How to Go to the Cinema in Egyptian Arabic

Introduction

Everybody loves watching movies.

It’s a great way to relax, you get to see something new, and you get to take your mind off how your “get fluent in Arabic in six months” plan just isn’t working out.

Movies (or the cinema) are truly a great experience.

Even in Egypt!

You just have to know how to say the words.

Today, Cleo Lingo will be explaining……how to go to the cinema in Cairo.

Vocabulary

Cinema. : “SIHnuhmuh”

.سينما

Theater. : “MUSrawh”

.مسرح

Like most people, Egyptians will say “cinema.” The word theater is used how it should be: for plays.

Pro tip: there is a weekly show called “Masreh Masri.” You’ll thank us later.

 We are going to the cinema. : “Hawnrooh ‘SINuhmuh.”

.هنروح سينما

Watching a movie/film. : “HawnKHUSH / hawnSHOOF ‘film.”

.هنخش/هنشوف فيلم

Art. “Fehn”

.فن

Film. : “Film.”

.فيلم

3D goggles. : “nuhDTAWruh 3d”

.نضارة  ٣د

We will be using “we” as the main pronoun in this post, as going to the cinema usually take place in presence of your friends.

However, we still encourage you to go alone if you have no friends yet.

Before going to the cinema:

When are we going to watch that film? : “hawnSHOOF elFILM DAW EMtuh?”

.هنشوف الفيلم ده امتى

Which movie are you gonna watch? (literally translated to: which movie are you gonna “enter”) : “hawtKHOOSH film AY?”

هتخش فيلم ايه؟

Fun fact: the word “khush” is usually what the bus drivers say when saying “get on the bus.” It literally, as mentioned, means “enter.”

They say the movie is good. : “beeOOloo film HEHloo”

.بيقولو فيلم حلو

The mysterious phrase “they say” (for a general opinion that people have) is also used in Egyptian Arabic. Just conjugate say for “they” correctly.

(Conjugating verbs)

Where is the movie “alaadin”? : “Film alaa deen mowGOOduh FANE?” (where can we watch it)

فيلم علاء الدين موجود فين؟

Aladdin, if you didn’t know, was originally Arab. Hence, the name “Ala al deen.”

In case you wanted to see a better movie (pretty much any other movie), just substitute the name.

He is going to watch it from 8 to 10 in Zayed. We will watch it later. : “HOOuh heyeSHOOF elfilm fee ZAYid mehn tuhMAneeuh lee AWshuruh. EHnuh hawnSHOOfoo BAW’dane.”

.هو هيشوف ابفيلم في زايد من ٨ ل ١٠. احنا هنشوفو بعدين

“From time to time” (giving a general time frame for something) is said with “time lee time.” Good to know.

Hurry up the movie is gonna start now. : “YAWluh beeSOOraw’a. Elfilm heyeYEBduh HAYlun.”

.يلا بسرعة. الفيلم هيبدأ حالا

Yawlaw. One of the words that will most make you sound like an Egyptian.

At the cinema:

I want to buy 3 tickets for alaaeldin movie please. : “EYEizz TEHlit tuhZEHkrr leeFILM alaa deen low suhMAWHt.”

.عايز تلات تذاكر لفيلم علاء الدين لو سمحت

Where do you like to sit? the available seats are in green : “TohHEHB TAW’udd fane? elKORsee elKHUHdruh HEEuh elFAWdhteeuh.”

.تحب تقعد فين؟ الكراسي الخضرا هي الفاضية.

Singular “chair” is “korsee.”

Arabic is one of those pesky languages where there’s no consistent rule for making plurals.

Anywhere, it doesn’t matter. Make them next to each other please.  : “EYEuh HAWguh, mish FAREuh. Bess khawLEEhome GAWMb BAW’tdh low suhMAWHT.”

.اي حاجة مش فارقة. بس خليهم جمب بعض لو سمحت

For those who fancy an expensive snack during the pre-movie ads!

