The Rough Guide Phrasebook - Egyptian Arabic

bayyāa garayid newsagent’s
bāa sell
side: aunt’s daughter)
bāko packet bint aamma cousin (on father’s
bint khala cousin (on mother’s
bāligh/balgha adult (man/ side: aunt’s daughter)
woman) bint khāl cousin (on mother’s side: Arabic ➜ English
be’asraa ma yomkin as soon uncle’s daughter)
as possible bint okht niece (sister’s daughter)
beaeed far; in the distance birka lake
bebalāsh free (no charge) bisabab e-... because of ...
bebba pipe (for smoking) bisoraa quickly
beddosh with shower bita’it soaood boarding pass
bedāaa horra duty-free blāj beach
(goods) blooza blouse
bekam? how much is it? bo’ mouth
bekhayr OK, fine bohayrit nāsser Lake Nasser
bekteer a lot bok purse (for money)
belha’ fairly bokra tomorrow
benafsee by myself bokra es-sobh tomorrow
berrāha slowly morning
bes-safeena by ship bonnay brown
bes-sikka el hadeed by rail bosta post office; post, mail
betelloo beef; veal bos aala look at
betheb: inta betheb ...? do bowwāb doorman
you like ...? (to man) btaa: da btaa meen? whose ABCDEFGHIJKLbt
bethebee: inti bethebbee ...? is this?
do you like ...? (to woman) btaaha her; hers
betnattar it’s raining btaahom theirs; their
bet-tīyāra by plane btaaitkoo your; yours (m object,
bezzabt! exactly! to more than one person)
bil: bil aarabayya by car btaana ours; our
bil aarabee in Arabic btaatee my; mine (f object)
bil ingleezee in English btaatkoo your; yours (f object,
bil bareed eg-gowee by to more than one person)
airmail btāaee my; mine (m object)
bil layl in the evening; at night btāaak/btaatak your; yours
bint girl; daughter (m/f object, male owner)
bint akh niece (brother’s daughter) btāaik/btaatik your; yours (m/f
bint aamm cousin (on father’s object, female owner)
side: uncle’s daughter) btāao his (m/f object)
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d
de’ee’a minute
de’ee’a wahda just a
minute
da this; that; this one; that deen religion
one; it is; this/that is (m delwa’tee now
object) dibbāna fly
da ...? is this/that ...?; is dīman often; always
it ...? dokhān smoke
daaa invite dokkān (f) shop (small, local)
Arabic ➜ English
da aalashanak/aalashanik this dolāb cupboard
is for you (to man/woman) dort el mīya toilet, rest
daawa invitation room
dada baby-sitter, child- dosh shower (in bathroom)
minder dowa (m) medicine; drug
dafaa pay dowlee national
dahab gold dowrit el mīya toilet, rest
dakhal go in room
daleel telefōnāt phone book; dowsha noise
directory enquiries dōl those/these
dameem ugly dōr floor, storey
damm blood drāa arm
da’n (f) chin; beard
daraga oolā first-class d
daraga talta third-class
daraga tania economy class, dahr back (of body)
second-class dahr el markib deck
daraga tania momtāza dahya suburb
second-class superior dakhm enormous
daras learn darbit shams sunstroke,
ABCDEFGHIJKLda
dars lesson heatstroke
dayr monastery dareeh shrine
dayr ‘ebtee Coptic monastery darooree necessary
dā’ elkalb rabies dayf/dayfa guest (man/
dāfee warm woman)
dākhelee indoors dāyia missing
dee (f) this; that; this one; that dānee lamb (meat)
one; this/that is; it is did against
dee ...? is this/is that ...?; is dohr noon
it ...?
