How To Order At McDonald’s in Egyptian Arabic

Today we are talking about something every foreigner in Egypt needs to know…

…how to order at McDonald’s in Egyptian Arabic!

(Ok, maybe you hate the place, but we promise this post will give you some cool phrases).

Let’s get started.

Order At McDonald’s in Egyptian Arabic: Vocabulary

We will start with the most important vocabulary you need to know.

After that we will move onto example phrases for ordering at McDonald’s in Egyptian Arabic.

McDonalds. : Macdolanz.

.ماكدونالدز

Restaurant. : Mat3am.

.مطعم

Food. : Akl.

.اكل

Drink / s. : Shorb / mashroob.

.شرب / المشروب

Breakfast / lunch / dinner. : Fetar / ghada / 3asha.

.فطار/ غدا/ عشا

Menu. : Menu.

.منيو

Order. : Talab.

.طلب

Small  / medium / large. : Soghyar / wasat / kbeer.

.صغير/ وسط/ كبير

Order At McDonald’s in Egyptian Arabic: Example Phrases

Lots of these phrases are similar to what you use when ordering at a restaurant in Egyptian Arabic.

Be sure to check that post out as well.

Let’s go to McDonald’s. : Yalla nro7 mac.

.يلا نروح ماك

Egyptians often call McDonald’s “Mac.”

Don’t ask me why.

I’m hungry, let’s eat at McDonalds. : Ana ga3an yalla nakol mac.

.انا جعان يلا ناكل ماك

Remember that this is translated specifically for a male.

For a female, it would be ana ga3ana (انا جعانة).

For more information, check out our post on the Egyptian Arabic present tense.

Hello. : Salamo 3aleko/ sabah elkheer/ masaa2 elkheer.

.سلام عليكم/ صباح الخير/ مساء الخير

None of these literally mean “hello.”

Check them out in more detail in our post on Egyptian Arabic greeting.

I want… : 3ayz… 

…عايز

We want… : 3ayzeen…

…عايزيين

We will pay together. : Handfa3 ma3 ba3d.

.هندفع مع بعض

Wondering what the first letter ه is doing in هندفع?

It basically just means a verb is going to happen (AKA, we will pay).

Find out more in our post about the future tense in Egyptian Arabic.

Order At McDonald’s in Egyptian Arabic: Questions

Let’s move onto questions!

In this section we will go over two types of questions when ordering at McDonald’s in Egyptian Arabic:

1. Questions to ask
2. Questions to understand

Questions To Ask:

Want to eat at McDonald’s? : 3ayz takol mac?

عايز تاكل في ماك؟

Can I please order? : Momken atlob law samaht?

ممكن اطلب لو سمحت؟

How much does it cost? : Kam keda?

كام كده؟

Is there… : Fe…?

في…؟

Are you guys open / closed (Lit. Are you (plural) working)? : Shaghaleen?

شاغلين؟

How long are you open (Lit. Open until when)? : Fat7een l7ad emta?

فاتحين لحد امتى؟

At what time do you guys close? : Bt2felo elsa3a kam?

بتقفلو الساعة كام؟

Can you help me order from the screen? : Moomkin tis3edni atlab men el shesha?

ممكن تساعدني اطلب من الشاشة

Can I add…? : Momken azwed…

…ممكن ازود…

Can I have napkins? : Momken manadeel?

ممكن مناديل؟

Can I have extra ketchup? : Momken ketchup ziada?

مكن كاتشب زيادة؟ –

Want to know the different ways to use the word momken?

Then check out this post!

Is breakfast still served (Lit. The breakfast still working)? : El fetar lesa shaghal?

الفطار لسه شغال؟

Questions To Understand

Good morning, what would you like to order? : Saba7 elkheer, t7eb tetlob eh?

صباح الخير. تحب تطلب ايه؟

Are you ready to order? : Gahez totlob?

جاهز تطلب؟

Anything else? : Ay haga tani?

اي حاجة تاني؟

Here or takeaway? : Hena wala takeaway?

هنا ولا تيكاواي؟

We cover the whole “takeaway” thing in how to order delivery in Egyptian Arabic.

Finished? : Khalast?

خلصت؟

Main Orders on a McDonald’s Menu

As you will see looking at these, ordering at McDonald’s in Egyptian Arabic sounds a lot like English.

The key is to say things with an Egyptian accent.

Big tasty. : Big tasty.

.بيج تاستي

Cheeseburger. : Tsheezberger.

.تشيربرجر

Fries / potatoes. : Batates.

.بطاطس

Chicken burger. : Bergar ferakh.

.برجر فراخ

We cover the different “meat” words in our post on ordering shawerma in Egyptian Arabic.

Cola. : Cola.

.كولا

Fanta. : Fanta.

.فانتا

Ice cream. : Ice cream.

.ايس كريم

Ice cream sundae. : Sunday ice cream.

.صنداي ايس كريم.

Order At McDonald’s in Egyptian Arabic: Example Conversation

Lastly, here is an example of a conversation that might happen at McDonald’s.

Good morning, go ahead sir. : Sba7 elkair, etfuthl y fndm.

صباح الخير اتفضل يا فندم؟

I want one Big Tasty. : 3aiz wa7d big tasty.

.عايز واحد بيج تاستي

Combo or sandwich? : Kombo wala elsandwich?

كومبو ولا ساندويتش؟

Large combo. : Kombo large.

.كومبو لارج

What drinks would you like? : 3aiz elmashrobat eh?

عايز المشروب ايه؟

Sprite. : Sprite.

.سبرايت

Anything else? : Ay haga tani?

اي حاجة تاني؟

Yes, I want an ice cream cone. : Aww 3aiz ice kreem kone.

.اه عايز ايس كريم كون

Great, the total is 120 guineas, here or takeawy? : Tamam, keda elhisab mia w eshreen ginee, hena wala takeaway?

تمام، كده الحساب ١٢٠ جنيه، هنا ولا تيكاواي؟

Takeaway, thanks. : Takeaway, shokran.

.تيكاواي، شكرا

10 minutes and your order will be ready sir…take a seat. : 3ashr duay w eltalib yikoon gahiz y fndm, teba3 elshesha.

.١٠دقايق والطلب يكون جاهز يا فندم ..تابع الشاشة

Thank you. :  Shokran.

.شكرا

Cultural Insight

Egyptians like “batawtas” (french fries) more than anything else at McDonald’s.

In fact, even if they don’t really like McDonald’s, odds are they’ve eaten fries there.

It’s a cultural thing.

Then again, McDonald’s fries are pretty amazing, so maybe it’s like this everywhere!

…

Happy learning, 

Cleo Lingo