How To Talk About Football with Egyptians

Introduction

Football (or what Americans incorrectly call “soccer”) plays a big role in shaping Egyptian culture.

Most of the Egyptian youth love to watch it, play it (usually 5 vs. 5), and even talk about it (there are fields all over Cairo and Alexandria).

However, Egyptians today not only follow their national Egyptian league, but international leagues, as well. Indeed, there are huge fan bases for pretty much all European teams in Cairo.

Simply put, football is huge.

But how to talk about it in front of Egyptians without getting pushed aside for the TV?

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

Vocabulary

Here are some useful things to say to open a conversation about football!

Did you watch the game yesterday? : “SHOOft el MAWTCH imBAREuh?”

شوفت الماتش امبارح؟

Who won yesterday? : “MEEn KEHsib imBAREuh?

مين كسب امبارح؟

Do you support Al-Ahly or El-Zamalek? : “Enta awhLOWee WAWluh zehmuhKEHlee?”

انت اهلاوي ولا زملكاوي؟’

This is a funny way of saying (literally) where you are from.

We have learned this before.

Are you into football? : “LEEK feelKOOruh?”

ليك في الكورة؟

Are you gonna watch the game? : “hawtSHOOF el MAWTCH?”

هتشوف الماتش؟

The biggest football clubs in Egypt are Al-Ahly (Red) with 41 league titles and El Zamalek (White) with 12 league titles.

The games between Al-Ahly and El-Zamalek are always considered big events in Egypt.

After the top two teams there are others (far behind in terms of titles) with a wide fan base in their own cities: Al Ethad in Alexandria, Al Masry in Portsaid, El Ismailiy in Ismailia.

During the game

Like all countries, Egyptians get very angry and competitive while watching a game. After a big match, the whole country is talking about the game and the scores.

If you are watching an important match in a random ahwa, expect to hear a lot of yelling and swearing.

Who is wearing blue? : “MEEN LEHbiss EHZruh?”

مين لابس ازرق؟

Who scored the first? : “MEEN ehleeGEHB elGOON ehlOWull?”

مين الجاب الجون الاول؟

Fucking ref! (numerous ways to pronounce this)

.حكم ابن وسخة

It’s a penalty. : “Dee DUHruhbuh guhZEH”

.دي ضربة جزاء

PASS! : “PAWSS!”

!باسي

One of the words that had been borrowed by English.

What is the score? : “KEHM KEHM?”

كام كام؟  (literally translated to: “How many, how many?”)

I don’t know about you, but  I find this quite charming.

Who is number 8? : “MEEN RAWkum tuhMAWneeuh?”

مين رقم ٨؟

He should sub that guy out! : “elmawFROOD yehtuhLAW;uh BAWruh”

!المفروض يطلعه بره

Mahmoud Alaa is on Fire today. : “MahmOOD awLEH GEHmid OWee ihnuhHARduh.”

.محمود علاء جامد اوي النهاردة

Is he allergic to the grass? What is he doing on the pitch? : “AWNdoo HEHsuhSEEuh men elnawGEEluh? Ay elKHAWruh elbeeYAW’MEHloo DAW?”

هو عنده حساسيه من النجيلة؟ ايه الخره البيعمله ده؟

This is something super funny to pull out when you feel witty.

Here are some other useful words to know.

99 percent of foreigners learning Egyptian Arabic don’t ever learn these words, so you should definitely feel special once you can remember them!

Field. : “MEHLawb.”

.ملعب

Coach. : “mooDAREib.”

.مدرب

Player. : “LawEEB.”

.لعيب

Corner kick. : “THDAWruhbuh rokeNEEuh.”

.ضربة ركنية

Free kick. : “FOWL”

.فاول

Penalty area. : “munTAYuh elguhZEH'”

.منظقة الجزاء

“Area” is an important word to know. People also use it when describing where they live, different parts of a city, etc.

Penalty kick. : “THDAWruhbuh elguhZEH'”

.ضربة جزاء

Kick off. : “sunTAWruh.”

.سنتره

This comes from the word “center”, as players start the game from the center of the field.

Center of the field. : “NOSE elMEHL’awb.”

.نص الملعب

Defense. : “duhFEH’aw”

.دفاع

Offense / attack. : “huhGOOM.”

.هجوم

Goal Keeper. : “HAREiss MAWruhmuh.”

.حارس مرمى

Play maker. : “SOHnaw’ elAW’eb.”

.صانع العاب

Super dope phrase to know, but we won’t be sorry if you can’t pronounce it.

And if you try and people laugh?

Well…who cares?

Cultural Insight

Here are some famous Egyptian players

1- Abo Treka #22 – Al Ahly – retired 2013

AKA: El Magico, Prince of Hearts. Hands down the most beloved Egyptian player of all times, he is a role model for the Egyptian youth and the current football players. Even though he played for AL ahly, he is still loved by everyone because of his contribution to the National team. He also sets an excellent example for all the players in Egypt in terms of manners, ethics, he is also a true religious Muslim. This sells in Egypt :).

2. Mohamed Salah #11 – Liverpool – Currently

Aka: Mo Salah, The Egyptian King. One can claim that Salah is the most successful Egyptian player of all time. He has won lots of international awards, champions league , best African players twice,… and the list goes on. I don’t think there is a sane Egyptian person who hate Mo Salah. He also sets an example for his commitment and hard work. Salah is a religious man of principles and professional attitude, and just goes to show you what you get when you put in the work.

Pro tip: never talk shit about Abo Treka or Mo Salah around Egyptians. :), It’s blasphemy

3- Hazem Emam – #14 Al Zamalek – Retired 2002

4. Emad Meteb – #9 Al Ahly – Retired

5. Shikabala – #14 – Al Zamalek

Aka: The black gazelle. Shikaballa is the Egyptian Mario Ballotili. He is a very skilled player, hated by almost everyone,  yet truly loved by Al Zamalek fans. He didn’t do big in terms of numbers and titles but his skills, enthusiasm, and passion for the game and the team (besides his controversial talks/signs) always brought him to the stage.

6. El khateeb (Bibo) – #10 Al Ahly – Retired in the 90’s

The living legend is considered the best player in his era  (80’s and 90’s) and one of the best African players of all time. He is one of Al Ahly Super stars and is the current Al Ahly club president.

7. Ahmed Hossam (Mido) – played for so many European teams (Ajax, Marsellia, Tottenham, …) and he works as a sports analyst

There are so many other good and famous football player, but we are no experts in this field :). All what we know is that Egyptians are passionate about football, and football has always been there for them to shape their best and worst days.

When you try to analyse  football in Egypt, it goes deep. No longer are you just talking about a game, but also politics, dirty corrupt associations, good memories, individual players, and pretty much everything about Egyptian life.

It’s truly magic.

Good luck watching soc…I mean football. 🙂

…

Happy learning,

Cleo Lingo