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the Rough guide
egyptian
aRabic
phRasebook
Compiled by
LeXus
www.roughguides.com
RG New ARABIC Section 1 OUTLINES1 1 12/04/2006 16:37:03
Credits
Compiled by Lexus with Ahmed M.A. Abdel-Hady
Lexus Series Editor: Sally Davies
Rough Guides Reference Director: Andrew Lockett
Rough Guides Series Editor: Mark Ellingham
First edition published in 1998 by Rough Guides Ltd.
Revised in November 2002.
This updated edition published in 2006 by
Rough Guides Ltd,
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL
345 Hudson St, 4th Floor, New York 10014, USA
Email: [email protected].
Distributed by the Penguin Group.
Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL
Penguin Putnam, Inc., 375 Hudson Street, NY 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell,
Victoria 3124, Australia
Penguin Books Canada Ltd, 10 Alcorn Avenue, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada M4V 1E4
Penguin Group (New Zealand), Cnr Rosedale and Airborne Roads,
Albany, Auckland, New Zealand
Typeset in Bembo and Helvetica to an original design by Henry Iles.
Printed in Italy by LegoPrint S.p.A
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from
the publisher except for the quotation of brief passages in reviews.
© Lexus Ltd 2006
288pp.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 13: 978-1-84353-642-0
ISBN 10: 1-84353-642-0
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
The publishers and authors have done their best to ensure
the accuracy and currency of all information in The Rough
Guide Egyptian Arabic Phrasebook however, they can accept
no responsibility for any loss or inconvenience sustained by
any reader using the book.
Online information about Rough Guides can be found at our website
www.roughguides.com
RG New ARABIC Section 1 OUTLINES2 2 12/04/2006 16:50:16
contents
Introduction 5
Basic Phrases 8
Scenarios 13
English - Arabic 31
Arabic - English 194
Signs and Notices 224
Menu Reader
Food 238
Drink 250
How the Language Works
Pronunciation 257
Abbreviations/Arabic and the Arabic alphabet 258
Nouns 260
Articles 264
Adjectives 264
Demonstratives 267
Possessives 268
Pronouns 269
‘Of’ 271
Verbs 272
Questions 280
Dates 280
Days 281
Months 282
Time 282
Numbers 284
Conversion Tables 286
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Introduction
he Rough Guide Egyptian Arabic dictionary phrasebook is a B
A
Laid out in clear A-Z style, it uses key-word referencing to lead
Thighly practical introduction to the contemporary language. S
you straight to the words and phrases you want – so if you need to I
book a room, just look up ‘room’. The Rough Guide gets straight C
buses, and in hotels and banks.
The main part of the Rough Guide is a double dictionary:
to the point in every situation, in bars and shops, on trains and S
English-Arabic then Arabic-English. Before that, there’s a section
called Basic Phrases and to get you involved in two-way com- ■
of Scenario dialogues illustrating questions and responses in key
situations such as renting a car and asking directions. You can hear
these and then download them free from www.roughguides.
com/phrasebooks for use on your computer or MP3 player.
Forming the heart of the guide, the English-Arabic section
gives easy-to-use transliterations of the Arabic words wherever
pronunciation might be a problem. Throughout this section,
munication, the Rough Guide includes, in this new edition, a set I n t r o d u c t i o n
cross-references enable you to pinpoint key facts and phrases, while
asterisked words indicate where further information can be found in
a section at the end of the book called How the Language Works.
This section sets out the fundamental rules of the language, with
plenty of practical examples. You’ll also find here other essentials
like numbers, dates, telling the time and basic phrases. The Arabic-
English section is in two parts: a dictionary, arranged phonetically,
of all the words and phrases you’re likely to hear (starting with a
section of slang and colloquialisms); then a compilation, arranged
by subject, of various signs, labels, instructions and other basic
words you may come across in print or in public places.
Near the back of the book too the Rough Guide offers an
extensive Menu Reader. Consisting of food and drink sections
(each starting with a list of essential terms), it’s indispensable
whether you’re eating out, stopping for a quick drink, or brows-
ing through a local food market.
rehla saaeeda!
have a good trip!
RG New ARABIC Section 1 OUTLINES5 5 12/04/2006 16:37:04
RG New ARABIC Section 1 OUTLINES6 6 12/04/2006 16:37:04
Basic
Phrases
RG New ARABIC Section 1 OUTLINES7 7 12/04/2006 16:37:04
yes īwa goodbye maaassalāma
no la’ see you! netlā’a baadayn!