Popcorn. : “fuhSHAWR”

.فشار

Popcorn with cheese. : “FuhSHAWR bellGEBnuh.”

.فشار بالجبنة

Yup, you use the same word for cheese in pretty much every situation.

One small and one large, please. : “Wawhid sooGHEYErr w WAWhid kaBEER low suhMAWHT.”

.واحد صغير و واحد كبير لو سمحت

After this, you will enter the room where your movie is showing. There will be an usher there to greet you, and after you show him your ticket, he will lead you to your seat.

That way, please. : “Men HEHnuh low suhMAWHT. EhtFUHthdll.”

.من هنا لو سمحت. اتفضل

Usually those ushers are expecting a tip.

This is important to know. I hate it just as much as you, but when in Rome.

Sure. movie ushers that want your money might be one of those jobs you only see in Egypt (there are a few of them).

But just give him a couple pounds (5 would be good).

I hate it just as much as you, trust me.

And when you hand him the money?

“Kole SEHnuh w ENtaw TEYEib.”

.كل سنة وانت طيب 😉

No direct translation here, but this is what Egyptians say during holidays, your birthday, and apparently, after slipping some cash to a guy for a completely unneeded service.

Oh well.

During the movie:

Cleo Lingo is mainly focused on teaching you how to speak.

However, when the movie starts, you ideally won’t say anything.

Just relax, eat your popcorn, and enjoy your movie 🙂

But just in case:

Keep it quiet please, we are trying to listen over here. : “Men FUHthluck elSOOT. Mish ‘AWruffeen NESmaw.”

.من فضلك الصوت.. مش عارفين نسمع

Let’s hope a fight doesn’t break out.

After watching the movie:

Wow, it was a great movie. : “Kan film HEHloo OWee.”

.كان فيلم حلو قوي

So, When are we gonna watch it again? : “HuhNUKHssh / hawnSHOOF TEHnee EHMtaw?”

هنخش/هنشوفو تاني امتى؟

It was ok. : “Kawn KWAYiss.”

.كان كويس

That film was so long, but it was good. : “Efilm kan tawWEEL OWee. Bess HEHloo.”

.الفيلم كان طويل قوي. بس حلو

Boring. : “mooMEHL.”

.ممل

This is an important word to know in any language.

What a shitty movie!  : “Kan film KHUruh.”

.كان فيلم خرة

Straight and to the point.

We should have never listened to you, it was a waste of time. : “MawKEHnish elmawFROOdth NEHsmaw kuhLEHmuck. Daw kehn tawTHEEuh WUH’t.”

.مكنش المفروض نسمع كلامك. ده كان تضييع وقت

Who is ordering uber? : “MEEN heyeYEHTlub OOburr?”

.مين هيطلب اوبر

Hope you enjoyed your popcorn, at least!

Cultural Insight

Cinema production in Egypt is huge.

It’s one of the biggest industries in Egypt, and an area the Egyptians are the pioneers in that field in the MENA region.

Egyptian cinema started around 1930s, and most of the Arabs (esspecially older generations) learned the Egyptian language or at least got familiar with it because of the old and the modern Egyptian movies.

Watching movies can teach you more than you think about the language and how people actually speak, it tells you a lot about the culture and the people’s habits throughout the years.

At more advanced levels, you will notice the difference between how Egyptians talk now compared to how they used to talk in the 50s and 60s. While this is probably also true in your native language, it’s a special joy to do it in a language you are learning.

In addition, we have one more tip for those more “cultured” readers. If you are looking for a more local experience with a bit of intellectual conversations with young film makers, check out Downtown’s  Zawya Cinema. They screen a lot of underground movies there, host cultural and art events, and even take part in some short film festivals around the globe.

Good luck, whatever you may see, with your new insight into Egyptian cinema. 🙂

…

Happy learning,

Cleo Lingo