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e
morning
emshee warāya follow me
en-naharda today
ebree’ jug en-naharda es-sobh this
ebtee Coptic morning Arabic ➜ English
ed-da give ensāb injured
ed-dōr el ardee ground floor, er-rabaa (f) fourth
(US) first floor er-rabeea spring
ed-dōr el awwal first floor, er-rābia (m) fourth
(US) second floor esbooa week
ed-dōr el fo’ānee top floor el esbooa eggī next week
ed-dōr et-tahtānee downstairs esm name; first name
ed-deaf twice as much esmak/esmik ay? what’s your
ed-dohr midday; at midday name? (to man/woman)
ed-dohraya this afternoon esmee ... my name is ...
eed hand; handle esm el aayla surname
eegār rent esm esh-shorta police station
eema value essalāmo alaykom hello (lit:
efl lock peace be upon you)
eggazā’ir Algeria essana eggedeeda New Year
ehna we es-sāaa o’clock
ehwid shimāl turn left es-sāaa kām? what’s the
ekhtafa disappear time?
ekhtelāf difference es-sikka el hadeed railway ABCDEFGHIJKLet
el the estaamil use
el aafw don’t mention it estanna wait
el hamdoo lillāh I’m fine (lit: este’bāl reception
praise be to Allah) estirleenee pound (British)
ellay baad next eswid black
ellaylādee tonight; this es-sahara’ esh-shar’aya
evening Eastern Desert
elmadeena eladeema old es-seaeed Upper Egypt
town es-sobh in the morning
elmamlaka elmottahida UK es-sobh badree early in the
elmenew menu morning
elwagba elra’eesaya main etaarraf aala recognize
course etfaddal/etfaddalee here you
embāreh yesterday are (to man/woman)
embāreh es-sobh yesterday etgarah injured

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etkallim talk
ettafa’na it’s a deal
fardit sharāb sock
et-talta (f) third fardit gazma shoe
faree’ team
et-tania (f) second fasl term (at university, school)
et-tālit (m) third fatah unlock; open
et-tānee second (adj); the fateh lil shahaya starter,
other one appetizer
ettasal phone, call fatoora bill
ettasal baadayn ring back fatātree pastry shop
Arabic ➜ English
ettigāh direction fawākih fruit
etlāqan not in the least fayn? where?
et-taree’ er-ra’eesee main fayn da/dee? where is it?
road fazeea terrible, awful
et-taree’ es-sareea fādee empty
motorway, freeway, fed-dil in the shade
highway fed-dohr at noon
ezāz glass (material) fed-dohraya in the afternoon
ezāza bottle fee in; at; on
fee ... there is/are ...
f fee el west in the centre
fee ay? what’s up?, what’s the
fadda silver matter?
fa’eer poor (not rich) fee aandak/aandik ...? do you
fag’a suddenly have ...?
fagr dawn fee aayb faulty
fahim: ana fahim I understand fee sehhetak! cheers!
fakahānee greengrocer’s (fruit felesteen Palestine
shop) fen-nos in the middle
fakhm luxurious fetār breakfast
ABCDEFGHIJKLet
fakkar think fibrīer February
fallāheen: el fallāheen fil in; at; on
country, countryside fil ‘ākher at the back
falooka Egyptian sailboat fil mo’addima at the front
fanilla nos kom T-shirt fil khareg abroad
fann art fil layla per night
far rat; mouse fīadān flood
faransa France fībar viper
faransāwee French floos (f) money
faraōn Pharaoh fondo’ hotel
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foo’ up; up there; upstairs;
gazma shoes
above
gazmagee shoe repairer
foo’ el ... on top of ... gayb pocket
foo’ henāk up there gazzār butcher’s
foota towel; serviette, napkin gāb get, fetch; bring Arabic ➜ English
footit hammām bath towel gāhiz ready
forn oven; bakery gāmia mosque
forsha brush gāmid hard
forsa saaeeda nice to meet gāyiz perhaps; probably
you gedeed new
fostān dress genayh Egyptian pound
frākh chicken geree run
gezeera island
g ghabee thick, stupid; idiot
ghadā lunch
ga come in ghalat confusion, mix-up;
gabal mountain wrong, incorrect
gadwal el mowāaeed el nimra ghalat wrong
timetable, schedule number
gamal camel ghalta mistake
gamārek Customs ghanee rich (person)
gamaa university ghanna sing
gamb side; next to; near gharāma fine (punishment)
gamb el bahr by the sea gharb west ABCDEFGHIJKLgh
gameel pretty, lovely, fil gharb in the west
beautiful; exciting; nice; ghareeb/ghareeba strange,
mild weird, peculiar; stranger
ganāza funeral (man/woman)
ganoob south ghasal wash
fil ganoob in the south ghaseel washing, laundry
el ganoob el gharbee ghassāla washing machine
southwest ghata lid; cap
el ganoob es-shar’ee ghayr aādee extraordinary
southeast ghāba forest
garafatta tie, necktie ghālee expensive
garrab aala try on ghoraf rooms
garrāh asnān dentist ghorfa room
garsōn waiter ghoweet deep
garsōna waitress ghōs snorkelling; skin-diving
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ghroob esh-shams sunset
gid grandfather
hena taht down here
gidda grandmother hena ... here is/are ...