BAsIc
OK kwayis see you later ashoofak baa-
dayn
PHRAses
hello ahlan
please (to man/woman) low
samaht/samahtee
(answer on phone) aloo
good morning sabāh el yes, please īwa, low
khayr samaht/samahtee
good evening masā’ el
khayr
could you please ?
momkin ... low samaht/
samahtee?
good night masā’ el khayr
RG New ARABIC Section 1 OUTLINES8 8 12/04/2006 16:37:04
(to man/woman) bekhayr,
samahtee
shokran, winta/winti?
don’t … ma ... low samaht/ fine, thanks, and you? BAsIc
thanks, thank you shokran PHRAses
pleased to meet you tshar-
rafna
thank you very much
shokran giddan
excuse me (to get past: to man/
woman) low samaht/
no thanks la’ motshakkir samahtee
don’t mention it el aafw (to get attention) min
fadlak
how do you do? (to man/
woman) aāmil/aāmla ay? (to say sorry: said by man/
woman) ana āsif/āsfa
how are you? (to man/woman)
izzayak/izzayik? I’m sorry (said by man/woman)
ana āsif/āsfa
RG New ARABIC Section 1 OUTLINES9 9 12/04/2006 16:37:04
afanddim?
sorry?/pardon (me)?
BAsIc
I see (I understand) īwa
I don’t understand mish
PHRAses
fāhim
speak: do you speak
English? (to man/woman)
betikkallim/betikkallimee
ingleezee?
I don’t speak ana
mabakkallimsh ...
could you repeat that?
momkin teaeed/teaeedee
tanee?
10
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Scenarios
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1. Accommodation
is there an inexpensive hotel you can recommend?
a momkin te’ollee ala’ee fondo’ rekheeS fayn?
ana āsif shaklohom kollohom maHgozeen b Scenarios Arabic
I’m sorry, they all seem to be fully booked
can you give me the name of a good middle-range hotel?
a momkin teddeenee esm fondo’ wasaT we kwayis?
Hashuf, Aīza tikoonee fee wesT el balad? b
let me have a look; do you want to be in the centre?
if possible
a low momkin
Aandik māneA tikoonee khārig el balad shwīya? b
do you mind being a little way out of town?
not too far out
a mish beAeed awee
where is it on the map?
a howa fayn Aala el khareeTa?
can you write the name and address down?
a momkin tektib el esm wel Ainwān?
I’m looking for a room in a private house
a ana badawwar Aala ōDa fee bayt khāS be Aayla
13
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2. Banks
bank account Hisāb bank
to change money ghīyar floos
cheque sheek
to deposit Aarboon
dollar dolār
Egyptian pound genayh
pin number raQam sirri
to withdraw saHb
Scenarios Arabic
can you change this into pounds?
a momkin aghīyar da le genayhāt?
Aīza el floos izzay? b
how would you like the money?
small notes big notes
a Aomla Soghīyara a Aomla kebeera
do you have information in English about opening an account?
a Aandak maAlomāt Aan fatH Hisāb bil ingleezee?
īwa, anhi Hisāb Aīza? b
yes, what sort of account do you want?
I’d like a current account basbōrik, low samaHtee b
a Aīza Hisāb gāree your passport, please
can I use this card to draw some cash?
a momkin astakhdem el kart Ashān asHab floos?
lāzim tirooHi liSSarrāf b
you have to go to the cashier’s desk
I want to transfer this to my account at HSBC
a Aīza aHawwel da le Hisābi fee bank HSBC
okay, lākin lāzim niHasbek Aalal mokalma b
OK, but we’ll have to charge you for the phonecall
Aomoola commission
erramz el bareedee sort code
Hisāb gāree current account
Hisāb towfeer savings account
raQam Hisāb account number
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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Scenarios14 14 12/04/2006 16:38:12
3. Booking a room
shower dosh
telephone in the room telefoon dākhil el ghorfa Scenarios Arabic
payphone in the lobby telefoon Aomoomee bil Aomla fiSāla
do you have any rooms?
a Aandik ewaD faDya?
lekam wāHid? b
for how many people?
for one for two
a lewāHid a litnayn
īwa, Aandina ewaD faDya b
yes, we have rooms free
lekam layla? b
for how many nights?
just for one night
a le layla waHda
how much is it?
a bekām?
tisAeen genayh beHammām we sabAeen genayh min ghayr b
Hammām
90 pounds with bathroom and 70 pounds without bathroom
does that include breakfast?
a da maAa el feTār
can I see a room with bathroom?
a momkin ashoof ōDa beHammām?
ok, I’ll take it
a okay, Hākhod dee
when do I have to check out?
a emta lāzim asallem el ōDa?
is there anywhere I can leave luggage?
a fee makān aseeb feeh e-shonaT?
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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Scenarios15 15 12/04/2006 16:38:12
4. Car hire
automatic otomateekee
full tank malyāna benzeen
manual geer Aādee
rented car Aarabayya egār
I’d like to rent a car
Scenarios Arabic
a Aayiz a’aggar Aarabayya
likam yōm? b
for how long?
two days
a liyomayn
I’ll take the ...
a Hākhod el …
is that with unlimited mileage?
a min ghayr Addād?
