Introduction

Living in a new country, we know how easy it is to have new experiences.

And we support it. At Cleo Lingo, we believe the best way to learn a new language is to have a social life.

That said, Egyptians can be (too) convincing.

If you’re not careful, you may very well spend 48 straight hours smoking shisha, drinking tea, and riding mini buses around Cairo, only to realize at some point….where did I go wrong?

Today, Cleo Lingo will be explaining….how to say no in Egyptian Arabic.

Vocabulary

Today’s post is short and sweet. After all, you don’t need that many words to tell somebody you don’t want to do something.

In that spirit, here are the two main things to know how to say before we move onto example sentences.

No. : “Law.”

.لا

No thank you. : “Law shokRAWN.”

.لا شكرا

If you want to say “no” in Egyptian Arabic, these two are the most straight-forward ways to do it.

Example Sentences

Here are some important phrases. Saying “No” in Egyptian Arabic is relatively straight-forward, but like all languages, has varying degrees of seriousness.

No, I am fine. : “Law Ana tawMEHM.”

.لا انا تمام

These phrases are a little bit more serious. Use these when you feel like a friend is disrespecting your time.

Not at all! : “Law KHAWliss!”

!لا خالص

I don’t want to. : “Mish EYEizz.”

.مش عايز

I don’t agree! : “Ana mish mooEHfuh!”

!انا مش موافق

I would never do that! : “‘AWMree maw HAW’mll KEHduh!”

!عمري ما هعمل كده

To say no in Egyptian Arabic is a good skill to have, but it also helps to ask questions. You might think they are crazy for their suggestion…but what’s their opinion?

What do you think? : “Enta SHEYEiff AY?”

انت شايف ايه؟

Do you want to do this? : “EYEizz TAW’mll KEHduh?”

عايز تعمل ده؟

What’s your opinion? : “RAWeek AY?”

رأيك ايه؟

We will just assume your friends have opinions worth asking about.

If not?

These last ones are just extreme. To the max.

A friend just asked you to explain to his angry girlfriend that he is, for the sixth weekend in a row, hanging out at the awhwuh.

Saying “No” in Egyptian Arabic just got intense.

Please leave me alone. : “SEEBnee leeWAHHdee mehn FUHthluck.”

.سيبني لوحدي من فضلك

Leave me alone / get off my ass! (slang) : “FUkuk MEHnee!”

!فكك مني

Please don’t ask me again. : “MOOMkin mihSTAW’NEESH TEHnee.”

.ممكن متسألنيش تاني

This last one is a great example of one of Egyptian Arabic’s finest pleasures: making “mish sandwiches.”

You are crazy. : “Enta megNOON!”

!انت مجنون

Here’s something that you could also “extremely disagree” about:

Saying “No” in Egyptian Arabic is just as useful here!

Cultural Insight

Egyptians have a hard time saying no. I’m just gonna say it.

Don’t know if it’s an “honor” thing, but even if they don’t plan on doing something, they will still “be there.”

Keep this cultural difference (depending on where you come from) in mind. Not that Egyptians aren’t trustworthy.

They just really don’t want to make you sad for denying an invitation.

Good luck saying no to that 48 hour binger. 🙂

Happy learning,

Cleo Lingo