Egyptian Arabic Conversation 13: Long Time No See

Today we are back with Egyptian Arabic Conversation 13.

In each Conversations post, we will provide you with:

1. a screenshot from an actual conversation between two Egyptians
2. the translation of each line of text, including English, Franco and Arabic script
3.  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 13: Long Time No See.

Egyptian Arabic Conversation 13: Long Time No See

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 13: Translation

Where are you, Prince? Why is nobody seeing you? : Fenak ya brens mahdesh byshofak leh?

فينك يا برنس محدش بيشوفك ليه؟

Am here uncle (dude)…you are the one who didn’t show up today… everybody was at the Ahwa. : Mawgod ya 3am enta el magtsh elnharda , elnas kolha kano 3al ahwa.

.موجود يا عم ..انت اللي مجتش النهاردة..الناس كلها كانو عل قهوة

Really? I actually met them yesterday, but I miss you, long time no see. : Eh da bgd?? Ana shofthom embareh bas enta wa7shni ba2ali kteer msh bashofak.

.ايه ده بجد؟ انا شفتهم امبارح بس انت واحشني بقالي كتير مش بشوفك

You too I swear, Lets organize it and meet (hang out). : W enta walahy eb2a khalena nzabat w nenzl,

.وانت والله ..ابقى خلينا نضبط وننزل

Ok, lets do it. : Mashy yalla bena,

.ماشي يلا بينا

Egyptian Arabic Conversation 13: Important Vocabulary

Where are you? : Fenak?

فينك؟

Literally: Where you?

You can also say Enta / enti fen, but this is an equally valid alternative.

Ya prince. : Ya brens.

.يا برنس

This is one of the most common Egyptian Arabic nicknames.

Am here. : Mawgod.

.موجود

This word is used to describe something that is literally there. You can also use it to indicate your presence somewhere though, which is exactly how it’s used here.

A woman would say mawgoda.

Uncle (dude). : Ya 3am.

يا عم

Another common Egyptian Arabic nickname.

Everybody (Lit. The people all of it). : elnas kolha.

.الناس كلها

This kind of a slang way of talking about a group of friends.

Really? : Eh da bgd?

ايه ده بجد؟

This literally translates to “What this seriously?”

But I miss you. : bas enta wa7shni.

.بس انت واحشنبس

Long time no see. : ba2ali kteer msh bashofak.

.بقالي كتير مش بشوفك

Great phrase to know. This would be almost the exact same phrase depending on who you are talking to.

Just the end of the verb would be pronounced bashofik if speaking to a woman.

You too I swear, Lets organize it and meet (hang out). : eb2a khalena nzabat w nenzl.

..ابقى خلينا نضبط وننزل

Ok, lets do it. : Mashy yalla bena.

.ماشي يلا بينا

Mashy is one of the best phrases to learn.

Also be sure you understand the phrase yalla.

Context + Further Explanation

Cultural insight: probably they won’t meet, they are just checking on each other. 🙂

He mentioned that the group of friends was just at the ahwa. The Egyptian ahwa is a fundamental part of Egyptian culture – be sure to read up on it!

Because the verbs from both speakers are conjugated in the masculine form, it’s two men. (Be sure to read up on verb conjugation for present tense verbs (1-10) and (11-20) for a more in-depth background on how verbs change depending on the speaker).

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Happy learning,

Cleo Lingo