īwa b
it is
momkin ashoof rokhSitak? b
can I see your driving licence please?
we basbōrak, low samaHt b
and your passport
is insurance included?
a da maAa et-ta’meen?
īwa, lākin lāzim tedfaA ‘awel meet genayh b
yes, but you have to pay the first 100 pounds
momkin tedfaA meet genayh Aalal Hisāb? b
can you leave a deposit of 100 pounds?
and if this office is closed, where do I leave the keys?
a we low el maktab da ma’fool, aseeb el mafateeh fayn?
HoTohom fil Sandoo’ henāk b
you drop them in that box
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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Scenarios16 16 12/04/2006 16:38:12
5. Communications
ADSL modem ADSL-mōdem
at at Scenarios Arabic
dial-up modem mōdem Aadi
dot no’Ta
Internet Internet
mobile (phone) mobile phone
password kilmet isser
telephone socket adaptor moHawel feesh el telefōn
is there an Internet café around here?
a fee internet kafayh orīyib min hena?
zero Sifr
one wāHid
can I send email from here?
a momkin ‘abAat email min hena? two itnayn
three talāta
where’s the at sign on the keyboard? four arbaAa
a fayn Aalamet at Aalal lōHa? five khamsa
six sitta
can you switch this to a UK keyboard? seven sabAa
a momkin teghayar lōHet el mafateeh lil eight tamania
niZām el ingleezee? nine tisAa
can you help me log on?
a momkin tisaAednee adkhol Aal computer?
I’m not getting a connection, can you help?
a mafeesh khaT, momkin tisaAednee?
where can I get a top-up card for my mobile?
a ‘ala’ee fayn kart shaHn lil mobile?
can you put me through to...?
a momkin tewaSalnee be…?
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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Scenarios17 17 12/04/2006 16:38:12
6. Directions
hi, I’m looking for Nile Street
a salamu Aalaykom, ana badawar Aala hi, Nile Street,
shāreA el neel do you know
where it is?
āsif, maArafsh b salamu
sorry, never heard of it Aalaykom,
hi, can you tell me where Nile Street is? momkin
a momkin te’ollee shāreA el neel fayn? te’ollee arooH
Scenarios Arabic
shāreA el neel
ana barDo mish min hena b minayn?
I’m a stranger here too
where? which direction?
fayn? minayn ?
a AannaSya
around the corner
a telefee shimāl Aandel ishāra et-tania
left at the second traffic lights
a we baAdayn takhdee ‘awel shāreA Aalal yemeen
then it’s the first street on the right
Aaddi Aala baAd el oriyib
past the ... just after near
Aalashimal gamb shāreA
on the left next street
Aalal yemeen henāk wara
on the right over there back
Aala Tool lif
straight ahead turn off
abAad oddām
further opposite;
in front of
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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Scenarios18 18 12/04/2006 16:38:13
7. Emergencies
accident Hadsa
ambulance isAāf Scenarios Arabic
consul Qonsol
embassy safāra
fire brigade maTāfee
police bolees
help!
a elHa’oonay
can you help me?
a momkin tisaAednee
please come with me! it’s really very urgent
a low samaHt, taAala maAaya! Darooree giddan
I’ve lost (my keys)
a DayaAt (mafateehee)
(my car) is not working
a (Aarabayyetee) Atlāna
(my purse) has been stolen
a (maHfaztee) itsara’et
I’ve been mugged
a ana itnashalt
esmik ay? b
what’s your name?
momkin tewareenee basbōrik b
I need to see your passport
I’m sorry, all my papers have been stolen
a ana āsfa, kol awra’ee itsara’et
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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Scenarios19 19 12/04/2006 16:38:13
8. Friends
hi, how’re you doing?
a āhlan izzayak?
tamām, winti? b
OK, and you?
yeah, fine not bad
a īwa, Kwayisa a mish baTal
Scenarios Arabic
d’you know Mark?
a teAraf Mark?
and this is FaTma
a we di FaTma
īwa, ihnā neAraf baAD b
yeah, we know each other
where do you know each other from?
a teArafō baAD minayn?
it’abelna fee bayt Gāmāl b
we met at Gamal’s place
that was some party, eh?
a kānet Hafla Helwa, mish kida?
māfish zīyāha b
the best
are you guys coming for a coffee?
a into gayeen Alashān neshrab ‘ahwa?
