How To Talk About Your Hobbies in Egyptian Arabic

Introduction

Remember when you had free time?

I know. Sad.

We know you are probably too busy mastering Arabic to do anything fun.

But just in case somebody asks, it helps to have some answers ready.

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

Vocabulary

Here are some useful words that you might use when talking about hobbies. It helps to know them, but we will cover more actionable “example sentences” down below.

Hobbies. : “HOOayEHT.”

هوايات

Free time. : “WUH’tt elFAWthdee.”

وقت فاضي

Fun. : “awtBIIsit.”

اتبسط/استمتع

Exciting. : “MOMEte’aw.”

ممتع

Relaxing. : “awRAYuhh.”

اريح/ استريح / استجم

We just hope, of course, that your hobbies are actually fun or relaxing. If not, you might want to get some new ones!

Example Sentences

Here are some example sentences. As with every post, we’ve given you some things you might actually use in conversation. No time for solitary words here!

Here are some of the most common ways to express hobbies (as well as what they are):

I have a lot of hobbies. : “‘AWNdee HOOayEHT kiTEER.”

عندي هوايات كتير

I have (only) a few hobbies. : “‘AWNdee HOOayEHT mish kiTEER.”

.عندي هوايات مش كتير

This is also ok. See today’s Culture Corner for a little bit more information on the situation in Egypt. And this post might help, as well:

I like to….play basketball/frisbee/football/go to the gym. : “BawHHEHB EHL’awb KORUT elSEHlaw / FRISbee / KORUT elKAWdum.”

.بحب العب كرة سلة/فريسبي/ كرة قدم

I like to to….go swimming / go to the gym / on hikes / travel. : “BawHHEHB aw’OOM / ROHH elJIM / AW’mll HIKing / ehSEHfrr.”

.بحب اعوم/ اروح الجيم/اعمل هايكنج/اسافر

I like to….go out / meet with friends. : “BawHHEHB awEHbll awsHHAWbee / BEHL’awb mehZEEkaw.”

.بحب اقابل صحابي/ العب مزيكا

I like to….go to parties / drink alcohol / smoke cigarettes. : “BawHHEHB ROHhhaw fawLEHT USHruhb USHruhb sihGAYrr.”

.بحب اروح حفلات/اشرب/اشرب سجاير

This last one is for those “party animals” that read Cleo Lingo.

We know you are out there. And just to show you that we have your back, here are some useful posts regarding buying alcohol and ordering shisha:

Here are some common questions you might hear regarding hobbies:

Which hobby do you like the most (Lit: What most hobby you like it)? : “Ay AWKtar hawWEH bihTEHBhaw?”

ايه اكتر هواية بتحبها؟

How long have you done that? : “BihTAW’MLL daw AWD’AY?”

بتهمل ده قد ايه.؟

And just to show a little appreciation:

I think that’s a cool hobby. I want to try it. : “Dee hawWEH HHEHLwuh OWee. EYEIzz awgRUBhaw.”

.دي هواية حلوة قوي..عايز اجربها

While it’s most common to just say “my hobby is…,” you can also just as easily talk about what you do during your free time.

Here are some phrases that will help you do just that:

During my free time…. : “Feel WUH’tt elFAWTHee…”

…في الوقت الفاضي

If there is free time… : “Low WUH’tt elFAWTHee…”

…لو عندي وقت فاضي

“If there is free time.” How true. Half the time you’re just sitting in traffic, after all:

Here are just a few more expressions to show how long you have done something in particular. Hobbies are often either very new, or something you’ve been doing forever:

This (this talk) is new for me. : “Daw kuhLEHM giDEED bellnessBELLee.”

.ده كلام جديد بالنسبالي

“Words / talking” (كلام ) can also mean “subject” in certain sentences. You will hear this usage quite a lot.

I have done that since…..years. : “Ana awMEHLT’ DAW men KHUmiss / AWshrrsiNEEDN.”

.انا عملت ده من خمس سنين

And when it comes time to justify yourself? When somebody can’t quite believe that mastering Egyptian Arabic is your number one hobby?

Here is the question you might hear….and two answers you might give:

Why do you like it so much? : “BittawHHEHB ihRAYuh (KOOruh) OWee KEHduh LEE?”

بتحب…. قوي ليه؟

It makes me happy. : “BiItawkhawLEEnee mawbSOOT.”

.بتخليني مبسوط

It’s so much fun! : “MOMEte’aw GEHdin.”

!ممتعة جدا

No joke, my roommate said this exact phrase about smoking. I’m not much of a smoker myself…but I still found it funny:

Some last (and quite simple) questions to finish this post.

Make sure you aren’t just learning phrases to say to people, but questions that show you care. Egyptians will appreciate you showing an interest in their personal life:

What are your hobbies? : “Ay HOOayEHTtuck?”

ايه هواياتك؟

What do you like to do? : “BItawHHEHB/ee biTAW’mll/ee AY?”

بتحب تعمل ايه؟

Do you have a lot of free time, or are you usually busy? : “‘AWNduck WUH’tt elFAWthdee WAWluh meshGHOOL?”

عنك وقت فاضي كتير ولا مشغول؟

And as for what your typical Egyptian would say to this answer? Well, see today’s Culture Corner below for a little more information:

Culture Corner

Egyptians are ridiculously busy.

This is one of the main lessons I learned from three years in Cairo. Whether it’s working crazy hours, being stuck in traffic half the day, or trying to raise a family on pretty low wages, Egyptians just don’t have time.

Because of that, one of the biggest “hobbies” they have is just relaxing. The way they do this can very from meeting friends at the mosque on Fridays (it’s an event), to simply chilling at the awhwuh and drinking a coffee.

Don’t blame them if they can’t really explain what their hobbies are: they’re too busy!

Good luck explaining what you do for fun. 🙂

…

Happy learning,

Cleo Lingo