Today we are talking about the word 7etta (حتة) in Egyptian Arabic.
This word has a bunch of very different meanings, and it also makes you sound super Egyptian when you use it.
A perfect blog topic!
Let’s get started. 🙂
The Word 7etta (حتة): Useful Information
First, the pronunciation.
You’ve noticed I’m writing 7etta with a “7” at the beginning. It starts with a sound that’s kind of like “hh,” but much more in the back of the throat.
Check out our guide on Franco-Arabic if that’s confusing. 🙂
In general when using the word 7etta, it can be both singular and plural.
Singular = 7etta
حتة
Plural = 7ettat
حتت
The original meaning of 7etta is “piece.”
However, it is more contextual than the majority of Egyptian Arabic words.
That means that the words surrounding 7etta in a sentence will help you figure out its meaning.
Let’s move on to the main meanings.
The Word 7etta (حتة): The Main Definitions
Let’s check out the main definitions of the word 7etta.
What follows are words in English that can translate to 7etta, as well as alternate Egyptian Arabic words that could be used.
- Piece(s) / Part(s): (جزء/ حتة)
- Location / Neighborhood: (مكان/ منطقة)
- Specialty / Field: (تخصص/ مجال)
- Girlfriend / “Chick” (صاحبتي)
- Exaggerating something
- Level (مرحلة)
- Weed (حشيش)
There’s actually more than just this – check out our last section.
Example Phrases With the Word 7etta (حتة)
We will follow the same format as our posts about the words moomkin, ya3ni and 3ady.
We’ll give you the main ways 7etta is used, followed by examples of each in action.
(By the way: most of these are conjugated in the masculine form. We are working up an “ultimate guide to verbs in Egyptian Arabic.” Stay tuned.)
1) Piece(s) / Part(s)
This first definition is the most common.
Do you want to taste this sandwich?: 3ayz tdoo2 elsandwich da?
عايز تدوق الساندوتش ده؟
Just a small piece. : 7etta soghayara bas.
.حتة صغيرة بس
Can I take a piece? : Momken akhod 7etta?
ممكن اخد حتة؟
This is the last piece, we have a discount on it. : de akher 7etta, 3aleha takhfeed.
.دي اخر حتة, عليها تخفيض
Can you explain the part about the insects again please? : momken teshra7 el 7etta bta3et el7asharat tani law sama7t?
ممكن تشرح الحتة بتاعة الحشرات تاني لو سمحت؟
Take it as one part/piece. : khodha kolaha 7etta wa7da.
.خدها كلها حتة واحدة
You can break it on smaller pieces. : momken t2asemha 7etat soghyara.
.ممكن تقسمها حتت صغيرة
This piece / part. : el7etta de.
.الحتة دي
2) Location / Neighborhood:
In this context, the word 7etta will be usually followed by “ي” for ownership. Check out our post on showing possession for more info.
One tricky thing: the taamarbota at the end (ة) of the word حتة will be converted to a normal Taa (ت) with a ي at the end.
This literally means “my 7etta“:
حتة + ي = حتت ي = حتتي
My neighborhood / My specialty. : 7ettety.
.حتتي
Anywhere. : ay 7etta.
.أي حتة
Where are you going? : ray7en fen?
رايحين فين؟
Anywhere! : ay 7etta.
!اي حتة
Everywhere. : kol 7etta.
.كل حتة
Here, you are in my neighborhood. : enta hena f 7ettety.
.انت هنا في حتتي
No that’s a totally different place. : la2 de 7etta tanya khales.
.لا دي حتة تانية خالص
3) Specialty / Field
No tricks here.
My field. : 7ettety.
Same thing as above.
Silver is my specialty, I worked in that field for 10 years. : elfadda de 7ettety, ana eshtaghlt fe elmagal da 3ashar seneen.
.الفضة دي حتتي, انا اشتغلت في المجال ده عشرسنين
4) Girlfriend / Chick.
In this context, 7etta is used in two slightly different ways.
If it’s followed by the word bta3ty (el7etta bta3ty), it is showing possession as means “my girlfriend.”
Yes, we know…possessing somebody is never a good thing.