Tayib, yalla beena b
cool, let’s go
la’, ana Ha’abel Nādia b
no, I’m meeting Nadia
see you at Gamal’s place tonight
a Ashoofak Aand Gāmāl ellaylādee
Ashoofik Aalakhayr b
see you
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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Scenarios20 20 12/04/2006 16:38:13
9. Health
I’m not feeling very well
a ana Aīyyāna
can you get a doctor? Scenarios Arabic
a momkin tegeeb doktōr?
el’alam fayn? b
where does it hurt?
it hurts here
a el’alam hena
el’alam mostamer? b
is the pain constant?
it’s not a constant pain
a el’alam mish mostamer
can I make an appointment?
a momkin aAmel maAad?
can you give me something for ...?
a momkin teddeeni Hāga Aashān …?
yes, I have insurance
a īwa, Aandi ta’meen
antibiotics moDad Hiyowee
antiseptic ointment marham le’eltihabat
cystitis iltihāb elmasana
dentist doktōr asnan
diarrhoea es-hāl
doctor doktōr
hospital mostashfa
ill Aīyān
medicine dowa
painkillers mosakkin
pharmacy SayDaliya
to prescribe yektib rōshetta
thrush iltihab fiTri
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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Scenarios21 21 12/04/2006 16:38:13
10. Language difficulties
a few words kalimāt ‘olīyila
interpreter motargim fowree
to translate targim
el credit card btāAak marfooD b
your credit card has been refused
Scenarios Arabic
what, I don’t understand; do you speak English?
a eh, ana mish fāhim; bitetkallimi ingleezee?
da ghayr Sāleh b
this isn’t valid
could you say that again? slowly
a momkin te’oleeli marra tania? a shwīya shwīya
I understand very little Arabic
a ana bafham Aarabee ‘olayil
I speak Arabic very badly
a maArafsh atkallim Aarabee kwīyis
mate’darsh testAmel el kārt da leldafA b
you can’t use this card to pay
inta fāhim? b
do you understand?
sorry, no
a āsif, la’
is there someone who speaks English?
a fi Had biyetkallim ingleezee hena?
oh, now I understand
a ah, delwa’ti ana fihimt
is that ok now?
a kollo tamām delwa’ti?
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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Scenarios22 22 12/04/2006 16:38:13
11. Meeting people
hello
a ‘ahlan
‘ahlan, ana esmee amāl b Scenarios Arabic
hello, my name is Amal
Graham, from England, Thirsk
a ana Graham min Thirsk fee ingeltera
maArafhāsh, hiya fayn? b
don’t know that, where is it?
not far from York, in the North; and you?
a mish beAeed Aan York, fee-eshamāl, wintee?
ana min iskenderiya; inta hena lewahdak? b
I’m from Alexandria; here by yourself?
no, I’m with my wife and two kids
a la’, ana mAa merati we awladi el itnayn
what do you do?
a betishtaghalee eh?
fil computer b
I’m in computers
me too
a wana kamān
here’s my wife now
a ahe merati gat
forSa saAeeda b
nice to meet you
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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Scenarios23 23 12/04/2006 16:38:13
12. Post offices
airmail bareed gowee
post card kart
post office bosTa
stamp TābeA
what time does the post office close?
a el bosTa bite’fil imta?
Scenarios Arabic
essaAa khamsa Tool ‘ayam elosbooA b
five o’clock weekdays
is the post office open on Saturdays?
a el bosTa fatHa yōm essabt?
lehad eddohr b
until midday
I’d like to send this registered to England
a ana Ayiz abAat da mosaggal le iengeltera
hāDer, haykallifak Ashara genayh b
certainly, that will cost 10 pounds
and also two stamps for England, please
a wekamān itneen tawābeA le ingeltera, low samaHtee
do you have some airmail stickers?
a Aandik sticker betaAet el bareed el gowee?
do you have any mail for me?
a Aandik bosta liya?
dowlee international
gawabāt letters
maHallee domestic
Torood parcels
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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Scenarios24 24 12/04/2006 16:38:14
13. Restaurants
bill el Hisāb
menu el menew Scenarios Arabic
table Tarabayza
can we have a non-smoking table?
a momkin nākhod Tarabayza leghayr el modakheneen?
there are two of us there are four of us
a ihna itneen a ihna arbAa
what’s this? da nōA min essamak b
a eh da? it’s a type of fish
di ‘akla maHalliya b
it’s a local speciality
TAalo gowa Aalashān ‘awareekom b
come inside and I’ll show you
we would like two of these, one of these, and one of those
a ihna Ayzeen itneen min dōl, wāHid min dōl, we wāHid min dōl
illee hināk
we tishrabo eh? b
and to drink?
red wine white wine
a nebeet ahmar a nebeet abyaD
a beer and two orange juices
a wāHid beera we itneen Aaseer borto’ān
some more bread please
a Aaysh ziyada low samaHtee
kollo tamām? b
how was your meal?
excellent!, very nice!
a momtāz!, kollo tamām!
aī Hāga tania? b
anything else?
just the bill thanks
a el Hisāb min faDlik
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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Scenarios25 25 12/04/2006 16:38:14
14. Shopping
aī khedma? b
can I help you?
can I just have a look around? yes, I’m looking for ...
a momkin ‘atfarrag? a īwa, ana badawar Aala...
how much is this?
a bekām da?
