Today we are back with Egyptian Arabic Conversation 10.
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 10: Pharmacy.
Egyptian Arabic Conversation 10: Pharmacy
As always, we will start out with a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation in Egyptian Arabic.
The conversation is in Franco, but we put the actual Arabic below.
Before getting started with this Conversations post, be sure to check out our post on writing in Franco Arabic.
Egyptian Arabic Conversation 10: Translation
Good morning Dr. Ali, is there anyone in the pharmacy? : saba7 elkheer da fr ali, f 7ad f elsaydlia?
صباح الخير يا دكتور علي في حد في الصيدلية؟
Good morning Pacha, I will arrive in another 15 mins, do you need anything? : saba7 elfoll ya basha, ana hawsal kaman rob3 sa3a, 3ayz 7aga?
صباح الفل يا باشا انا هوصل كمان ربع ساعة عايز حاجة؟
I wanted to take my injection, I will wait for you there. : kont 3ayz akhod el7o2na bta3ti, haro7 astanak henak.
.كنت عايز اخد الحقنة بتاعتي..هروح استناك هناك
You enlighten us. : tnwarna.
.تنورنا
Egyptian Arabic Conversation 10: Important Vocabulary
Is there anyone in the pharmacy? : f 7ad f elsaydlia?
في حد في الصيدلية؟
While it’s nice to know how to say “pharmacy” in Egyptian Arabic, even more useful is “Is there anyone…?”
This could be applied to many other situations.
I will arrive in another 15 mins… : ana hawsal kaman rob3 sa3a…
…انا هوصل كمان ربع ساعة
If you want to say something in the Egyptian Arabic future tense, you need to put the letter ه at the beginning of the verb. Actually pretty easy to do.
Confused about the time part?
Make sure you read all about how to tell time in Egyptian Arabic.
Do you need anything? : 3ayz 7aga?
عايز حاجة؟
One of the most useful Egyptian Arabic phrases ever.
While the phrase literally translates as “You want something” (Do you want something?), it can also be used as “Do you need something / anything”?
In this case, the doctor is asking him if he needs anything.
I wanted…. : kont 3ayz …
…كنت عايز
As we have discussed, the Egyptian Arabic past tense is relatively easy.
That said, the verb عايز (want) in the past tense has to be used with the word كنت , which essentially indicates that a verb was done in the past.
Because the guy in the conversation is basically saying “I wanted to take my injection” (as we would in English) it is literally translated to be in the past.
Injection. : el7o2na
.الحقنة
One of those words that you might never use, but that are still good to know.
Just one not here: pay attention to the pronunciation of this word.
The letter ح (first one after “ال”) can be a bit tricky.
And last not least…
Tnwarna. / .تنورنا
Translation: You enlighten us.
This is what you say when you are basically telling somebody that they are welcome.
It’s based off the word نور which means “light.”
We covered the phrase tnwarna in a previous post. Be sure to check it out there, because we do a deep dive on the different ways to say it.
Context + Further Explanation
Another relatively easy conversation here.
A guy is messaging a doctor, asking him if anybody is at the pharmacy.
Even if you never find yourself at a pharmacy, there are still some good phrases from Egyptian Arabic Conversation 10.
Be sure to check them out!
…
Happy learning,
Cleo Lingo
