed	WA-hed
2	Itnein	it-NEIN
3	Talata	ta-LA-ta
4	Arba’a	ar-BA-a
5	Khamsa	KHAM-sa
6	Sitta	SIT-ta
7	Sab’a	SAB-a
8	Tamanya	ta-MAN-ya
9	Tis’a	TIS-a
10	Ashara	A-sha-ra

Emergency Phrases

English	Egyptian Arabic	Pronunciation
Help!	Elhaoni!	el-ha-OO-ni
Hospital	Mustashfa	mus-TASH-fa
Police	Bolees	bo-LEES
I need a doctor	Ana ayz doktor (m) / Ana ayza doktor (f)	a-na AYZ dok-TOR
Call an ambulance	Etasal bi al-is’af	et-A-sal bi al-is-AF

A few pronunciation notes for Egyptian Arabic: the “kh” sound is a throaty rasp from the back of the mouth (like clearing your throat gently), and the “gh” is its voiced equivalent. The letter “ain” (represented by the apostrophe in words like “sab’a”) is a constriction of the throat that has no English equivalent - if you cannot produce it, simply skip it and you will still be understood. One essential cultural tip: when someone does you a favour, respond with “shukran giddan” (thank you very much) and you will see an immediate smile.

See Also

• Egypt etiquette and customs - dress codes, religious practices, and cultural norms that complement the language basics
• Egypt tipping guide - the baksheesh system explained with amounts for every situation

Guided tours of Egypt are a practical context in which to practise the basics above - local guides appreciate the effort and will often correct pronunciation in a helpful way.

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