Scenarios Arabic
etnayn we talateen genayh b
thirty-two pounds
OK, I think I’ll have to leave it; it’s a little too expensive for me
a okay, mish Hashtireeh; ghālee ‘awee
eh ra’yik fee da? b
how about this?
can I pay by credit card?
a momkin adfaA be credit cārd?
it’s too big it’s too small
a kebeer ‘awee a Soghīyar ‘awee
it’s for my son – he’s about this high
a da Aalashan ibni – Toolo ‘ad keda
aī Hāga tania? b
will there be anything else?
that’s all thanks
a la’ khalās shokran
make it twenty pounds and I’ll take it
a khalleeha be Aeshreen genayh Aalashān ‘ashtireeha
fine, I’ll take it
a Tayib, Hakhodha
okaziōn sale
elkashiyer cash desk
maftooH open
āfil closed
tabdeel to exchange
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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Scenarios26 26 12/04/2006 16:38:14
15. Sightseeing
art gallery Sālit Aard el finoon
bus tour rehlit otobees Scenarios Arabic
city centre wesT el balad
closed āfil
guide morshid / morshida
museum mat-Haf
open maftooH
I’m interested in seeing the old town
a Aayeza ‘ashoof el balad el ‘adeema
are there guided tours?
a fee gowlāt mowwagaha?
āsif, mafeesh Hagz b
I’m sorry, it’s fully booked
how much would you charge to drive us around for four hours?
a Takhod kām Aala siwā’et el Aarabiya beena lemoddit ‘arbaA
saAāt?
can we book tickets for the concert here?
a momkin nehgiz tazākir lelHafla hena?
a īwa, be’esm meen? a aī credit card?
yes, in what name? which credit card?
where do we get the tickets?
a negeeb ettazāker minayn?
istelmooha Aand el madkhal b
just pick them up at the entrance
is it open on Sundays?
a maftooh yōm el Had?
how much is it to get in?
a eddokhool bekām?
are there reductions for groups of 6?
a fee seAr mokhafaD lemagmooAet sittit ‘ashkhāS?
that was really impressive!
a da kan shay’ mobher feAlan!
download these scenarios as MP3s from: om:
download these scenarios as MP3s fr www 27
www.roughguides.com/phrasebooks.roughguides.com/phrasebooks
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Scenarios27 27 12/04/2006 16:38:14
16. Trains
to change trains taghyeer el aTr
platform raSeef
return tazkaret zihāb we owda
single tazkaret zihāb
station maHaTa
stop maHaTa
ticket tazkara
Scenarios Arabic
how much is ...?
a bekām...?
a single, second class to ...
a tazkaret zihāb, daraga tanya le ...
two returns, second class to ...
a tazkartayn zihāb we owda, daraga tanya le ...
for today for tomorrow for next Tuesday
a lelnaharda a lebokra a leyōm etalāt elgāy
fee rasm iDāfee lel aTr elmagaree b
there’s a supplement for the Elmagari
Ayez teHgiz korsee? b
do you want to make a seat reservation?
lazim teghayar el aTr fee aswān b
you have to change at Aswan
is this seat free?
a el korsee da fāDee?
excuse me, which station are we at?
a min faDlik, ihna fee ‘anhi maHaTa?
is this where I change for Alexandria?
a hena ‘aghayar el aTr Aalashan ‘arooh iskenderiya?
28
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Scenarios28 28 12/04/2006 16:38:14
English
➜
Arabic
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A29 29 12/04/2006 16:40:04
(For words with *, see How the Language Works, p. 257 onwards)
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A30 30 18/04/2006 12:09:29
A
a, an* accurate mazboot
ache wagaa
about: about 20 hawālee English ➜ Arabic
aishreen my back aches dahree
wageani
it’s about 5 o’clock hawālee
es-saaa khamsa across: across the road aabr
esh-shārea
a film about Egypt ‘film’
aan masr address ainwān
above foo’ what’s your address? (to
man/woman) ainwānak/
abroad (go) lil khāreg ainwānik ay?
(live) fil khāreg address book kitāb aanaween
ABCDEFGHIJKLAe
absorbent cotton otn tebbee admission charge rasm
eddokhool
accept mwāfi’
adult (man/woman) bāligh/
accident hadsa balgha
there’s been an accident advance: in advance
kan fee hadsa mo’addam
accommodation sakan aeroplane tīyāra
31
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A31 31 12/04/2006 16:40:04
after baad
after you (to man/woman) an hour ago min sāaa
agree: I agree ana mwāfi’
baadak/baadik
AIDS eedz
after lunch baad el-ghada
air howa
English ➜ Arabic
afternoon baad ed-dohr
by air bet-tīyāra
in the afternoon fed-
dohraya air-conditioning takyeef howa
this afternoon ed-dohraya airmail: by airmail bil bareed
eg-gowee
aftershave kolonya baad el
helā’a airmail envelope zarf bareed
gowee
aftersun cream kraym shams
airplane tīyāra
afterwards baadayn
airport matār
ABCDEFGHIJKLAf
again marra tania
to the airport, please lil
against did matār, low samaht
age aomr airport bus otobees el matār
ago: a week ago min isbooa airport tax dareebit el matār
32
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A32 32 12/04/2006 16:40:05
lillāh
elmamar
aisle seat korsee aala allergic: I’m allergic to ... ana
alabaster rokhām aandee hasasaya min ... English ➜ Arabic
alarm clock minabbeh alligator timsāh
alcohol kohol allowed: is it allowed? da
masmooh?
