How to Navigate Your Kitchen in Egyptian Arabic : Part 1

Introduction

At some point, you are going to spend some time in your Egyptian kitchen.

Whether that means making the food yourself, grabbing trash bags for whatever activities you are currently involved in, or stealing the ice cream of your roommates, you’ll be there someday.

And when that day comes, how embarrassing not to know the name of anything.

We’ve got you covered.

Today, Cleo Lingo will be explaining….how to navigate your kitchen in Egyptian Arabic, part 1.

Vocabulary

The main words you need to know.

Kitchen. : “MOHTbawkh.”

.مطبخ

Cooking/Food. : “tawBEEKH.”

.طبيخ

Food. : “EHkll.”

.اكل

Here are your main meal names.

Breakfast. : “fuhTAWR.”

.فطار

Lunch. : “GHEHdaw.”

.غدا

Dinner. : “AW’shaw.”

.عشاء

Here you can also find the main spices.

Not that you need these anyway, because we know you’re a total pro.

• Salt. : MEHLawh
• ملح
• Pepper. : FILLfill
• فلفل
• Cinnamon. : AWRfuh
• قرفة
• Garlic. : TOme
• ثوم

And where else do you ask for garlic?

Kosharyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

https://cleolingo.com/how-to-order-egyptian-koshary/

What follows are 13 phrases that you might use while preparing a meal.

Learning whole phrases is far more effective then just solitary words….so enjoy!

Where is the pan? : “FANE ehllTAWssuh?”

فين الطاسة؟

How many cups of oil should I use? : “ehSTAWkh’dehm KEHM kowBAYyeht ZEET?”

استخدم كام كوباية زيت؟

The microwave is not working. : “elMICroWAVE mish shawGHEHL.”

.الميكروويف مش شغال

You will find the milk inside the fridge. : “hawtLEHee ehlLEHbnn fee ehltawLEHtuh.”

.هتلاقي اللبن في التلاجة

The toaster would be enough! Thanks. : “elTOAster heyeKOON kihFAYuh. Showkrawn.”

.التوستر هيكون كفاية. شكرا

I need a stronger blender. : “Ana hehTAWG khuhLEHT AWKwuh.”

.انا هحتاج خلاط اقوى

While we are concentrating on things in your kitchen, definitely good to know everything else in your flat, as well.

I know how to use a peeler. : “BAW’ruff ehSTAWKdemm ehluhSHAWruh.”

.بعرف استخدم القشارة

Can you peel the carrots please? : “bihTAW’ruff TUH’shrr ehlGUHzrr.”

بتعرف تقشر الجزر؟

Wash the tomatoes well. : “EHghsll eltuhMAWtumm KWAYiss.”

.اغسل الطماطم كويس

For any of the other fruits and veggies you might need to prepare:

Get the chicken out to unfreeze it. : “TUlaw elfuhREKH AWluhshane TEHfuck.”

.طلع الفراخ علشان تفك

Too busy to cook your own chicken?

https://cleolingo.com/how-to-order-egyptian-shawerma/

2 spoons of (salt – yeast – sugar – pepper). : “mawEHluhTANE….MELH / khawMEErug / SOOkrr / FILLfill”

.(معلقتين (ملح – خميرة – سكر – فلفل

Mushrooms are so fresh. : “elmushROOM TAWzuh GEHdin.”

.المشروم طازة جدا

Here is the teapot. : “buhRAHD elSHAY awhoo.”

.براد الشاي اهو

And, of course, what kind of people would we be if we didn’t hook you up with utensils?

Fork. : “SHOOkuh.”

.شوكة

Knife. : “sawKEEnuh.”

.سكينة

Spoon. : “MAW’LEHuh.”

.معلقة

Cup. : “kowBAYit.”

.كوباية

Glass. : “ihZEHzuh.”

.ازازة

If you remember, this is also the word for bottle.

Plate. : “TUHbuh.”

.طبق

Cultural Insight

I’m just going to say it: it’s cheaper to eat take-out in Cairo than it is to cook.

Like, every single night.

To say that delivery has a huge chunk of the Egyptian economy is an understatement. It’s literally the life blood of the country.

Ok, not really. But if you want to read this post, learn all these cool phrases, and then just call up Taboola for some ready-to-eat hipster food, delivered to your doorstep in 30 minutes, fine by us.

Either way, when you do find yourself in a kitchen, good luck with your so-called “cooking.” 🙂

…

Happy learning,

Cleo Lingo