henāk there; over there
giddan very, extremely hidaya present, gift
gild skin; leather hidoo’! quiet!
gins sex homma they; them
ginsaya nationality howa he; him; it; air
gism body
gomaa: el gomaa Friday h
Arabic ➜ English
gomrok custom
gonayna garden hab like; love
gonaynit el hīowanāt zoo habba habba gradually
gonilla skirt habl ghaseel clothes line
gooa hungry had somebody, someone
gornāl newspaper hadsa accident
gornālgee newsagent’s hadretak/hadretik you (formal:
gow dull (weather) to man/woman)
gowa inside ha’ee’ee real; true; genuine
gowabāt letters hafeed grandson
gowāb letter hafeeda granddaughter
gowla tour hafit elmarsa on the quayside
gowla mowwagaha guided hafla party (celebration)
tour haflit gowāz wedding
gowla sayāhaya sightseeing haga something
tour hagar stone, rock
goz’ part hagaz reserve, book
gōz husband; double; a pair hagm size
of; a couple of hagz reservation
hala’a circle
ABCDEFGHIJKLgh
h halawanee cake shop,
patisserie
habla (f) silly hama father-in-law
hansh hip hamāt mother-in-law
haram pyramid hammad develop
hayya she; her; it ham-mām bathroom
hādee quiet ham-māmāt toilets, rest room
hedaya gift ham-mām dākhil el ghorfa en-
hedoom clothes suite bathroom
hena here; over here ham-mām er-rigāl men’s
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room, gents (toilet)
spicy; sharp (knife)
ham-mām khās private
bathroom hāmee strong (taste); hot,
hāmid sour
ham-mām shams sunbathe hāmil pregnant
ham-mām sibāha (swimming) hāra lane Arabic ➜ English
pool hāsib charge
ham-mām sibāha lel atfāl hāsib! look out!
children’s pool hātee kebab house
hanafaya tap; fountain (for hāwil try
drinking) hebbee friendly
hantoor horse-drawn buggy; hedood border
donkey-drawn cart hel’ān earrings
hara’ burn helm dream
harāmee/haramaya thief helw sweet, dessert; nice
(man/woman) hetta bit, piece
harāra heat hetta tania somewhere else
harb war hettit ... a bit/piece of ...
haree’a fire hidāshar eleven
hareer silk hizām belt; strap
harees careful hīawān animal
harrān hot hob love
haseerit blāj beach mat hōd bathtub; washhand basin;
hashara insect sink
hasheesh grass hogrit fondo’ hotel room ABCDEFGHIJKLib
hasal happen hogrit nōm bedroom
hatdallim it’s getting dark hogrit shī tearoom
hateshrab/hateshrabee ay? homār donkey
what’ll you have? (to man/ hosān horse
woman) howālee about,
hat put approximately
hayta wall howid turn
hazeen sad
haz luck i
haz saaeed! good luck!
hādis sir’a burglary ibn son
hādsa crash ibn akh nephew (brother’s son)
hāga thing ibn aamm cousin (on father’s
hāga tania something else side, uncle’s son)
hālan soon; immediately ibn aamma cousin (on father’s
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side, aunt’s son)
izzayak/izzayik? how are
ibn khāla cousin (on mother’s
side, aunt’s son) izzay how
you?; how do you do? (to
ibn khāl cousin (on mother’s side, man/woman)
uncle’s son)
ibn okht nephew (sister’s son) ī
ibreel April
ikhtār choose īwa yes
iktashaf find out
Arabic ➜ English
ilāha goddess j
imta? when?
