Useful Egyptian Arabic

Egyptian Arabic is the colloquial language spoken by most modern Egyptians. It evolved from the Classical Arabic of the Quran, and is the most popular form of Arabic used in media.

Here are some phrases which you may find useful during your time in Dahab. While it is possible to get by on English alone, since Dahab is a tourist town and many locals do speak English, using Arabic when you can shows that you respect and embrace the language, culture, and people. Even if your pronunciation isn’t perfect, you will be understood and appreciated.

Please make sure you also check out our FAQ and Useful Contacts pages.
 

Words & Phrases

Hello    Is salām 'alaykum

Response to ‘hello’    Wa ‘alaykum is salām

How are you?    
To a male: Izayyak (or) 'Aamil ey?
To a female: Izayyik or 'Amla ey?

Reply to ‘how are you?’   
As a male: Kwayyis, al hamdulillah, wa inta?
As a female: Kwayyisa, al hamdulillah, wa inti?
(I’m well, thanks to God, and you?)

What’s your name?    
To a male: Ismak ey?
To a female: Ismik ey?

My name is…    Ismee (your name here)

I’m from…    Ana miin (your country here)

Good morning    Sabā il kẖayr (morning of goodness)

Response to ‘good morning’    Sabā il noor (morning of light)

Goodbye    Ma'is salāma

Thank you    Shukrān

You’re welcome    'Afwan

Please/excuse me    Lo samaht

Sorry    
As a male: Ana aasif
As a female: Ana aasifa

Where is the toilet?    El ḥammām fain?

How much is this?    Bikam da?

Yes    Aiwa

No    La’

I don’t understand    
As a male: Ana mish fahem
As a female: Ana mish fahma

I don’t speak Arabic    Ana mish bitkallim Araby

May I?   Mumkin

Water    Maya

Happy birthday    
To a male: Kol senna w’enta tayeb
To a female: Kole senna w’enti tayeeba

I want/need    
As a male: Aiz
As a female: Aiza

Numbers

0    ٠    Sifr
1    ١    Waahid
2    ٢    Itnein
3    ٣    Talaata
4    ٤    Arba’a
5    ٥    Khamsa
6    ٦    Sitta
7    ٧    Sab’ah
8    ٨    Tamanya
9    ٩    Tis’ah
10    ١٠    Ashara
11    ١١    Hadaashar
12    ١٢    Itnaashar
13    ١٣    Talaattaashar
14    ١٤    Arbataashar
15    ١٥    Khamastaashar
16    ١٦    Sittaashar
17    ١٧    Sabataashar
18    ١٨    Tamantaashar
19    ١٩    Tisataashar
20    ٢٠    Eshriin
21    ٢١    Waahid w’eshriin
22    ٢٢    Itnein w’eshriin
23    ٢٣    Talaata w’eshriin
24    ٢٤    Arba’a w’eshriin
25    ٢٥    Khamsa w’eshriin
26    ٢٦    Sitta w’eshriin
27    ٢٧    Sab’ah w’eshriin
28    ٢٨    Tamanya w’eshriin
29    ٢٩    Tis’ah w’eshriin
30    ٣٠    Talatiin
40    ٤٠    Arba’iin
50    ٥٠    Khamsiin
60    ٦٠    Sittiin
70    ٧٠    Saba’iin
80    ٨٠    Tamaniin
90    ٩٠    Tisa’iin
100    ١٠٠    Meyya
200    ٢٠٠    Metein
300    ٣٠٠    Tultomeyya
400    ٤٠٠    Ruba’omeyya
500    ٥٠٠    Khumsomeyya
600    ٦٠٠    Suttomeyya
700    ٧٠٠    Suba’omeyya
800    ٨٠٠    Tumnomeyya
900    ٩٠٠    Tusa’omeyya
1000    ١٠٠٠    Alf

For numbers 31-99, the same format for 21-29 is followed. 31, for example, is waahid w’talatiin which means 1 and 30. 68 would be “8 and 60,” tamanya w’sittiin, and so on.

We’ve provided the numbers written in Arabic as well, which could be helpful while shopping, sharing phone numbers, reading dates, etc.