alcoholic koholee
all right kwayis
Alexandria iskinderaya
I’m all right (said by man/
Algeria eggazā’ir woman) ana kwayis/
kwayisa
Algerian gazīree
are you all right? (to man) inta
all kol kwayis? ABCDEFGHIJKLAl
all of it koloo (to woman) inti kwayisa?
all of them kollohom almond lōz
that’s all, thanks bas keda, almost ta’reeban
shokran
alone waheed
Allah allāh
already khalās
praise be to Allah el hamdo
33
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A33 33 12/04/2006 16:40:05
also kamān
woman) ana amrekānee/
amrekanaya
although berrāghm min I’m American (said by man/
altogether kollohom
among bayn
English ➜ Arabic
always dīman
amp: a 13-amp fuse
am* talattashar ambeer ‘fuse’
am: at 7am es-sāaa sabaa
es-sobh ancient adeem
at 1am es-sāaa wahda and wa
es-sobh
angry zaalān
amazing (surprising) mish
maa’ool animal hīyawān
(very good) momtāz ankle kaab
ambulance isaāf annoy: this man’s annoying
ABCDEFGHIJKLAl
me er-rāgil da
call an ambulance! etlob el midaye’nee
isaāf!
annoying mozaig
America amreeka
another tanee
American amrekānee
can we have another room?
34
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A34 34 12/04/2006 16:40:05
tania?
momkin nākhod ōda aandik ... khālis?
another beer, please (to man/ sorry, I don’t have any (said English ➜ Arabic
woman) momkin beera by man/woman) āsif/āsfa,
tania, low samaht/ maaandeesh khālis
samahtee?
anybody aī had
antibiotics modād hīyowee
does anybody speak
antihistamine dowa English? fee aī had
lelhasāsaya (m) bayetkallim inglayzi?
antique: is it an antique? da
tohfa? there wasn’t anybody there
makansh fee aī had hināk
antique shop mahal tohaf ABCDEFGHIJKLAn
anything aī hāga
antiquities tohaf
antiseptic bing lilgrooh dialogue
any: have you got any bread? anything else? aī hāga
(to man/woman) aandak/ tania?
aandik aaysh? nothing else, thanks
mafeesh aī hāga tania,
do you have any ...? (to shokran
man/woman) fee aandak/ would you like anything
35
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A35 35 12/04/2006 16:40:05
to drink? (to man) tehib
teshrab aī hāga?
(to man) imta teheb tehgiz
elmaaād?
(to woman) tehib-bee what time would you like?
teshrabee aī hāga? (to woman) imta tehebbee
I don’t want anything, tehgizee elmaaād?
thanks (said by man/woman) three o’clock es-sāaa talāta
English ➜ Arabic
ana mish aayiz/aīza aī I’m afraid that’s not
hāga, shokran possible lil’asaf mish
momkin
apart from monfasil is four o’clock all right? (to
man) teheb tehgiz es-sāaa
apartment sha’a arbaaa?
(to woman) tehebbee
appetizer fateh lil shahaya tehgizee es-sāaa arbaaa?
yes, that will be fine īwa,
apple toffāha da maaād kwayis
the name was ...? el
appointment maaād esmhowa ...?
apricot mishmish
dialogue
April ibreel
ABCDEFGHIJKLAp
good morning, how can I
help you? sabāh elkhayr, Arab aarabee
momkin asaadak?
I’d like to make an the Arabs el aarab
appointment (said by man/
woman) ana aayiz/aīza Arabic (language) logha aarabaya
ahgiz maaād
36
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A36 36 12/04/2006 16:40:06
archeology asār
as soon as possible be’sraa
are* as: as big as kebeer zaī
area mante’a wa’t English ➜ Arabic
arm drāa ashore aash-shat
arrange: will you arrange it for ashtray tafīya
us? (to man/woman) momkin
terattibha/terattibiha lena? ask talab
arrival wesool I didn’t ask for this
matalabtish da
arrive wasal
could you ask him to ...? (to
when do we arrive? man) momkin tis’aloo ye-...?
hanewsal imta?
