How To Watch Football in Egyptian Arabic : Part One

Ever wanted to watch football in Egyptian Arabic?

Then this post is for you!

There’s no doubt that watching football is one of the things that shapes Egyptian culture. It influences what Egyptians care for, what they enjoy doing during their free time, and even how they think.

So that’s what we have for you today – a resource for everyone who wants to cheer for Egypt (or just wants to watch football like Egyptians).

Today, Cleo Lingo will be explaining….how to watch football in Egyptian Arabic (part one).

Watch Football In Egyptian Arabic Vocabulary

If you want to know how to watch football in Egyptian Arabic, we have a suggestion.

First, read our post on how to talk about football with Egyptians. That will give you a solid baseline before diving into today’s post.

Score. : ysagel.

.يسجل

Goal. : goan.

.جون

Goal Keeper. : 7ares marma.

.حارس مرمى

Ball. : kora.

.كورة

Kora might just be the most important word you learn today.

While this technically just means “ball,” it’s also used to describe the game itself.

As you can see in the next phrase.

Football Game. : match kora.

.ماتش كورة

The National Team. : elmontakhab.

.المنتخب

Foul. : foul.

.فاول

Watching football in Egyptian Arabic can get loud, and this word helps.

It’s one you’ll hear screamed at the TV numerous times during a game.

Best to learn the correct pronunciation (slightly different than the word in English).

The World Cup. : kas el3alam.

.كاس العالم

African Championship. : btolet afrikia.

.بطولة افريقيا

Corner kick. : roknia.

.ركنية

Al- Ahly  

.الاهلي

Al – Zamalek 

.الزمالك

If you don’t know already, here is a quick little cultural reality.

Citizens of Cairo usually fall into two camps: they either support Ahly, or they support Zamalek.

Usually not much of a middle ground here.

We will cover this in more detail in a future post, but it’s good to know.

Watch Football In Egyptian Arabic Phrases 

Time for some specific phrases you might use when you watch football in Egyptian Arabic.

A Magician. : el7awi.

.الحاوي

This is basically a player who can control the ball so well that he seems to always get past defenders in mysterious ways.

World class goal. : goan 3alami.

.جون عالمي

Penalty kick. : darbet gaza2.

.ضربة جزاء

Dribble with the ball. : yera2as bel kora.

.يرقص بالكورة

To shoot at the 90 degree. : yshoot f elma2as.

.يشوط في المقص

This literally means “shoot in the scissors.”

Keep your heads up – you are Egyptian. : erfa3 rasak foo2, enta masry.

.ارفع راسك فوق انت مصري

This is from a football song and is used a lot in the stadium to cheer for the Egyptian team.

For some more information on Egyptians in general, check out our post on how to talk about Egyptian people in Egyptian Arabic.

Football is all about goals (Lit.: The football the goals)! : el kora egwan.

!الكورة اجوان

This is used when the team is holding the ball all the time without really scoring.

The high posession doesn’t translate to goals!

Good job! : 3aaaash.

!عاش

This is a slang phrase to praise someone (also often used in the gym).

You could also use the word “son” (يابني) right after.

Things To Shout at the Screen

Just like the word foul at the beginning, these phrases are some of the most important to learn.

If you know these phrases and can shout them while watching football in Cairo, you’re one step ahead of the game.

Because it won’t really matter how fluent in Egyptian Arabic you are.

You’ll be watching football like Egyptians….and your Egyptian friends will love you for it.

Shoot! : shoot!

!شوط

Goal! Goal! : goan, goan!

!جون! جون

I laughed when I first heard this word.

Because it just sound funny, right?

Let’s Go! : yalla!

!يلا

Learn this phrase if you don’t already.

It’s used in basically any situation, and is one of those phrases you will hear constantly.

Just like the word 3ady (عادي) and the word ya3ni (يعني)!

Pass! : bassi!

!باصي

Idiot! : ghabi!

!غبي

Check out our “stupidity specific” post on how to insult your friends in Egyptian Arabic.

This will help you be more creative when watching football in Cairo!

Not a foul! Not an Offside. : mesh foul / mesh tasalol.

!مش فاول

!مش تسلل

This little phrase is impressive to show you know your offside rule.

And in Arabic – how about that!

Come on! Son. : yalla yabni!

!يلا يابني

Again, this could be used in many situation around Egypt.

Not just while you watch football in Egyptian Arabic.

Dirty Referee! : 7akam wesekh.

!حكم وسخ

Blind Referee! : 7akam a3ma.

!حكم اعمى

Play. : el3ab.

!العب

Say this when somebody is keeping the ball too much.

And in case you want a song that incorporates too of the main words today, check out El3ab Yalla.

This song was all the rage a few years ago in Egypt. 187 million views!

Move! : et7rak.

!اتحرك

 

This is when your players are just being too lazy.

You know your lazy players!

We actually covered the different ways to use this word in our post about life in Egypt.

Check it out!

Cultural Insight

If you are going to watch football in Egyptian Arabic, it will probably be at an ahwa somewhere.

These are the outdoor cafes that a ton of Egyptians (both men and women) hang out at.

In my opinion, this is one of the coolest things about Egyptian culture.

Fresh air. Coffee. Shisha. Good friends. A TV you can scream at.

What’s not to love?

If you want some more information about how to handle this situation, check out our post on how to order at an Egyptian ahwa.

Until then: keep learning, and enjoy the game!

…

Happy learning,

Cleo Lingo