If you want to speak Egyptian Arabic at higher levels, you need to know at least a little bit of Egyptian Arabic slang.
Below you will find some of the most common slang in Egypt. We’ve included extensive background information for each phrase, as well as an example conversation of each phrase in action.
Enjoy!
Egyptian Arabic Slang: 10 Common Phrases
1) Keda keda. : .كده كده
How it’s usually used: this is common among younger Egyptians (think “Gen Z” Egyptians in their early 20’s). While not exactly rude, it’s definitely informal.
Literal translation: “this way that way”
Background: this phrase is used to mean a number of things. It’s another way to say: “by all means” or “for sure” or “couldn’t agree more.” Basically, you use this when you are really certain or confident in something. Check out our post about the word keda for a more nuanced understanding of the word.
Example conversation:
When is your next match? : Elmatch elgai bta3ak emta?
الماتش الجاي بتاعك امتى؟
We have a game against Maadi next Thursday. : 3andna match ma3 nadi elmaadi elkhamis elgai.
.عندنا ماتش مع نادي المعادي الخميس الجاي
Cool is it home or away (Lit. Cool this you have or they have)? : Gamed, da 3andoko wala 3andhom.جامد، ده عندكو ولا عندهم؟
We will play on our court. : Hanl3ab 3ala mal3bna.
.هنلعب على ملعبنا
I think that you guys easily will win the next match. : ana shayf enko sahl teksabo el match da.
.انا شايف انكو سهل تكسبو المانش الجاي
That’s for sure. : da keda keda.
.ده كده كده
2) Malksh feh / malksh feha. : .ملكش فيه / ملكش فيها
How it’s usually used: this is a phrase usually used with close friends, or when you want to be a little rude to somebody.
Literal translation: “you have nothing in it / to do with it”
Background: this is Egyptian slang for “none of your business.” It can be used when a friend is giving unwanted opinions or talking about something you don’t want to discuss. (In the example conversation below, we can imagine that the friend secretly liked Mona and doesn’t want to tell his friend about it.)
You can also use it to mean “you know nothing about this topic” which is a bit more literal.
Example conversation:
Do you know Mona? : Enta te3raf Mona?
انت تعرف منى؟
Yes why? : Ah, leh?
اه ليه؟
No just asking. : la2 3adi bas2al.
.لا عادي بسأل
Ok. : Mashi
.ماشي
Do you know where she lives? : Te3raf hya sakna fen?
تعرف هي ساكنة فين؟
None of your business. : malksh fe.
.ملكش فيه
3) Ay kalam. : .اي كلام
How it’s usually used: this is a phrase used to criticize somebody and can be a bit degrading.
Literal translation: “any talk”
Background: this is a phrase in Egyptian slang that’s used to refer to something of low quality. It’s also used to reference a bluff, as in, you think somebody is lying or just speaking nonsense.
Example conversation:
Mom, tell her to stop, she is hitting me. : Mama, 2olelha tebatal, btdrabni.
.ماما، قوليلها تبطل، بتضربني
I didn’t do anything to him, he is lying. : Ana ma3mltlosh haga, da by2ol ay kalam.
.انا معملتلوش حاجة، ده بيقول اي كلام
No, she hit me. : La2, hya darbtni.
.لا، هي ضربتني
Shut up both of you and go wash your hands because dinner is ready. : Eskoto ento el etnen w ro7o eghslo edeko 3lshan el 3asha gahez.
.اسكتو انتو الاتنين و روحو اغسلو ايديكم علشان العشا جاهز
4) Meet foll w 3ashra. : .ميت فل وعشرة
How it’s usually used: this is an informal but nice thing to say, and can be used with just about anybody.
Literal translation: “one hundred jasmine flowers and ten”
Background: used when referring to a very pleasant situation or a perfect scenario / thing that is taking place. This makes it a phrase to be used when you are especially happy or satisfied. Basically (as you see with the example conversation), it’s used to mean “great” / “very good” / “perfect.”
Example conversation:
I got the wrong size, can I replace it? : Ana khadt elma2as elghalat, momken abdelo?
أنا خدت المقاس الغلط، ممكن ابدله؟
Sure sir, can I have the receipt? : Tab3an ya fandem, momken el reseet?
طبعا يا فندم، ممكن اشوف الريسيت؟
Here it is, there you go. : Aho, etfadal.
.أهو، اتفضل
One moment sir and I will replace it for you, do you need any more help? : Sania wahda ya fandem w habdelo le 7adrtak, mhtag ay mosa3da tania?
ثانية واحدة يا فندم وهبدله لحضرتك، محتاج اي مساعدة تانية؟
No that’s perfect, thanks a lot. : La keda meet foll w 3ashra, motshaker gedan.
.لا كده ميت فل و عشرة، متشكر جدا
You’re welcome. : El3afw.
.العفو
5) Fokak menni. : .فكك مني
How it’s usually used: this is an informal / mean thing to say. While a common phrase in Egyptian Arabic slang, it’s usually only used with close friends.
Literal translation: “unscrew / detach yourself from me”
Background: fokak menni basically means “piss off” or “fuck off.” You use this when somebody is really annoying you or getting on your nerves. There are nicer ways to say this, of course, so fokak menni should be reserved for when you 1) are with friends + 2) are truly angry.
Also, by the way: definitely learn how to use inshallah if you don’t already know!
Example conversation:
Let’s go, we don’t wanna be late. : Yalla beena, mesh 3ayzen net2khar.
.يلا بينا، مش عايزين نتأخر
No you guys go I will not make it. : La2 ro7o ento ana mesh hal7a2.
.لا روحو انتو انا مش هلحق
Dude come on don’t be annoying. : ya 3am yalla matb2ash rekhem.
.يا عم يلا متبقاش رخم
Another time God-willing. : marra tania inshallah.
