If you’re a snacker, you came to the right city.
One thing that’s great about Cairo is the ever-present snack stall. These are called “koshks,” and they have everything you need. You name it, the koshk will provide it. Donuts, soda, chips, cookies……it’s all there, and it’s all cheap. Constant access to sugary refreshment. What could possibly go wrong?
Maybe your go-to grocery store is closed because of prayer. Maybe you’re too sore from leg day and can’t manage the walk all the way down the street. Or perhaps, much more likely, you’re hung over from too many Stellas the night before, and even though you promised yourself that this was the year you were going to change, one more bag of Cheddar Cheese chipsee is really all you need before you settle down for your third nap of the day.
We don’t care what the reason is – all we need to know is this: you’ve got the munchies, and you don’t know what to say.
Today, Cleo Lingo will be explaining……how to get your snacks at the koshk
Vocabulary
Is there a koshk round here? : “Fee kushk henuh?”
في كشك هنا؟
This is the ultimate question that all Egyptians will understand. Egyptians themselves like a snack or two, and they recognize another hungry human in need. Start out simple.
Hello. : “SuhLAWMawLAYkome”
سلام عليكم
Once again, we see this greeting. It’s really all you need to know to say hello to someone. Even a task as simple as buying a coke begins with “peace be upon you” (literal translation). It’s funny at first, but soon enough, it will be rolling off your tongue without you even realizing.
I want…. : “Eyeizz….”
انا عايز
Remember? Start out with this one “wish word,” and you will likely get a response.
Is there…? : “Fee….?”
في….؟
SO IMPORTANT. “Fee” followed by a noun is either asking if there is that noun (“Fee mooshkeluh?” : Is there a problem?), or saying that there is indeed that noun (“Fee mooshkeluh.” : There is a problem.). As you would expect, the distinguishing factor here is all in the intonation of your voice. If you are confused about whether or not the koshkman has what you want, start out your question with “fee…”, and finish it with the following….
Big/small water : “Meyeuh soogyheyeAREuh/kuBEEruh”
مياه صغيرة / مياه كبيرة
Pepsi/Seven-Up/Coca Cola : “Pepss/Seven/Cola”
بيبسي / سافين / كاولة
Remember that (for whatever reason) Egyptians shorten the names of a few things. Make sure you reread the phonetic spellings of these three drinks so you can say them correctly.
Mango/watermelon/cocktail/lemon juice : “AwSEER mawnga/bawTEEH/COCKtail/liMONE”
عصير مانجا| بطيخ| كوكتيل | ليمون
We will be doing an entire post to itself on juices and how to get them. This is such an integral (and delicious) part of Egyptian culture, it’d be a downright shame not to be able to order them like a bad ass. The juices available at a koshk aren’t nearly as good as their freshly squeezed counterparts….but they sure do come in handy for hangovers.
Small/large chips : “Chipsee sooghEYEr/KuBEER”
شيبسي صغير / شيبسي كبير
There are about a million different flavors of chips. We will let you do some chip exploring instead of giving you direct translations. Ending up with Tomato when you just wanted Salt and Vinegar will be a story you will tell your friends for years to come. Well…not really, but it’ll make us laugh. And laughing is good.
Brunch snack : “Brunch”
برنتش
This one’s pretty self-explanatory. It’s a bread thing that comes in handy as a late breakfast or snack. It could be also called croissant (but don’t tell your French friends about that, as they will be offended). Brunch is typically stuffed with cheese, chocolate, sausage or small chicken pieces. The most famous brand is called brunch, which is why Egyptians call all similar products “Brunch.”
Chocolate : “ShokihLAWdih”
شوكولاته
Chocolate bars are usually stored in a fridge along with the soda. It’s usually so hot in Cairo that they would melt if they weren’t. Usually you’ll have things like Kit-Kats and Snickers, but try to switch it up sometimes. Unlimited cold chocolate is really too good to waste.
