Smoking shisha in Egypt is an art. And if you know how to order shisha in Egyptian Arabic, you are instantly cooler.
In case you didn’t know, Egyptians like their shisha (or “hookuh,” as my immature younger self used to call it). And even though it’s not good for you, we fully encourage you try it out at least once. Indeed, a shisha session with a new Egyptian friend might be one of the best things you can do for practicing your Arabic. So smoke away. Just don’t blame us when you wake up the next morning feeling like crap.
Today, Cleo Lingo will be explaining…..how to order shisha in Egyptian Arabic.
Example Phrases To Order Shisha in Egyptian Arabic
Here are a ton of phrases that will help you successfully order shisha in Egyptian Arabic. We have split them between
Questions Before You Order Shisha
Is there shisha here? : “Fess shisha hehnuh?”
في شيشة هنا
Do you have shisha? : “AwnDUHk shisha?”
عندك شيشة
By now, you’ve realized the importance of the word “fee.” Seems like it’s the beginning of every other question in Egypt. If you want to ask if there is shisha available, if there is chocolate at a koshk, if there is a problem between two children fighting on the streets….. “fee” if your go-to word. Don’t forget it.
Ok, where can we sit? : “Tamam/Mashee, moomkin nawuhd fane?”
تمام.. ممكن نقعد فين؟
This is just buttering up the guy who welcomes you in. Do you have to say it? Of course not. But the fact is, you only get better at a language by speaking it. The waiter will feel appreciated. And we at Cleo Lingo are all about appreciation.
I want to smoke shisha. : “Eyeizz ehshrub shisha.”
عايز اشرب شيشة
Since you’re learning how to order shisha in Egyptian Arabic, you should know this: you won’t say this to the waiter. Instead, you’ll probably just say it to your friends (most cafes will have shisha). You don’t need to tell the waiter that you want to smoke shisha – asking him if they have shisha is enough.
In Egypt, the word for smoke is the same as the word for drink: “ehshrub.” This is strange, and it took me a couple weeks to get over confusion. I thought people actually drank cigarettes here.
How expensive is shisha here? : “BeeKEHM shisha hehnuh?”
بكام الشيشة هنا
But that’s a bit expensive. : “Bas da GHAWlee shwAYuh.”
بس ده غالي شوية
Depending on the place and flavor, you are going to pay anything from 5 pounds to 80 pounds. A good go-to amount to keep in your head is right around 40 pounds. That’s about two dollars, and will get you all the shisha you would care to smoke. In any case, we all know you’re addicted. You’re going to pay whatever they’re charging. Still, saying stuff like that makes you look cool. Knowing how to bargain in Egyptian Arabic isn’t really applicable here, as the price will be set.
How To Order Different Shisha Flavors in Egyptian Arabic
What mixes do you have here? : “Awndak mixat ay?”
عندك ميكسات ايه؟
Do you have mixes here or what? : “Awndak mixat wawluh ay?”
عندك ميكسات ولا ايه؟
Did you notice that the plural of the word “mix” is MixAT? Exactly: use Arabic grammar with an English word and, magically, you have an Egyptian word.
“Wawluh AY” (or what) is sometimes used interchangeably with “wawluh la’a” (or not). However, there is a difference. “Wawluh la’a” is a bit more formal, and you can use it almost anywhere. “Wawluh AY” is slightly more….combative. It’s usually something you would either use with friends, or when you are pissed off at something.
The two different words for “or” is a great thing to know.
What do you want to smoke? : “Eyeizz tehshrub/eyezuh tehshrubee ey?”
عايز تشرب ايه؟
This is likely what you will be asked after you have made him know that you are there for shisha. After a few moments of contemplation (you can ask for a shisha menu if you don’t know), here is what you can say:
I want/we want a mix of….lemon/watermelon/mango/mint/apple/strawberry/grapes/peach/cream(milk cream) : “Eyeizz(uh)/eyeizeen mix…limone/bawteekh/manga/nawuhnaa/tooFEaH/fuhROWluh/enab/khuhkh/eshtawh
عايز ميكس …ليمون|بطيخ|مانجا|نعناع| تفاح|فراولة|عنب|خوخ|قشطة)
There are a ton of flavors (and mixes of flavors) so it’s up to you to figure out what you like and don’t like. There are many more flavors and mixes then we have listed, but these are indeed the most popular ones. We realize, of course, that you learned the name of fruits from a post about shisha. I guess we’re just G’s like that. Maybe not the best planning on our part, because a couple weeks from now is when we teach you how to buy your fruits and vegetables.
In any case, peach was always my favorite, and apple was good too. With either of these, you can’t go wrong.
Shisha Sallom/ Shisha Uss : (Basically a flavorless shisha that tastes like you are smoking one big giant cigarette)
شيشة سلوم | شيشة قص
For those of you brave enough to order the flavorless tobacco, shisha uss or Sallom. Well, godspeed. It’s what most older older Egyptians will smoke, and it’s like the biggest cigarette you’ve ever seen. It will give you a buzz, though. But still….maybe just stick with stuff that tastes good?
Extra Phrases When You Order Shisha in Egyptian Arabic
Alright. : “Mehshee.”
ماشي
Anything else? : “Haga tehnee?”
حاجة تاني
There is…/I have… : “Fee…/AWNdee…”
…في…/ عندي
And you might say:
What’s that? : “Ey daw?”
ايه ده؟
This is an important one. It is used far and wide as either a marker for general confusion, or a snappy way to express your disbelief. In this situation, you can use it to genuinely ask what a flavor or mix is.
Excuse me (say that again)? : “Nawm?”