.مرة تانية ان شاء الله
No you will come with us now. : la2 hategi ma3na dlwa2ti.
.لا هتيجي معانا دلوقتي
Piss off! : Fokak menni!
!فكك مني
6) Metr2a3. : .مطرقع
How it’s usually used: this is a funny thing to say, and is typically more informal (probably not common in an office setting, for example).
Literal translation: “funky” / “explosive”
Background: this is the way you call somebody or something crazy in Egyptian Arabic slang. However, it’s not literal (as in, a mental illness), but rather describing somebody or something that is a bit different or weird.
Example conversation:
Tamer, I’m very happy that you came. : Tamer, ana mabsota awy enak geet.
.تامر, انا مبسوطة قوي انك جيت
I couldn’t miss this day. : Ma2drtsh afwet elyoom da.
.مقدرتش افوت اليوم ده
What is your opinion on the gallery? : Ra2yak eh f elma3rad?
رأيك ايه في المعرض؟
Very nice, your work is funky and different, I like it. : 7elw awy, shoghlek metr2a3 w mokhtalef, 3agbni.
.حلو قوي, شغلك مطرقع ومختلف, عاجبني
Thanks a lot Tamer. : Motshakera gedan ya tamer.
.متشكرة جدا يا تامر
7) Raya7 dahrak. : .ريح ضهرك
How it’s usually used: more of a degrading thing to say when with people you don’t know well, but acceptable when with family or friends.
Literal translation: “relax your back”
Background: this is basically how Egyptians say “take a chill pill” or “relax a little.” Intonation here is everything. While this can be used in a more respectful way, it’s typically more of a stern “stop talking” or “none of your business” way.
Example conversation:
Is the picture OK like this? : Keda el sora mazbota?
كده الصورة مضبوطة؟
Yes good hang it like this. : Ah tmam 3ala2ha keda.
.اه تمام علقها كده
No look it’s better if you use this nail and then… : La2 bos a7san law gebt elmosmar da w ba3den…
…لا بص احسن لو جبت المسمار ده وبعدين
Shussh, take a chill pill, we will finish and let you know. : husssh, raya7 daharak enta, hankhlas w n2olak.
.هشششش، ريح ضهرك انت، هنخلص ونقولك
8) Me2ta3 elsamaka w delha. : .مقطع السمكة وديلها
How it’s usually used: in a serious way, although not exactly a “respectful” thing to say.
Literal translation: “he is cutting the fish and its tail”
Background: this is how you say that a man is either a womanizer / playboy (more negative) or just generally is smooth with women (more positive). Nobody really knows how this phrase made its way into Egyptian Arabic slang, but definitely a more advanced thing to say!
Example conversation:
Waleed got married a week ago, I was surprised. : Waleed etgawez elesbo3 elfat, ana etfa2et.
.وليد اتجوز الاسبوع اللي فات، انا اتفاجئت
Why? : Leh?
ليه؟
How did he marry a girl like Maryam (implying that she is out of his league)? : Ezay etgawez wahda zai Maryam
ازاي اتجوز واحدة زي مريم؟
You don’t know him, all his life he has been a playboy. : Enta mat3rafosh, da tool 3omoro m2ta3 elsamaka w delha.
.انت متعرفوش، ده طول عمره مقطع السمكة وديلها
9) Ma 3alena. : .ما علينا
How it’s usually used: both formal and informal, and used by just about anybody.
Literal translation: “what’s on us” / “not for us”
Background: this one is slightly less straightforward. Ma 3alena is a phrase that Egyptians use that means something along the lines of “OK now back to what’s important to us.” It’s a way to shift the conversation back to the main topic or the thing that is more relevant to the topic at hand.
This phrase can either be used in the middle of a conversation to shift the attention back to the more important topic (an “interrupter”), or at the end of the conversation to indicate that what we just discussed isn’t important / any of our business (a “reset”).
Example conversation:
All the good players are coming. : Kol el la3eba el gamdeen gayeen.
.كل اللاعيبة الجامدين جايين
But Mazen was injured, I guess he won’t play. : Bas mazen kan mosab, amazon mesh hyl3ab.
.بس مازن كان مصاب’، اظن مش هيلعب
I heard he came back to practice, but whatever, we have a tough game. : Ana sm3t eno rege3 ytmran, bas ma 3alena, 3andna match sa3b.
.انا سمعت انه رجع يتمرن، بس ما علينا ، عندنا ماتش صعب
10) Amar arb3tashar. : .قمر اربعتاشر
How it’s usually used: a very nice and encouraging thing to say that can be used in any situation. Often used with friends and family.
Literal translation: “moon fourteen”
Background: amar arb3tashar is our last Egyptian Arabic slang phrase. It’s a common compliment that Egyptians use when they want to express how beautiful someone is. The closest definition would be simply saying something like “beautiful.”
This phrase refers to the full moon that appears on the fourteenth night of the Islamic lunar month (mid-month). The full moon has always been perceived as a beautiful and radiant phenomena, which is where this bit of slang comes from.
Example conversation:
Let’s get ready, we need to move in half an hour. : Yalla neghaz, mehtageen net7rak ba3d nos sa3a.
.يلا نجهز، محتاجين نتحرك كمان نص ساعة
Ok, I will go change. : Mashi, ha2om albes.
.ماشي، هقوم البس
Do I look good in this? I feel that I need to change it. : Shakli 7elw f da? 7assa eni mehtaga aghyaro.
.شكلي حلو في ده؟ حاسة اني محتاجة اغيره
No sweetheart you look great, beautiful. : La ya habibty shaklek to7fa, amar arb3tashar.
.لا يا حبيبتي شكلك تحفة، قمر اربعتاشر
…
Happy learning,
Cleo Lingo