Gum : “LeeBEHN”
لبان
Card…….for 10/20/50 : “Kart….…AWshuruh/eshreen/HumSEE”
كارت ….. عشرة / عشرين / خمسين
This is an important one. By “kart” we mean refill cards (prepaid phone cards), which are scratch off cards that refill your phone balance. I had Vodafone the entire time I was in Cairo, and it wasn’t until I started dating an American girl that I knew this was even possible. Saves you a TON of time walking to your nearest phone service provider and waiting in line, just to fill it up. I think they go up to 50 (humseen), and the card will usually take a couple guinea charge. Try it out.
However, if your headache is really THAT bad, there is also a mobile app called “Ana Vodafone.” This spares you the hassle entirely. You can do anything and everything through this App.
No. : “La’a.”
لا
Yes. : “Aww.”
اه
This is a weird one. You were going to come across it eventually, and it’s our pleasure to introduce it to you. For simple questions that literally just require a “yes or no” answer, Egyptians will often forgo “eyewuh” for the much quicker (is it really, though?) “aww.” Following one of these answers to your snack inquiry, the koshk man will likely gesture to you snack/beverage of choice. He might even go over to where it is and pick it up himself. Just in case you didn’t believe him.
Something sweet : “Haga HELLwuh”
حاجة حلوة
This usually is an implied request for a recommendation, so only bust it out if you want real-life interaction with the koshkman. If you are ready to take that leap, he’ll be glad to help.
A pack of cigarettes : “awEHLbee siGAYur”
علبة سجاير
For the badasses amongst you.
Now that you’ve got your things and are ready to pay, it’s time to really bring out your Arabic skills. Maybe the koshkman didn’t take you seriously before, with your armful of hoho’s and juice boxes. He sure will now.
How expensive is this? : “BeeKEHM daw/dee?”
بكام دي
Please, how expensive is that? : “Low sumaht, beekehm dee?’
لو سمحت بكام دي
How expensive is that, god-willing? : “Beekehm dee, enshAWulluh?”
بكام دي ان شاء الله
These are three different ways to ask how expensive your snacks are. They are all equally valid….but of course the last one is the best. Get used to saying “god-willing” with things that just seem absurd. We will detail it later for you, but my personal favorite? “Nezll e’gay, enshAWulluh?” Arabic for “Are you exiting at the next (stop), God-willing?”….used, naturally, when you are wondering if somebody is getting out of the metro car at the next station, and when only god is able to make that happen!
Do you have change for 10/20/50? : “MAWuck feckuh awshuruh/ehreen/humseen?”
معاك فكه عشرين|خمسين|ميه|ميتين
Literally, “is with you change for 10/20/50?” The verb “have” comes in two different ways. We will explain this in a Lesson.
Can I have a bag? : “Moomkin shuntuh/ Kees?”
ممكن شنطة | كيس؟
Just in case they don’t automatically bundle your snacks up (which they usually do).
I’m really hungry/thirsty. : “Ana gawEHN/uhCHAWN OWee!”
انا جعان |عطشان قوي
This is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but it will make the koshkman smile. And that’s really what we are after.
Thanks, bye. : “Shokrawn, sawlehm.”
شكرا, سلام
I will see you tomorrow. : “HawSHOOfuck bokeruh.”
هشوفك بكرة
Just a funny little thing to add on before you walk away to stuff your face. You promised yourself this was the year that you’d change. Koshkman knows this isn’t true, and he eagerly awaits your return.
Cultural Insight
Koshks are literally everywhere, and will forever remain in my mind one of the most authentic “Egyptian” things in Cairo. Students get their breakfast biscuits here on their way to school….guys walk around downtown with their dates and buy them chocolate….devout Muslim men on their way home from work stop for a quick and refreshing Pepsi (or should we say “Pepss”). Koshks really are deeply entrenched in Egyptian culture, and if you’re not near one, you’ve probably made a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in a different country.
Not all koshks are created equal, though. It will take some time to see this for yourself, but the koshks (and indeed, the koshkmen) come in all shapes and sizes. Cairo has everything from single stall shacks that only sell water, to giant mini mansions whose sales support entire families. They are everywhere, and as you munch your way across the country, you will start to develop a “sixth sense” for where the best snacks can be had.
It really is a thing of beauty.
Good luck with that hangover. 🙂
…..
Happy learning,
Cleo Lingo