نعم؟؟
Big difference here between Standard Arabic and Egyptian. In my college Arabic class, every other word was “nawm.” I had no idea that such a simple word could be so different in Cairo (“eyewuh”). Here, it is used when you want somebody to repeat something. It’s more polite than “Ey,” though. Keep that in mind.
That’s it. But for now can we drink something like coffee/tea? : “Bessuh kehduh. Bess delWAWuhtee moomkin nehshrub haga zayuh AWhuhwuh/shay?”
بس كده..بس دلوقتي ممكن نشرب شاي او قهوة؟
If you get this long one right on the first try, shisha is on us.
What To Say While Smoking Your Shisha in Egyptian Arabic
Coals! : “WEH-law’”
عايز ولعة
This is for when the shisha is getting a little weak. You can begin this one with a “low semaht,” then point as you say it. Shisha guy will nod, and bring the coals over momentarily
And now for some more advanced stuff. Difficult sentences, but useful. Also, in the right situation, funny.
Can you clear this out? (when you need to blow the smoke out) : “moomkin tesallek-ha?”
ممكن تسلكها
Can you fix it, it’s a little bit heavy(strong). : “Momken teZabat-ha-li? Teela SHWAYuh.”
ممكن تظبطهالي ..تقيلة شوية
These two go hand in hand. Excess smoke=too heavy. If you’re a rookie, you’ll know that it’s too strong when it actually hurts to smoke the shisha. It will burn your lungs and probably make you cough. If you don’t cough, however, you’re probably Superman, and ordering shisha in Cairo is the least of your worries.
Is that good? : “HEHloo kehduh.”
حلو كده
This is to ask your friend if the shisha is good. It’s also something the shisha guy might ask you, after which you can take a sample puff to satisfy him.
I’m dizzy. Did I just smoke drugs or what? : “Ana DAYikh! Ana shurebt moHAWduhRAWT wawluh ay?”
انا دايخ..انا شربت مخدرات ولا ايه
I learned the word “moHAWduhRAWT” from the Ramadan series “Taht AlSaytara.” Highly, highly, highly recommended when you have moved past the beginner stage. In case you didn’t guess, it’s about drugs. Who knew Ramadan could be so intense?
And in case you care to, you can also learn how to talk about Ramadan in Egyptian Arabic.
I just can’t do it, I’m going to die. “Mish EHderr, ana hawmoot.”
مش قادر حاسس اني هموت
We hope you aren’t serious. “Mish EHdrr” is a good one. This is for when you just can’t. Can’t believe it, can’t understand, can’t comprehend how stupid your friends are….or, in this case, can’t smoke anymore. It’s quite literal.
I feel like I am going to vomit. : “Ana hawsiss enee huhREG-gaw.”
انا حاسس اني هرجع
Again, applicable in numerous situations, most notably when you have eaten so much you think you are going to be sick.
I can’t! Smoke with me. :Mish EHderr! Eshrub mawAYuh”
اشرب معايا …مش قادر
For when you notice you’ve been taking drags by yourself for a full hour.
That’s so weak! Man up! : “Asaad yalah fee ay?”
اسد يلا في ايه
Surprisingly, the direct translation of this has nothing to do with “Man up.” It literally means “Lion, man, what’s happening (what’s wrong),” and all the kids are saying it. Egyptians (especially youth) use it to encourage others to keep going/to man up in a slightly joking way. They also say it to imply that they have their shit together or have everything under control. It’s a very famous line from a well-known play called “Teatro Misr” (2017), and everybody knows it. I recommend checking out this video for inspiration before busting out this line. Guaranteed laughs. It’s one of the funniest references you can use; might as well get it right.
Smoke! : “ShEdd!”
شد
The word “Shedd” means to pull in Egyptian Arabic, but when you tell someone to “Pull” in a shisha setting, it means “take a puff” or go ahead and smoke! cause you are basically pulling the smoke out of it! you can use it while handing out the shisha to a friend to share or to the shisha guy to clear it for you.
In Cairo, as you know by now, you should know about smoking and how to deal with it.
Here you go. : “TuhFUHthdll
اتفضل
This is used everywhere, and you came across it in our post about ordering at a restaurant. It’s used in countless situations for “go ahead” or “after you.” Quite a respectful phrase, and something you will hear a lot of.
Cultural Insight
We weren’t lying when we told you that this stuff is everywhere. It’s cheap and fun, and sometimes it seems like “everybody’s doing it.” This makes for some very interesting situations. Nobody would think twice seeing a group of Egyptian college students smoking shisha. But what about a guy in a wheelchair? What about a police officer on duty? What about a group of women in burqas, laughing over tea and (probably) about their husbands?
I’ve seen it all, and even though some groups are more common than others (women in burqas smoking is exceptionally rare), it seems like nothing’s off limits. The phrase “only in Cairo” is popular amongst foreigners for all the weird stuff that happens here. Shisha, and the culture surrounding it, is a perfect example.
We also weren’t lying when we said it’s great for conversation practice. It’s social, it’s very low-stress, and everybody seems to be in a better mood when they do it. The perfect situation for practicing a new language.
I certainly know that I had that experience. When I worked as a business English teacher in Cairo, the company provided me with a driver to and from home. By week two, Hani and I had agreed that he would pick me up half an hour early every day so we could smoke shisha before work started. This was at 10 in the morning, but I wouldn’t have traded it for the world. Hani was a bad ass, and the amount of Arabic I learned from him over shisha was substantial.
Smoking shisha is an art. So is speaking Arabic. Combine them, and you’re well on your way to becoming Egyptian.
Good luck not getting a headache. 🙂
…..
Happy Learning,
Cleo Lingo
