Egyptian Arabic Idiom: It’s Zucchini

Today’s Egyptian Arabic Idiom is “It’s Zucchini”
Arabic: *Di Kousa* – *دي كوسة*
Egyptians use this idiom for referring to corruption, or preferential treatment for some “special” people only.

Translation: It’s Zucchini.

English Equivalent: On the clout list

The Story of Egyptian Arabic Idiom is “It’s Zucchini”

Today’s Egyptian Arabic Idiom goes around 1000 years back. When Cairo had gates and all the traders had to wait till the morning to enter Cairo gates. However, this rule didn’t apply for Zucchini merchants, who were allowed to enter because their vegetables get rotten quickly.

This exception wasn’t clear and fair for other traders. At one night, and while the guards were allowing the zucchini merchants to cross the gate, one of the other angry merchants yelled: “it is zucchini”, expressing his anger towards the unfair treatment and sharing his frustration with the people around him. That’s when Egyptians started to use that term.

How its used

Now, Egyptians use the idiom “zucchini” or “It’s zucchini” and repeat it when they see a breach in the rules for the favor of someone or a group of people. Or when someone gets something they don’t deserve just because they have advantageous connections.

Like when someone get special treatment, like:

• Skips a long queue all the way to the front.
• Gets the quick application instead of normal one.
• Skips the waiting list in some place.
• Gets a special discount or reservation.

Example

A: انا خدت المصل الاسبوع اللي فات

I got vaccinated last week.

B: خدت انهي واحد؟ الصيني؟

Which type did you get? The Chinese one?

A: لا..خدت استرزينيكا

No, I got the AstraZeneca vaccine

B: ايه ده؟ انا سمعت انهم بيدوه بس للي مسافرين علشان مفيش منه كفايه

What? I heard they give it only to those who need to travel because we don’t have enough.

A: انا اعرف واحد ظبطني

I know someone who managed to give it to me

B: اه دي كوسه بقى

Oh, De Kousa!

If you want to know how to talk about Coronavirus in Egyptian Arabic, Check this link: https://cleolingo.com/how-to-talk-about-coronavirus-in-egyptian-arabic/

Tell us how exactly would you use that Egyptian Arabic Idiom: It’s Zucchini

Happy Learning 🙂