This is quite slang, and is sometimes perceived by Egyptians as objectifying women. However, if you are a foreigner saying this, it would guarantee some laughs! 🙂
Also important to note: el7etta bta3ty is not so common among the higher class to its usually used as a joke.
I’m going out with my girlfriend. : ana khareg ma3 el7etta bta3ty.
.انا خارج مع الحتة بتاعتي
In our second example, it is more casually referring to some girl.
The closest equivalent here in English is “chick.”
He was with with that hot chick! : kan mashy ma3 7etet bent!!
!كان ماشي مع حتة بنت
5) Exaggerating Something
When you exaggerate something with the word 7etta, it’s basically you saying “what a piece of…”.
The thing you want to describe will typically follow you saying it.
Sometimes the word deen (دين), which literally means “religion”, will be added before the thing for more emphasis.
I saw her riding a piece of an incredible car yesterday! : ana shoftaha embare7 rakba 7etet 3arbya!!
!ا نا شفتها راكبة حتة عربية امبارح!
What a film….world class! : 7etet deen film…3alami!
!حتة دين فيلم..عالمي!
6) Level
Using 7etta as “level” is actually quite similar to English:
He is in a totally different level. : da ba2a f 7etta tanya khales.
.ده بقى في حتة تانية خالص
No, now she doesn’t talk to us, she is in a totally different place(level). : la2 hya mabtklamnash delwa2ty, ba2et f 7etta tanya khales.
.لا هي مبتكلمناش دلوقتي. بقيت في حتة تانية خالص
7) Weed
Yes – it can also mean “weed” or “hash.”
Check out these two examples:
This piece is sluggish / shitty! : el7etta de shemal / aya kalam.
الحتة دي شمال – الحتة دي اي كلام
Shemal means left (direction) but it could also mean bad/corrupted/sinful. Depends on the context.
Check out our post about asking for directions in Egyptian Arabic.
I have a piece for 200. : ma3ia 7etta 3ala 200.
.معايا حتة على200
This would be you selling a “piece of weed” for 200 Egyptian pounds.
Don’t smoke weed? Not to worry – we can teach you how to smoke cigarettes in Egyptian Arabic too! 🙂
The Word 7etta (حتة): Seven More Examples
That’s right – the examples just keep coming.
Here are some more advanced ways you might use it.
Warning: some of these use the word 7etta in numerous ways. See if you can spot them!
1) Yesterday Ali took us to a strange place, but we saw a piece of an amazing film there. : embare7 3ali waddana 7etta ghareba …. bas shofna 7ettet film henak!
!امبارح علي ودانا حتة غريبة… بس شفنا حتة فيلم هناك!
2) This area/neighborhood is dangerous/not safe. : el7etta de khatar/shemal.
.الحتة دي خطر – الحتة دي شمال
Same thing with shemal like the weed example above.
3) You are now in a sensitive/dangerous area! (talking to someone who said a rude or an offensive thing). : enta keda f 7etta khatar.
.انت كده في حتة خطر
This could also literally mean a dangerous location/neighborhood (like in #2)
4) This piece is mine. : el7etta de bta3aty.
.الحتة دي بتاعتي
5) This Field is my specialty/neighborhood. : el 7etta de 7ettety.
.الحتة دي حتتي
I love this one.
Makes me laugh just saying it out loud!
6) I’ve been to many places, my favorite is our neighborhood. : ana ro7t 7etat keteer, aktar makan ba7bo hwa 7ettetna.
.انا رحت حتت كتير..اكتر مكان بحبه هو حتتنا
7) You are in my heart. : enta f el 7etta elshemal.
.انت في الحتة الشمال
Literally: You are in the left part (the heart).
This last one (thank God, right?) is super funny and confusing.
We told you that telling someone they are LEFT, means they are bad/corrupt/sinful (انت شمال).
Buuuuut, saying they are on the “left part/side” means they are in your heart….which is a good thing.
Try saying it while pointing to your heart, that will communicate the right meaning. 🙂
And in case you are done with 7etta completely….just try some of our easier Egyptian Arabic compliments!
…
Happy learning,
Cleo Lingo
