10 Ways To Say Goodbye In Egyptian Arabic

There’s a lot of different ways to say goodbye in Egyptian Arabic.

And it’s a great skill to have, too!

It sounds more polite, makes you sound more naturally fluent, and allows you to exit conversations without awkward nods.

Definitely important!

Today, Cleo Lingo is explaining….10 ways to say “goodbye” in Egyptian Arabic.

Say Goodbye in Egyptian Arabic : The Most Common Options

We previously covered 10 ways to say “thank you” in Egyptian Arabic.

The format today will be the same. The most common, followed by more “unusual.”

1) Goodbye. : ma3 elsalama.

.مع السلامة

This is by far the most common way to say goodbye in Egyptian Arabic.

It works in just about every situation – formal and informal.

2) Bye. : bye / bye bye.

.باي

This is especially common when Egyptians are talking on the phone.

This is the same way they say “hallo” when answering.

3) Goodbye. : salam / yalla salam.

.سلام/  يلا سلام

This is short for ma3 elsalama or salam 3aleko.

Fun fact about Egyptian Arabic: you can add the word yalla to most of the ways to say goodbye (yalla ma3 elsalama, yalla salam, etc).

This is literally “Goodbye, let’s go.”

Say Goodbye In Egyptian Arabic : Some Other Options

Here are some more options.

Just like we did in our post about how to greet people in Egyptian Arabic, these phrases are more “situation specific.”

We provide a bit of explanation.

4) See you later. : ashofak ba3den.

.اشوفك بعدين

This could mean later in the day, later in the month, or just sometime in the future!

Usually more polite to say enshaaallah afterwards.

5) See you tomorrow. : ashofak bokra.

.اشوفك بكرة

This one is pretty self-explanatory.

6) See you tomorrow morning. : ashofak el sob7. 

.اشوفك الصبح

This could be used with your work colleagues or your boss at work.

It literally means “I see you the morning,” but it implies tomorrow.

7) I have to go now. : lazem amshy dlwa2ty.

.لازم امشي دلوقتي

Not the most polite….but oh well! 🙂

8) Goodnight. : Tesba7 3ala kheer / tesba7oo 3ala kheer.

.تصبح على خير/ تصبحو على خير

Use this one before leaving your friend / friends after meeting in the evening.

Say Goodbye in Egyptian Arabic : Less Common Ways

Here are two ways to say goodbye in Egyptian Arabic that aren’t so common.

These are more “slang.”

9) I will fly. : hateer ana.

.هطير انا

10) Well, I will leave. : hakhla3, ana ba2a.

.هخلع انا بقى

I like the first one.

Makes you sound like a superhero.

Example Conversation

You are sitting with a group of close friends at an Egyptian ahwa, and decide to leave because you are sleepy.

You: Well everybody, I will leave. : tayb ya gama3a, hakhla3 ana ba2a.

.طيب يا جماعة ، هخلع انا بقى

Friend: Why so early, man? It is still 12 o’clock….do you have work tomorrow? : leh yabni badry keda? lesa elsa3a 12, enta 3andak shoghl bokra badry?

ليه يابني بدري كده؟ لسة الساعة 12..انت عندك شغل بكرة؟

You: No, but I woke up early today and I want to sleep. : la2 bas ana sa7y badry elnaharda w 3ayz anam.

.لأ بس انا صاحي بدري النهاردة وعايز انام

Friend: Ok, goodbye. : tayb salam.

.طيب سلام

You: Bye. : salam.

.سلام

Friend: Get out of here (could also be translated to “fuck off ). : ghoor f dahya.

.غور في داهية

Other friend: We will see you tomorrow. : neshofak bokra.

.نشوفك بكرة

As you can see, you have plenty of options when saying “goodbye” in Egyptian Arabic.

And they all sound natural!

Cultural Insight

Egyptians take a lot of time to say goodbye on the phone.

If you have ever heard an Egyptian chatting with their phone, you know exactly what I mean.

Just when they’re about to wrap it up….they’re not quite done.

It’s actually probably another 20 seconds of saying goodbyes before they hang up.

No joke.

Salam salam salam sala sala salaa.

….

Happy learning,

Cleo Lingo