Let’s be honest – every language is full of bad words. Learning them (even if you don’t use them) is essential. That’s why we made this post about bad words in Egyptian Arabic: to show you the way the language actually works!

Below you will find two main sections of bad words in Egyptian Arabic: mild and vulgar. The first section can usually be used without any huge consequences. But the vulgar Egyptian Arabic words? Even with your friends, you’re in risky territory if you start throwing those around. We’ve also included some common responses you might have to hearing these bad words in Egyptian Arabic, as well as a very important “culture corner” section. 

Bad Words In Egyptian Arabic (Mild)

Here’s a list of common bad words in Egyptian Arabic. We start out relatively mild, and jump to the really bad ones in the next section.

Idiot / Stupid (masculine). : Ghabi.

.غبي

Idiot / Stupid (feminine). : Ghabeyya.

.غبية

Annoying (masculine). : Mota3eb.

.متعب

Annoying (feminine). : Mota3eba.

.متعبة

You donkey! : 7omar!

!حمار

This one is kind of a funny word, but it’s considered an insult in Egyptian Arabic. Basically saying that somebody is really stupid or foolish or acting without thinking.

Quite the shame – I like donkeys!

Damn it! : ya 5arabi!

!يا خرابي

Fucking (adverb / “intensifier”)… :….fashkh.

.فشخ…

In Egyptian Arabic, this is a common (but crass) way of saying “really” or “very”. Basically like saying “It was fucking great”:

Kan 7elw feshkh. : .كان حلو فشخ

The word will always come at the end of the sentences.

Screw you. : ye5reb beetak. 

.يخرب بيتك

This literally means “destroy your house” (although as we will see in the “Grammar” section, this phrase can be used as a joke too).

Even worse is the next (very similar) Egyptian Arabic insult:

Screw your father. : ye5reb beet Abook.

.يخرب بيت أبوك

Literally: “Destroy the house of your father.” 

This is intense and somewhat common during angry arguments. And this one is not very mild.

Fuck off! : ghoor men wishi!

!غورمن وشي

This is literally “Go from here…”. 

Screw you (to a man). : Tozz feek.

.طز فيك

Go to hell! : Ghoor fi dahya! 

!غور في داهية

This literally means “Go into a disaster!”

It’s harsh and a bit dramatic. Usually used when someone is already leaving and in a highly argumentative situation. Could be also used jokingly depends on who you are talking to and what is the context

Bad Words In Egyptian Arabic (Vulgar)

These are stronger than the playful insults earlier. If you are looking for Egyptian Arabic curse words – this section has them.

A very important forewarning: Egyptians take stuff like this very seriously. It’s good to know that these words and phrases exist, but try to avoid using them in most situations.

(More information in our “Culture Corner” section.)

You dog! : kalb!

!كلب

You son of a dog! :  ibn el kalb!

!ابن الكلب

Yup – you can literally call somebody a “dog” in Egyptian Arabic and it’s seen as quite insulting. Even more insulting if your are bringing their father into it.

Prostitute / slut. : Sharmouta.

.شرموطة

Very insulting in Egyptian culture. And related to that one:

You son of a prostitute. : Ya ibn el sharmouta.

.يا ابن الشرموطة

This is a very vulgar insult in Egyptian Arabic. Whereas just saying the word sharmouta / الشرموطة is more of a general thing, this phrase brings somebody’s mother into it.

Just so you have some background information of how different the (more or less) same phrase can be in a different language…

Think of the phrase “son of a bitch.” Have you heard this or used it in English? Odds are you have. 

Literally, it’s quite close to ibn el sharmouta / ابن الشرموطة , but say it in Egypt and you are going to have problems!

Fucker (used for men). : metnak.

.متناك

This one is extremely vulgar. It literally means a fucker, try to avoid using it.

Your mother’s pussy. : Kos Ommak.

.كس أمك

This is a highly offensive term in Egyptian Arabic that directly insults someone’s mother. In a conservative country like Egypt, saying this can literally get you killed. Best to skip in entirely.

Common Questions

Did you just hear one of these bad Egyptian Arabic words and can’t believe your ears? Here are two things you can say:

Why are you doing that (to a man)? : Leh bet3amall keda?

 ليه بتعمل كده؟

Why are you doing that (to a woman)? : Leh bet3amalli keda?

 ليه بتعملي كده؟

What did you say (to a man)?! : 2olt eih?!

!قلت إيه؟

What did you say (to a woman)?! : 2olti eih?!

!قلتي إيه؟

Helpful Grammar Concepts

Here are a few grammar concepts that are important to know with bad Egyptian Arabic words.

Gendered Insults & Adjectives

Egyptian Arabic is a gendered language. This means that insults change depending on who you’re talking to. For example: 

Saying “You are stupid” to a man: 

Enta ghabi. / .إنت غبي

Saying “You are stupid” to a woman: 

Enti ghabeyya. / .إنتي غبية

A good rule to follow: adjectives that end in i / ي for men usually add the ـة for women.

Imperatives: Giving Commands

A lot of “bad” Egyptian Arabic words or phrases are just commands. But said with a little bit of anger, of course!

Examples:

• Get out / leave! : Imshi! / !امشي

• Shut up!/Be quiet! : ekhras / !اخرس

Exaggerated Expressions As Humor

A few cuss phrases in Egyptian Arabic can be more dramatic than mean. It’s a fine line, but these two can actually be humorous (when used in the right situation).

Your friend just beat you in a video game:

May your house be destroyed! : Ye5reb beetak!

!يخرب بيتك 

Your friend asks to drive your new car and you don’t trust him:

Donkey! : 7omar!

!حمار

Obviously, tone / body language / situation matter a lot here.

Among friends? Maybe these are a joke. In public or to your boss? Probably not!

Example Conversation

Mona:

Are you a donkey or what? : Enta 7omar walla eih?

إنت حمار ولا إيه؟

Khaled (laughing):

Girl, I’m just joking! : Ya setti, ana bahzar bas!

!يا ستي، أنا بهزر بس

Mona:

Okay okay. : Tayeb tayeb.

.طيب طيب

Khaled:

You’re really stupid. : Enti ghabeyya gedan.

 .إنتي غبية جدًا

Mona:

That’s it! Get out of here! : Bas keda! ghor men hena!

!بس كده! غور من هنا

Culture Corner

There are a lot of things you just shouldn’t do in Egypt. And severe insults in Egyptian Arabic? Well – that’s certainly one of them! 

This post is much more to inform you that these words exist, not to encourage you to use them. Considering certain phrases can literally get you killed in conservative cultures, it’s quite dangerous to be casually saying things like this. Our advice? Learn them all, but only use the words in the “Mild” section!

And one last thing: there is a difference between saying some of this stuff as a man vs. saying it as a woman. The unfortunate reality is that there is quite a bit of gender inequality in Egypt. Because of that, some of this stuff might be “bad but forgivable” if you say it as a guy, but an absolute “no go” as a woman.

The golden rule? Know where you are, you are you with, and be smart. Just because you hear your guy friends saying this stuff, doesn’t mean as a woman you have a blank check to say what you want. Be smart!

…

Happy learning,

Cleo Lingo