9 Ways To Say “I Don’t Know” In Egyptian Arabic

In this blog post you will learn nine different ways to say “I don’t know” in Egyptian Arabic. For each one, we also give you important context and an example of the phrase in action.

If you are trying to mix up what you say in Egyptian Arabic, and want to sound a bit more fluent, this post is for you!

Let’s get started.

9 Ways To Say “I Don’t Know” In Egyptian Arabic

1) I don’t know. : m3rafsh.

.معرفش

This is your standard, go-to phrase. It works in pretty much any context, and it’s the literal translation of “I don’t know.”

Note: this version of “I don’t know” is a “mish sandwich.” You can also say “mish 3raf”  / مش عرف. 

Example:

I don’t know where he went. : Ana m3rafsh hwa ra7 feen.

.أنا معرفش هو راح فين

2) I have no idea. : ma3ndeesh ay fekra. 

.ما عنديش أي فكرة

Use this when you’re totally clueless. Basically the exact same way you would use it in English.

Example:

I have no idea what she means. : ma3ndeesh ay fekra heya 2asdaha eh.

.ما عنديش أي فكرة هي قصدها إيه

3) How would I know? : Wana eesh 3arafni?

 وانا ايش عرفني؟

This version of “I don’t know” in Egyptian Arabic is casual and a bit playful. You use it as a rhetorical question (meaning you really don’t know).

Example:

Will he come? : Haygy?

هيجي؟

How would I know? : Wana eesh 3arafni?

وانا ايش عرفني؟

4) Beats me. : Maleesh feh.

.مليش فيه

This is a phrase that is essentially Egyptian Arabic slang. It’s quite informal, and is used in the sense of “None of my business” or “Don’t ask me.” You can use it when you want to deny responsibility of something

Example:

Are we going to pay extra? : E7na keda handfa3 ziada?

احنا كده هندفع زيادة؟

I don’t know, beats me. : Ma3rafsh, maleesh fe. 

.معرفش، مليش فيه

5) I’m not sure. : Mesh mot2akked.

.مش متأكد

This is polite and a little more thoughtful.

Technically the phrase above is literally “Not sure” because you don’t have “I” at the beginning (ana / انا), but you can also say: انا مش متأكد

Example: 

Will we meet today? : E7na hant2abel elnharda?

إحنا هنتقابل النهاردة؟

I’m not sure. : Mesh mot2akked.

.مش متأكد

6) God knows. : Allahu a3lam. 

.الله أعلم

This is a more “classic Arabic” phrase, but you can still sometimes hear Egyptians saying it. Egyptians often use “God phrases”, after all!

It can be serious or playful depending on the tone.

Example:

Do you think it’ll rain today? : Teftker hatmatar elnharda?

تفتكر هتمطر النهاردة؟

God knows. : Allahu a3lam.

.الله أعلم

7) Don’t ask me. : mats2alneesh.

.متسألنيش

This way of saying “I don’t know” in Egyptian Arabic is a little defensive. It’s a great phrase to use during dramatic (or funny) moments.

Example:

What’s this weird smell? : Eh elree7a elghariba de?

إيه الريحة الغريبة دي؟

Don’t ask me! : Mats2alneesh!

!متسألنيش

8) I’m blank. : Mafeesh 7aga f dmaghi. 

.مافيش حاجة في دماغي 

This literally means “There’s nothing in my head.” Sounds funny with a literal translation in English, but it’s quite common in Egyptian Arabic. This is a funny and casual phrase. 

Example: 

Can you give me an example? : Momken tedeni mesaal?

ممكن تديني مثال؟

I’m blank. : Mafeesh haga f dmaghi.

.مافيش حاجة في دماغي 

9) Let me see. : Istanna ashoof.

.استنى أشوف

This is a soft way of saying “I don’t know” in Egyptian Arabic. It’s helpful when you need to buy time, or you literally are about to ask somebody for the answer.

(It literally means: “Wait me I see.”)

Example:

Do you know what time the movie starts? : 3aref elfilm haybtdi elsa3a kam?

عارف الفيلم هيبتدي ساعة كام؟

Let me see. : estanna ashoof.

.استنى أشوف

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Happy learning,

Cleo Lingo