How to Get a Taxi in Egyptian Arabic

Taxis in Cairo are something you will use almost constantly. That’s why knowing how to get a taxi in Egyptian Arabic is so important.

Besides the top of a camel, taxis are the most convenient way to get around. They are everywhere, they are cheap, and the drivers (usually) know exactly where they are going.

They are also a bit crazy. 🙂

Egyptian taxi drivers are notorious for their “bat out of hell attitude.” While they might not give you a heart attack like mini bus drivers (we will save that for a future post), they’re a close second. It pays to understand things. What to say to the driver, how to get where you’re going, and perhaps most importantly, how to avoid getting ripped off.

Today, Cleo Lingo will be explaining…how to get a taxi in Egyptian Arabic.

Vocabulary To Get a Taxi in Egyptian Arabic

Taxi! : “Tax!”

I want to go to…. : “Eye-izz awrooh….”

… عايز اروح

The Egyptian museum : “al MAT-haff almasree”

.  المتحف المصري…

Tahrir Square : “meedAn al tahreer”

.ميدان التحرير…

The Cairo Tower : “burg al caw-he-ruh”

.برج القاهرة…

Zamalek : “zamelek”

.الزمالك…

The Pyramids : “Al ahramat”

.الاهرامات…

These are the most common places you might go to in a taxi in Cairo. They will know where they are.

And if you to navigate the airport in Egyptian Arabic, we can help you there too!

Phrases To Get a Taxi in Egyptian Arabic

If you are getting a taxi in Egyptian Arabic, these are some of the most important phrases you should know.

Does the meter work? : “eladdad shaghal?”

العداد شغال؟

This might be the most important thing you will learn today. Oftentimes, the meter will be “broken.” 90 percent of the time, this is just a ploy to get extra money from you. If the driver refuses to turn on the meter, get a new taxi. Simple as that.

Go straight. : “khush ala tool”

.خش على طول

Turn right. : “khush yameen”

.خش يمين

Turn left. : “khush shemal”

.خش شمال

Still a little bit ahead. : “lissa ooDEM shwayuh”

.لسه قدام شوية

Pull over to the side please. : “ala ganb laow samaht”

.على جنب لو سمحت

I can exit here. : “moomkin eNzil hena

.ممكن انزل هنا

Do you have change for a 20/50? : “MAa-uck fakkah (ehshreen, humseen)?

?(؟معاك فكة (عشرين, خمسين.

Thank you, sir. : “shokrawn ya BEHsha”)

.شكرا يا باشا

Getting a taxi in Egyptian Arabic is complicated by the payment process. How to bargain in Egyptian Arabic is definitely a good skill to know.

It’s expected in Cairo that you will give the taxi driver slightly more than what the meter says. If it says 12 pounds, give him 15. If it’s 37 (quite a long taxi ride, by the way), hand over 40. Trying to get exact change just isn’t worth your time. Also, no need to be loitering around the taxi longer than you need to. Traffic in Cairo is crazy.

For the (completely likely) instance I which the driver tries to overcharge you, or acts like he is lost just to get more money from you, here are some other things you should know. I wish you didn’t have to know these. Unfortunately, you do. Look at it as a fun little way to practice your Arabic, and a test to your overall street smarts.

Are you lost or what? : “EntaTAYuh wala eh?”

انت تايه ولا ايه؟

You are a thief! : “enta huhRAWmee!”

!انت حرامي

Bust this one out at your own caution. Egyptians take being called a thief very thief. This phrase is the likeliest out of all of these to go wrong.

That being said, it’s worked to my advantage before. Numerous times, I’ve called a suspect taxi driver a thief, only to get a free ride out of it. I suspect it’s some sort of saving face. Don’t be an asshole about it and go around calling every taxi driver a thief. That’s just mean.

Cultural Insight

If you really want to get a taxi in Egyptian Arabic, tell the driver where you want to go BEFORE you get in. This is common practice in Egypt. The driver will either nod his head, or drive away if he doesn’t want to take you there. Totally normal.

I made this mistake a few times my first week in Cairo. I hopped in when the driver stopped, THEN told him where I wanted to go. Don’t do this. It’s just weird if you get in and then the driver tells you to get out. And we don’t want weird.

Good luck finding the right taxi. 🙂

…..

Happy learning,

Cleo Lingo