The Phrase “Ba2olak ey” in Egyptian Arabic: How To Use It

Ba2olak eh is one of the most common Egyptian Arabic phrases. In fact, you will quite literally hear it in just about every conversation.

But what does it mean, and how exactly do you use it?

Let’s find out!

The Phrase “Ba2olak ey”: What It Means

Ba2olak eh (to male) or ba2olek eh (to female), is literally a question that means “What am I saying to you?”

However, this is not the way its used in Egyptian Arabic. Instead, this phrase is used as a way to grab someone’s attention before telling them something. It’s more like “Hey, listen” or “I want to tell you something.”

This phrase is a very casual thing to say, and can be used in many different ways: as a conversation starter, in the middle of a conversation as a kind of “filler” phrase, before asking a question, making a suggestion, or even threatening someone!

It’s important to not here that you can use the word ana (I / انت) at the beginning of the phrase, but people often don’t.

The Phrase “Ba2olak ey”: Example Sentences

As you will see with the examples below, ba2olak ey can be used in a variety of different situations.

Example 1

Hey listen, would you like to go (Lit. You come we go) to moez street? : Ba2olak eh, tegi nroo7 share3 elmoez?

.بقولك ايه؟ تيجي نروح شارع المعز

No let’s drop it for today, I have work that will finish late. : La2 fakis elnharda, 3andi shoghl haykhlas met2khar.

.لا فاكس، عندي شغل هيخلص متأخر

Explanation

While this sounds slightly weird / unnatural in English, starting off a harmless question with “ba2olak ey” is normal in Egyptian Arabic.

Example 2

Hey listen, do you remember Mazen that we met in Sahel (North Coast)? : Ba2olak eh, faker Mazen el 2ablnah f elsa7el?

بقولك ايه؟ فاكر مازن اللي قابلناه في الساحل؟

Yes, I do, what about him? : Ah fakro, malo?

اه فاكره, ماله؟

He was asking me to join his team to play football. : Kan by2oli al3ab ma3ah kora f fare2o.

.كان بيقولي العب معاه كرة في فريقه

Here’s how to talk about football in Egyptian Arabic, if you need more vocab.

Explanation

Here the phrase ba2olak ey is starting off a question again, but this time it’s opening the door for a conversation. This is kind of like saying “Hey listen, I have to tell you something, and let’s talk about it after I do.”

Example 3

Did you watch that movie? : Shoft elfilm da?

شفت الفيلم ه؟

(Same person) Heeey, listen, its so sick!! You have to watch it. : Ba2olek eh, gamed fashkh, lazem tshofeh.

.بقولك ايه، جامد فشخ! لازم تشوفيه

We wrote a post about how to go the cinema in Egyptian Arabic. Give it a look!

Explanation

In this example they already started the conversation and he has no need to grab her attention. Ba2olak ey is basically a filler word before saying something (maybe to highlight it).

Example 4

Hey listen, how much is the Iphone? I am thinking about getting one. : Ba2olak eh, hwa el iphone bkam delwa2ti? Ana bafkar agyb wa7ed.

.بقولك ايه، هو ال ايفون بكام دلوقتي، بفكر اجيب واحد

I don’t know, probably in the range of 20K (Egyptian pounds). : Mesh 3aref, bas f 7dod 20K (gneh).

.مش عارف، بس في حدود عشرين الف 

Explanation

This is when the first person is making a potential plan, and the second person potentially has information that can help them.

Using The Phrase More Aggressively

Here is an advanced tip: ba2olak eh can also be used as a type of a threat.

This might happen when you are tired of a situation or the way someone is asking and you want to wrap it up in an aggressive way.

When used with the right tone and a little pause,  it could mean something like “Hey listen here, I’m not taking this shit anymore.”

Examples

Hey listen, leave me alone! : Ba2olak eeeeh, fokak meni!

!بقولك اييييه، فكك مني

Hey listen, shut up for a while! : Ba2olak eeeh, o3od saket shwya!

!بقولك ايه اقعد ساكت شوية

Hey listen… I will beat you up! : Ba2olak eeeeh, (pause) ha2omlak.

!بقولك اييييه… هقوملك

Ha2omlak literally means “I will stand up to you,” but that’s it. This is up to the listener’s interpretation. It’s usually not said in an overly serious way, and is often used between friends when one of them is just being annoying.

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Happy learning,

Cleo Lingo