How To Talk About Languages in Egyptian Arabic

If you like Cleo Lingo, there’s a good chance you are a language nerd. But do you know how to talk about languages in Egyptian Arabic?

That’s always a good skill to have.

Because, like it or not, if you know how to speak Egyptian Arabic as a foreigner – that makes you kind of a weirdo. And what do we do to weirdos? That’s right….we ask them a million questions.

And if people are asking you about why you speak Egyptian Arabic, they are also going to ask you about any other languages you can speak.

Best to be ready. 🙂

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

Vocabulary To Talk About Languages in Egyptian Arabic

Here are the main words that you would need to know to talk about languages in Egyptian Arabic.

We will go over these, then hook you up with longer phrases.

Language. : logha.

.لغة

Languages. : loghat.

.لغات

Speak. : yetklm.

.يتكلم

Listen. : yesma3.

.يسمع

Read. : ye2ra.

.يقرا

Write. : yektb.

.يكتب

Learn. : yet3lm.

.يتعلم

Study. : yezaker.

.يذاكر

Phrases To Talk About Languages in Egyptian Arabic

Time for some longer phrases about languages.

We have split them into general categories, although there is some overlap.

Basic Phrases For Languages in Egyptian Arabic

I’m learning Egyptian Arabic. : ana bat3lm masry.

.انا بتعلم مصري

My problem is when I try to speak it. : moshklty lama a7wel atklm.

.مشكلتي لما احاول اتكلم

It’s easy to Read German. : sahl te2ra almani.

.سهل تقرا الماني

I love languages. : ana bahb el loghat.

.انا بحب اللغات

Do you like languages? : bet7b el loghat?

بتحب اللغات؟

How many languages do you speak? :el-loghat btkhalek zaki.

بتتكلم كام لغة؟

I speak 3 languages. : ana batklm talat loghat.

.انا بتكلم تلات لغات

I only speak one language. : ana batklm logha wa7da bas.

.انا بتكلم لغة واحدة بس

Although if you are reading this and can understand both languages….you’re a liar.

She speaks / he speaks / I speak.. : hwa bytklm, hya btetklm, ana batklm.

…هي بتتكلم/هو بيتكلم/ انا بتكلم

..English / Arabic / French / ….and….Spanish / Chinese / Japanese / German / : englizy, 3araby, farnsawy, aspany, seeni, yabani, almani.

.انجليزي/عربي/فرنساوي/اسباني/صيني/ياباني/الماني…

Describing Language Levels in Egyptian Arabic

Do you speak… good? :  btetklm ,….kwaiss?

بتتكلم ….كويس؟

My level is beginner / intermediate / advanced. : mostawaya mobtade2/ motwaset/ 3ali.

.مستوايا مبتدئ/متوسط/عالي

My mother (original) language is… : loghaty el aslia hya…

….لغتي الاصلية هي

Fluent . : momtaz

.ممتاز

(lebleb)

.لبلب

 

Good. : kwaiss.

.كويس

Bad. : we7esh.

.وحش

Crap/ Rubbish. : zeft/zebala.

.زفت /زبالة

Learning A New Language

Here are some important phrases for “how to learn a new language.”

It was my experience that a lot of Egyptians are interested in your language learning history.

What is the quickest way to learn languages? : eh asra3 tare2a l ta3lom el loghat?

ايه اسرع طريقة لتعلم اللغات؟

Do you have any tips for learning Egyptian Arabic? : 3andak nasaye7 lel bytklm 3arabi?

عندك نصايح للبيتعلم عربي؟

How can I improve my Arabic (Lit: I improve the Arabic mine how)? : a7sen el3araby bta3i ezay?

احسن العربي بتاعي ازاي؟

How did you learn….? : ezay et3lmt…?

ازاي اتعلمت…؟

My boyfriend / girlfriend is from this country. : sa7bty/sa7by men el-balad dee.

.صحبتي/صاحبي من البلد دي

When somebody asks how they can improve their language, here is some advice you can give in Egyptian Arabic.

These are all commands.

Read a lot. : e2ra kteer.

.اقرا كتير

Listen to music. : esma3 mazzika.

.اسمع مزيكا

Talk to the people from there. : etklm ma3 nas men hna.

.اتكلم مع ناس من هناك

Talk to yourself! : etklm ma3 nafsak!

!اتكلم مع نفسك

And when you are speaking about languages you are learning / will learn?

What language do you want to learn? : eh el-logha el-3ayz tet3lmha?

ايه اللغة اللي عايز تتعلمها؟

I want to learn.. : ana 3ayz at3lm…

.. انا عايز اتعلم

You are studying. : enta btzaker…

.. انت بتذاكر

Talking About The Benefits of Languages in Egyptian Arabic

And finally – what’s the point of all this?

Why even bother learning new languages?

Here are some things you can say when somebody asks you.

Languages are fun. : el-loghat momte3a.

.اللغات ممتعة

Languages teach you about the world : el-loghat bt3lmak 3an el-sakafat w el-3alam.

.اللغات بتعلمك عن الثقافات والعالم

Languages can give you more opportunities. : el-loghat btdek foras.

.اللغات بتديك فرص

Languages make you smarter. : el-loghat btkhalek zaki.

.اللغات بتخليك اذكى