(to woman) momkin tis’alha ABCDEFGHIJKLAs
has my fax arrived yet? te-...?
wasal faksi walla lessa?
asleep: she’s asleep hayya
we arrived today wasalna nīma
en-naharda
aspirin asbreen
art fann
asthma rabw
art gallery sālit aard el
finoon Aswan aswān
37
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A37 37 12/04/2006 16:40:06
at: at the hotel aand el fondo’
awake: is he awake? howa
at the station aand el avenue taree’
mahatta sāhee?
at six o’clock es-sāaa sitta is she awake? hayya sahīa?
English ➜ Arabic
at Ahmed’s aand ahmad away: is it far away? howa da
beaeed?
ATM el ‘bank’ esh-shakhsee
awful fazeea
August aghostos
aunt (mother’s sister) khāla B
(father’s sister) aamma baby ‘baby’
Australia ostralya baby food akl atfāl
Australian ostrālee baby’s bottle ezāzit redāaa
ABCDEFGHIJKLAt
I’m Australian (said by man/ baby-sitter dāda
woman) ana ostrālee/
ostralaya back (of body) dahr
autumn khareef (back part) teez
in the autumn fil khareef at the back fil ākher
38
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A38 38 12/04/2006 16:40:06
can I have my money
back? momkin araggaa
floosee? bakery (for bread) forn
(for cakes) makhbaz
English ➜ Arabic
come back ragaa balcony (of house) balakōna
go back rāh a room with a balcony ōda
bebalakōna
backache wagaa fed-dahr
ball kōra
bad wehesh, mish kwayis
ballpoint pen alam gāf
a bad headache sodāa
shedeed banana mōza
badly wehesh, mish kwayis band (musical) fer’a
bag shanta bandage robāt shāsh ABCDEFGHIJKLBa
(carrier bag) kees Bandaid® blastar
baggage shonat bank (money) ‘bank’
baggage checkroom maktab bank account hisāb fil ‘bank’
amanāt
bar bār
baggage claim akhd el
haqā’ib barber’s salōn hilā’a
39
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A39 39 12/04/2006 16:40:07
bargaining mosowma
bath banyo
can I have a bath? momkin
dialogue ākhod hammām?
how much are they? bathroom hammām
bekam da?
English ➜ Arabic
ten pounds each el wāhid with a private bathroom
beaashara genayh behammām khās
that’s too expensive da
ghālee awee bath towel footit hammām
how about five pounds?
khalleena bekamsa bathtub hōd
genayh?
I’ll let you have it for battery battaraya
eight pounds haddihālak
bitamanya genayh bay khaleeg
can you reduce it a bit
more? (to man/woman) bazaar soo’
momkin tenazzil/tenaz-
zilee es-sear shwaya be*
kamān? beach blāj
ABCDEFGHIJKLBa
OK, it’s a deal tayib,
khalās hashtreeha on the beach aalal blāj
basket (for storage) afas beach mat haseerit blāj
(in shop) sabat beach umbrella shamsayit blāj
40
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A40 40 12/04/2006 16:40:07
beads kharaz
beer beera
beans fool beef betelloo
English ➜ Arabic
(dried) lobyā two beers, please (to
man/woman) ezaztayn
green beans fāsolya beera, low samaht/
samahtee
beard da’n (f)
beautiful gameel before abl
because aalashān beggar shahāt
because of ... bisabab begin bada’
e-...
when does it begin?
bed sireer bitebda’ imta? ABCDEFGHIJKLBe
I’m going to bed now ana beginner (man/woman)
dākhil anam dilwa’tee mobtadi’/mobtadi’a
bed and breakfast nōm beginning: at the beginning fil
weftār bedāya
Bedouin badawee behind wara
bedroom hogrit nōm behind me warāya
41
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A41 41 12/04/2006 16:40:07
belly-dancer ra’āsa
too big kebeer awee
belly-dancing ra’s shar’ee big kebeer
below taht it’s not big enough soghīyar
awee
English ➜ Arabic
belt hizām
bikini bikeenee
bend (in road) malaf
bill fatoora
berth (on ship) sireer
(US: banknote) wara’
beside: beside the ... gamb e-...
could I have the bill,
best ahsan please? (to man/woman)
momkin el fatoora,
better ahsan low samaht/
samahtee?
are you feeling better? (to
man) inta kwayis?
bin zibāla
(to woman) inti kwayisa?
ABCDEFGHIJKLBe
bird tayr
between bayn
birthday aeed milād
beyond abaad min
happy birthday! aeed milād
bicycle aagala saaeed!
