The Word Bezabt (بالضبط) In Egyptian Arabic: How To Use It

In Egyptian Arabic, the word bezabt / بالضبط (pronounced bi-zaabt) has several meanings and uses. Like many essential words in Egyptian Arabic, it is highly dependent on the context. 

Today we cover four of the main ways to use bezabt in Egyptian Arabic. It’s a very common word, and will increase your fluency with the language once you have mastered it.

The Word Bezabt (بالضبط): Four Different Ways to Use It

The word bezabt, when it comes to how Egyptians use it, is actually quite simple. 

Here are the four most common ways to use bezabt in conversation. We’ve included a brief background as well as example sentences for each one.

Note: Bezabt is originally a word in Standard Arabic and is pronounced something like bel-tdubt in the more formal Arabic. The spelling stays the same though – that’s why the spelling doesn’t quite match how you pronounce it in Egyptian Arabic.

Bezabt meaning #1: Accurately / precisely

This is the most common meaning of bezabt. You can use it to describe something done with care and exactness.

Examples:

The food was so good, everything was made accurately. : el akl kan helw awy, kol haga ma3mola bezabt.

.الاكل كان حلو قوي، كل حاجة معمولة بالظبط

I don’t know exactly how to use it. : mesh 3aref bezabt astkhdmha ezay!

!مش عارف بالضبط استخدمها ازاي

Bezabt meaning #2: Yes / exactly like that / precisely in that way

The second way to use bezabt is when you strongly agree with something. This emphasizes that something should be done exactly as described or shown.

Examples:

Do you need me to summarize it first before sending it? : 3ayzni alkhaso el2awal abl mab3ato?

عايزني اخلصه الاول قبل مابعاتو؟

That’s exactly right. : Bezabt keda.

.بالضبط كده

Where does it hurt? : feen elwaga3?

فين الوجع؟

Exactly here. : hena bezabt.

.هنا بالضبط

Bezabt meaning #3: Just enough / barely enough

You can also use the word bezabt to imply that something is sufficient. Or more specifically, that there is no room for error.

Examples:

We caught the bus exactly on time. : le72na el bus belzabt.

.لحقنا الباص بالضبط

This implies that they almost missed the bus.

We had 6 bottles of water, exactly sufficient for us. : kan ma3na 6 azayez maya bezabt 3ala adena.

.كان معانا 6 ازايز مياه على قدنا بالضبط

This implies that the 6 bottles of water were hardly enough for them.

Bezabt meaning #4: Sharp (used with time)

This last one is pretty easy. It’s basically used when you want to tell the time in Egyptian Arabic, and you want to say the exact time. 

Again, the English equivalent is the word “sharp.”

Examples:

I will be at your place at 6 sharp. : Hakoon 3andak elsa3a 6 bezabt.

.هكون عندك الساعة 6 بالضبط

The wedding will start 5 sharp don’t be late. : elfara7 haybda2 5 bezabt, matet2kharsh.

.الفرح هيبدأ 5 بالضبط متتأخرش

If you know anything about Egyptian time, you will obviously know this is a lie. 🙂

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Happy learning,

Cleo Lingo