Egyptian Arabic Conversation 1: “Mabnamsh”

Egyptian Arabic Text Conversations explained

Today we are introducing something new to Cleo Lingo: “Conversations.”

In each Conversations post, we will provide you with:

a screenshot from an actual conversation between two Egyptians
the translation of each line of text, including English, Franco and Arabic script
context on the conversation and further explanation

We think learning Egyptian Arabic from actual, authentic conversations between Egyptians is both fun and effective. We hope you like it too!

Let’s get started with Egyptian Arabic Conversation 1: “Mabnamsh.”

Egyptian Arabic Conversation 1: Mabnamsh

I don’t sleep / I’m not sleeping. : Mabnamsh.

.مبنامش

Egyptian Arabic Conversation 1: Translation

Now that we have seen the conversation, let’s go over the translations.

After that we will dive deeper into the phrases and when they are normally used.

To follow along with the Franco version of Egyptian Arabic conversation 1, check out Cleo Lingo’s guide to Franco-Arabic.

M: Why are you awake, you “naked”?: Enta sa7y leh ya malt enta?

انت صاحي ليه يا ملط انت؟

T: I don’t sleep / I’m not sleeping. : mabnamsh.

.مبانمش

M: Why is that? : Leeh kda?

ليه كده؟

T: I have important stuff to do, I’m thinking about the future of the world. : warya hagat mohema, bafkar f most2bal el3alam.

.ورايا حاجات مهمة، بفكر في مستقبل العالم

There are responsibilities. : f mas2oliat.

.في مسؤليات

Who would I leave the world to? : hasyb el3alam l meen?

هسيب العالم لمين؟

Here’s some help on the Egyptian Arabic future tense. That will help put this phrase in context.

It’s literally saying “I will leave the world to who?”

Egyptian Arabic Conversation 1: Important Vocabulary

Time for some more information on the vocabulary from Egyptian Arabic Conversation 1.

To sleep. : Noom.

.نوم

This is the root form of the verb. This is before it’s translated with a pronoun – in this case, “I.”

I sleep. : Banam.

.بنام

Egyptians usually add the “b” letter to verbs.

For more background on correctly conjugating Egyptian Arabic verbs, give these two posts a read:

I don’t sleep. : Mabanamsh

.مبنامش

Remember: the word “mish” (مش) is how you negate verbs in Egyptian Arabic.

Often, instead of saying “mish banam” (مش بنام), Egyptians will put the م at the beginning of the conjugated verb and the ش at the end. We call those “mish sandwiches,” and they are really weird to get used to.

Context + Further Explanation

Now that we understand the literal meaning, lets try and understand the context and the cultural insights.

M is asking T why his is still awake, but also calls him “naked” (malt / ملط).

Usually (other than the literal meaning of the word), “naked” in Egyptian Arabic is a slang word that is used as a mild insult between friends. It basically means “someone who doesn’t know anything” or “someone who has no experience” or just an idiot. 🙂

T replies: “I don’t sleep”.

So far the conversation sounds very straight forward and serious. It implies that T might has some problems with sleeping.

M: “Why is that?”

T: I have important stuff to do, I’m thinking about the future of the world.
There are responsibilities.
Who would I leave the world to?

After reading T’s response here, we understand that he doesn’t actually have problems with sleeping, he is just joking around. He is still awake because he is “thinking about the future of the world” and taking care of some big responsibilities.

Also notice that in the original text, there are no question marks in any of the questions. That’s just how Egyptians message each other! 🙂

Stay tuned for more Egyptian Arabic conversations that are taken from everyday conversations.

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Happy learning,

Cleo Lingo

Egyptian Arabic Conversation 1: “Mabnamsh”

Tarek