42
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A42 42 12/04/2006 16:40:08
biscuit baskōt
blood damm
bit: a little bit hetta soghīyara blond (adj) ash’ar
English ➜ Arabic
a big bit hetta kebeera high blood pressure daght
damm mortafia
a bit of ... hetta min el ...
blouse blooza
a bit expensive ghāliya
shwaya blow-dry seshwār
bite (by insect) arsa blue azra’
(by animal) aadda blue eyes aoyoon zar’a
bitter (taste etc) mor boarding house bansyōn
black eswid boarding pass bita’it soaood ABCDEFGHIJKLBo
blanket battanaya boat markib
bless you! rabbina yebarek lak! (for passengers) ‘launch’
blind aama (Egyptian sailboat) falooka
blinds satāyer body gism
blocked mazdood boiled egg bayd masloo’
43
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A43 43 12/04/2006 16:40:08
bone aadm
(of car) shanta
bonnet (of car) kabboot boot (footwear) gizma ‘boot’
book (noun) kitāb border (of country) hedood
(verb) hagaz bored: I’m bored (said by man/
English ➜ Arabic
woman) ana zah’ān/zah’āna
can I book a seat? momkin
ahgiz korsee? boring momil
born: I was born in Manchester
dialogue ana etwaladt fi ‘Manchester’
I’d like to book a table
for two momkin ahgiz borrow (money) istalaf
tarabayza litnayn
what time would you like (other items) istaaār
it booked for? (to man) el
sāaa kām teheb tehgezhā? may I borrow ...? (item)
(to woman) el sāaa kām momkin astaaeer ...?
tehebee tehgezeeha?
ABCDEFGHIJKLBo
half past seven sabaaa wenos both litnayn
that’s fine kwayis
and your name? wel esm bother: sorry to bother you
eeh? (said by man/woman) ana āsif/
āsfa aalāl izaāg
bookshop, bookstore maktaba
44
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A44 44 12/04/2006 16:40:08
bottle ezāza
made of brass min en-
a bottle of beer ezāzit beera brass nehās asfar
nehās English ➜ Arabic
bottle-opener fattāha
bread aaysh
bottom (of person) teez
white bread aaysh feeno
at the bottom of the ... (hill,
street etc) aand ākhir el ... brown bread aaysh beradda
box sandoo’ wholemeal bread aaysh
baladee
box office shebbāk tazākir
white pitta bread aaysh
boy walad shāmee
boyfriend sāhib break (verb) kasar ABCDEFGHIJKLBr
bra sotyāna I’ve broken the ... kasart el ...
bracelet iswera I think I’ve broken my wrist
azon innee kasart resghee
brains mokh
break down aatal
brakes farāmil
I’ve broken down el
brandy ‘cognac’ aarabaya aatalit
45
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A45 45 12/04/2006 16:40:09
breakdown (mechanical) aotl
hageebo tāni baadayn
breakdown service khidma Britain ingiltera
lelaarabayyāt
British ingleezee
breakfast fetār
English ➜ Arabic
brochure nashra
break-in: I’ve had a break-in
ana baytee itsara’ broken maksoor
breast bezz brooch brōj
breeze nisma broom moknisa
bridge (over river) kobree brother akh
brief mokhtasar brother-in-law neseeb
briefcase shanta brown bonnay
bright (light etc) zāhee bruise waram
ABCDEFGHIJKLBr
bright red ahmar zāhee brush (noun) forsha
brilliant (idea, person) momtāz buffet car aarabayyit el akl
bring gāb buggy (for child) aarabayyit
atfāl
I’ll bring it back later ana
46
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A46 46 12/04/2006 16:40:09
building mabna
bunk sireer imta?
(when booking) imta el English ➜ Arabic
bureau de change maktab otobees el-lee bayrooh
sarf le ... baado?
burglary hādis sir’a
what time is the last bus?
burn (noun) haree’a imta ākhir otobees?
(verb) hara’
dialogue
burnt: this is burnt da
mahroo’ does this bus go to ...?
howa el otobees da
burst: a burst pipe masoora bayrooh le ...?
maksoora no, you need a number ... ABCDEFGHIJKLBu
(to man) la’, inta aayiz
bus otobees otobees nimra ...
(to woman) la’, inti aīza
what number bus is it to ...? otobees nimra ...
otobees nimra kam yerooh
li ...? business shoghl
bus station mow’af otobees
when is the next bus to ...?
(when at stop) el otobees bus stop mahattit otobees
ellay bayrooh le ... gī
47
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A47 47 12/04/2006 16:40:09
busy majghool
bye maassalāma
I’m busy tomorrow (said by by Thursday yōm el khamees
man/woman) ana majghool/
majghoola bokra
C
English ➜ Arabic
but lākin cabin (on ship) kabeena
butcher’s gazzār café ahwa
butter zebda Cairo el qahira
button zorār Old Cairo masr el adeema
buy ishtara cake shop halawanee
where can I buy ...? fayn call (verb) nadah
a’adar ashteree ...?
(to phone) ettasal
by: by bus bil otobees
ABCDEFGHIJKLBu
what’s it called? ismaha ay?
by car bil aarabayya
he/she is called ... ismoh/
by the window gamb ismaha ...
esh-shebbāk
please call the doctor
by the sea gamb el bahr momkin tetlob el doktōr?
48
RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC English-A48 48 12/04/2006 16:40:09