ingiltera Britain; England jeb jeep
ingleezee British;
English j
inshā’allāh hopefully; God
willing jelātee ice cream
inta/inti you (to man/woman)
inta!/inti! hey! k
intoo you (to more than one
person) kaab ankle; heel
iqāma kamla full board kabeena cabin
irsh piastre kabeenit telefōn phone box
isaāf ambulance kabreet matches
isaāf awwalee first aid kahraba electricity
isboaayn fortnight kalb dog
ishtara buy kallif cost
iskinderaya Alexandria kamān too, also
ismaa listen kamān shwīya in a minute
istaagil hurry kamirit tasgeel camcorder
ABCDEFGHIJKLib
istirāha resthouse kanaba sofa, couch
iswera bracelet kareem kind, generous
itfadal/itfadalee come in; help karsa disaster
yourself; here you are (to kart card; business card;
man/woman) postcard
itharrak move kartōn carton
itmanna hope kart sheekāt cheque card
itnayn both; couple (two people) kart telefōn phonecard
itnāshar twelve kasar break
’itaa cut (noun) kashaf check
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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Arabic-En206 206 12/04/2006 16:42:27

kaslān lazy
kharoof sheep
kassit soghīyar personal
kharrab damage
stereo khareeta map
katab write kharrabt damaged
kays cash desk khashab wood (material) Arabic ➜ English
kān he was; it was khat line
kānit she was; it was khatar dangerous
kāno they were khateeb/khateeba fiancé/
kās glass fiancée
kāzeno bar and tea room, khateer serious
usually along the Nile khawāga foreigner
kebeer large, big khayma tent
kees carrier bag khayt string; thread
kees makhadda pillow case khazaf ceramics; pottery
kelma word khāl uncle (mother’s brother)
kelomitr kilometre khāla aunt (mother’s sister)
keteer a lot, lots; many; khāmis: el khāmis (m) fifth
several; much khās private
keteer awee too much, too khātim ring
many; quite a lot khāteb engaged (to be married:
keteer min ... lots/plenty man)
of ... khedma lel ewad room
khabeer experienced service
khad cheek (on face); take, khedma zātaya self-service ABCDEFGHIJKLko
accept khesir lose
khadoom helpful khilāl through
khafeef light (not heavy); weak khodaree greengrocer’s
khalas finish (vegetable shop)
khalās already khodār vegetables
khalās hashtreeha it’s a deal khomsomaya five hundred
khaleeg bay khorm hole; puncture
khallee bālak! be careful! khoroog exit
khamastāshar fifteen khosoosan especially
khamsa five kifāya enough
el khamsa (f) fifth kitāb book
khamseen fifty kobbāya glass; mug
kharabāt ruins; remains kobree bridge
kharaz beads kobs switch
khareef autumn, (US) fall kol each, every; eat
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kol hāga everything
kol hetta everywhere
lahab fire (blaze)
lahma meat
kollohom the whole lot; all of lagha cancel
them; altogether lamba lamp; lightbulb
koloo all of it la ... wala ... neither ... nor ...
kol wāhid everyone lay? why?
konna we were layl night
kont you were laylit imbbāreh last night
kornaysh corniche, coastal laylit rās es-sana New Year’s
Arabic ➜ English
road Eve
korsee chair; seat; saddle (for lazeez delicious
bike) lākin but
korsee blāj deckchair lāzim: ana lāzim ... I must ...
