Introduction

It’s never fun being sick.

Even so, sometimes it just happens. And when it does, are you just going to curl up in a ball and drink tea….or are you going to have some Arabic conversations?

We are just kidding : if you really feel like shit, take some rest.

And then, once you are DONE, read this post. 🙂

Today, Cleo Lingo will be explaining….how to talk about being sick in Egyptian Arabic.

Vocabulary

Here are some words that you need to know.

After that, we will move on to example phrases that you would use in Egyptian.

Sick. : “‘eyeYEHN / mohREETHDH.”

.عيان/مريض

Sickness. : “MUHrutdh.”

.مرض

We just did a post on Coronavirus, so make sure you check that out.

Health. : “SEHhhaw.”

.صحة

The “aw” at the end of this word is quite silent.

Medicine. : “DEHwuh.”

.دوا

Pharmacy. : “SEYEdawLEEuh.”

.صيدلية

Hospital. : “mooSTEHSHfuh.”

.مستشفى

We’ll end todays vocabulary with the word for “hospital.”

I have mentioned it before, but “mooSTEHSHfuh” is the funnest word to write in Arabic.

Give it a try: it’s quite the rush.

Example Phrases

Alright… time for the good stuff.

As usual, we have broken down these super actionable phrases into different sections.

Todays post is short and sweet.

Explaining Your Sickness

I am sick. : “Ana ‘eyeYEHN.”

.انا عيان

I have a cold. : “Ana ‘AWNdee BAWrid.”

.انا عندي برد

Remember other ways to use the word “cold”?

That’s right: when you talk about the weather!

I have a fever. : “Ana SOHkhin / ‘AWNdee  hhuhRAWruh.”

.انا سخن / عندي حرارة)

I have a cough. : “Ana ‘AWNdee  KOHhhuh.”

.انا عندي كحة

I have a headache. : “Ana ‘AWNdee  ssohDAW’.”

.انا عندي صداع

Consequences From Being Sick

I need to get (take) medicine. : “mehhTAWG EHkhud DOWuh.”

.محتاج اخد دوا

A lot of the “buying” vocab we talked about with buying stuff at a koshk.

I need to go to the doctor/ hospital. : “LEHzim awROOHH leeldokTOR / elmooSTEHSHfuh.”

.لازم اروح للدكتور/المستشفى

I need to stay at home. : “Ana LEHzim AW’uhd feelBATE.”

.انا لازم اقعد في البيت

It will not be possible to go to work. : “Mish heyeYEHNfaw’ awROOH elSHOghll.”

.مش هينفع اروح الشغل

And if people ask you about your job, you know what to do!

Asking Questions About Being Sick

Do you feel that you are sick? : “HHAWsiss EHnuck eye’YEHN?”

حاسس انك عيان؟:

Are you ok? : “ENtaw KWAYiss?”

انت كويس؟

A lot of these “small talk” phrases were covered in our post about how to introduce yourself.

How long have you been sick? : “eyeYEHN buhEHluck AWD’ AY?”

عيان بقالك قد ايه؟

The phrase for indicating time is often بقالك قد (“buhEHluck AWD'”). This is important to remember.

Do you feel that you are better today? : “HHAWsiss EHnuck AWHHsawn ELnuhHARdaw?”

حاسس انك احسن النهاردة؟

Do you (want to) drink something hot? : “TEHshrub HHAWga SOHKnaw?”

تشرب حاجة سخنة؟

And if you do, going to an awhuwuh might be just what you need!

Cultural Corner

Today is a bit more “negative.” It’s about the Egyptian healthcare system.

As an American, I am in no way claiming that my own country’s health system is perfect (we have our own fair share of problems). But at least it seems to function.

That was never really my experience in Egypt. The three times that I went to the hospital in three years in Cairo, each experience was a bit…unprofessional. That’s not to say that the system doesn’t work for Egyptians, because I’m sure it does. But as a foreigner…it will definitely be strange.

Case in point: my finger. While playing frisbee, I landed on my middle finger and ended up “breaking the joint” (quite serious). The doctor in Cairo took an x-ray, wrapped it, and told me it would be fine. My finger was noticeably crooked (still is) after I took the wrapping off three weeks later. When I got surgery in America a year later, the doctor said he didn’t understand how ANY DOCTOR would just wrap a broken joint.

Just my own personal experience…but I’v heard similar stories. Just be careful out there.

Good luck talking about how gross you feel these days! 🙂

…

Happy learning, 

Cleo Lingo