kosharee snack bar selling le to; into
‘kosharee’, an Egyptian rice leehom for them
speciality leh to him
kotshayna game leha to her
kowetsh tyre, (US) tire lehom to them
kōra ball lehad until
kōrit qadam football lehad delwa’tee yet
kwayis good; OK, all right; lena us; for us
fine; nice; properly lesh-shamāl to the north
inta kwayis? are you OK? (to lesh-shimāl to the left
man) lewahdee separately
inti kwayisa? are you OK? lil to the
(to woman) lil baya for sale
lil egār to rent; for hire
l lil khareg abroad
lil yemeen to the right
ABCDEFGHIJKLko
la’ no lisān tongue
la’! don’t! logha language
la’ lay? why not? logha aarabayya Arabic
la’ motshakkir no thanks lokanda small hotel
la’ shokran no thanks lo’sor Luxor
la’ tabaan certainly not; of low if
course not low samaht/samahtee please;
laaab play excuse me (to man/woman)
laban milk lōn colour
lafhet shams sunburn
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m
mabsoot happy
ma’dartish ... I couldn’t ...; I
can’t ...
ma’āss size (clothing) madām lady; Mrs
maaa with madeena town; city Arabic ➜ English
maaa baad together madfan cemetery (historic,
maaada except Islamic)
maaak kabreet? do you have madkhal entrance; lobby
a light? (for cigarette) madrasa school
ma aamaltish didn’t mafdelshee haga there’s none
maaana with us left
maaandeesh: maaandeesh mafeesh none; there isn’t
khālis I don’t have any any
maaassalāma goodbye mafeesh ... ba’ee there’s no
maaād appointment ... left
maaāh with him mafeesh had no-one, nobody
maaāha with her mafeesh hāga nothing
maaāhom with them mafeesh haga tania nothing
maaāk/maaākee with you (to else
man/woman) mafeesh moshkila! no
maabad temple (religious) problem!
maadan metal ma’fool off
maala’a spoon mafrood innak ... you
maala’it shī teaspoon should ... ABCDEFGHIJKLma
maalaysh it doesn’t matter; maftooh open
it’s a pity magalla magazine
maalomāt information magaree express (train)
maa’ool reasonable magāl field
maa’ool? really? maghāra cave
maarad trade fair; exhibition maghrib: el maghrib Morocco
maarafsh I don’t know maghsala laundry (place)
maataqedsh I don’t think so magmooa total
mabahebboosh I don’t like it magmooaa party, group
mabakkallimsh ... I don’t magnoon crazy
speak ... magra stream
ma’bara tomb mahfoof crazy
mablool wet mahragān festival
mabna building mahal shop
mabrook! congratulations! mahal aaseer juice bar

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mahal be’āla food shop/store
telephone office
mahal hadāya gift shop
mahallee local maktab sentrāl 24-hour
telephone office
mahal tohaf antique shop maktab sarf bureau de change
mahatta destination maktab tazākir ticket office
mahattit atr train station makwa iron
mahattit banzeen petrol makwagee person who takes
station, gas station in laundry
Arabic ➜ English
mahattit es-sekka el hadeed mala fill up; fill in
railway station malaab playground
mahattit otobees bus station; malh salt
bus stop malha laylee nightclub
mahboob popular malyān full
mahfaza wallet mamar path
mahroo’ min esh-shams manakheer nose
sunburnt manshoor leaflet; brochure
majbak peg (for washing) mante’a district, area, region
majghool busy; engaged, manzar view; scenery
occupied mar go through
makana machine marad illness; disease
makān place marham lotion; ointment
makhadda pillow; cushion marhaban lil ... welcome to ...
makhbaz cake shop markib boat; ship
makhtooba engaged (to be markib sayd fishing boat
married: woman) markib soghīyar dinghy
maksoor broken marra once
maktab office el marra eg-gīya next time
maktaba bookshop, el marra el-lee fātit last time
bookstore; library marra tania again
ABCDEFGHIJKLma
maktab amanāt left luggage marra wahda once
(office) marrādee: el marrādee this
maktab bareed post office time
maktab elbareed (elra’eesee) marritayn twice
main post office marwaha fan
maktab elesti’bāl reception masak hold; catch
desk masā’ el khayr, masā’ en-noor
maktab es-sayāha tourist good evening; good night
information office masāfa distance
maktab et-telfonāt 24-hour masākin et-talaba student
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hostel
mesa evening
mashā leave
meseehee Christian
mashākil trouble meena harbour; port
mashbak ghaseel clothes peg mestaagil express (mail)
mash-hoor famous metarrab dusty Arabic ➜ English
mashroob non-alcoholic metala’ divorced
drink millawis polluted
mas-hoo’ ghaseel washing milowwin colour
powder, soap powder min than; of; from
masrah theatre min isbooa a week ago
masrahaya play (in theatre) min abl already
masr Egypt minayn: inta/inti minayn?
masree Egyptian where are you from? (to
masr el adeema Old Cairo man/woman)
masr el faraoonaya Ancient min fadlak excuse me
Egypt min ghayr without
mat-haf museum min ghayr kohol non-
matmannāsh I hope not alcoholic
matār airport mish not
mataam restaurant mish awee not so much
matbakh kitchen mish delwa’tee not just now
matlaa hill mish fāhim I don’t understand
maya hundred mish kwayis bad; poor; badly
ma’zana minaret mish lāzim it’s not necessary ABCDEFGHIJKLmī
maznoo’ stuck mish maa’ool ridiculous;
mazraaa farm surprising
mazzeeka music mish mo’addab rude
mazboot accurate mish modhish amazing,
mālik/malka owner (man/ surprising
woman) mistaagil urgent
māris March mitayn two hundred
mās diamond mitgowiz married
māt die mit’kh-khar late
māyo May mīya water
meaaddaya ferry mīya maadanaya mineral
meada stomach water
meaza goat mīya min elhanafaya tap
medān square (in town) water
meen? who? mīyit dead
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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Arabic-En211 211 12/04/2006 16:42:29

mīyit shorb drinking water
mlāya sheet (for bed)
moreeh comfortable
mo’rif dreadful, revolting,
mo’addab polite moraeb horrible
mo’addam in advance disgusting
mo’assir impressive mo’rif aktar much worse
mobāshir direct morshid (sayāhee)/morshida
modariss/modarissa teacher (sayāhayya) tour guide
(man/woman) (man/woman)
modda period (of time) mosaada help
Arabic ➜ English
modeer/modeera manager mosallee funny, amusing
(man/woman) mosammim poisonous
modhish fantastic, incredible mosattah flat (adj)
modeef/modeefa steward; moseeqa music
stewardess moseeqa afrangee pop music
mofaddal favourite (Western)
mofeed useful moseeqa gharbaya pop
mofrih pleasant music (Egyptian)
moftāh key moseeqa seaeedee folk
moghray sexy music (in Upper Egypt)
mohim important moseeqa shaabaya folk
mokalma khārigaya long- music
distance call moseer exciting
mokhaddarāt drugs (narcotics) moshkila problem
mokhtalif different mostaaid ready
molā’im convenient mostaamal second-hand
mo’lim painful mosta’bal future
momil boring mostaheel impossible
momkin possible mostanad document
momkin ...? may I ...?; please mostashfa hospital
ABCDEFGHIJKLmī
could you ...?; is it OK to mosir: ana mosir I insist
...? motowassit medium,
momkin inta/inti ...? can you medium-sized
...? (to man/woman) motshakkir: la’ motshakkir no
momtāz excellent thanks
momtea enjoyable; interesting mow’af park; rail terminus
momyā mummy (in tomb) mow’af aarabayyāt car park,
monfasil separate; apart from parking lot
moolid fair mow’af otobees bus station
morakkaz strong (drink) mow’af taksayāt taxi rank
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mowāfi’ accept; agree
nashra brochure
mowqia elmoaaskar campsite
natara rain
mozayyaf false nasheet lively
mozaig annoying nazal get off; get out; go down
mōazam mostly nāaim soft Arabic ➜ English
mōazam el wa’t most of the nādee coffee and gaming
time house
mōda adeema old-fashioned, nādir rare; hardly ever
unfashionable nām sleep
mōt death nār (f) fire
mrātak your wife nās people
mrātee my wife nāshif dry (adj)
mrāt ibn daughter-in-law nebeet wine
nedeef clean
n nehāya end
nehās asfar brass
naaam yes neseeb son-in-law; brother-
naaam? pardon (me)?, in-law
sorry? neseeba daughter-in-law;
naal sole (of shoe) sister-in-law
nabāt plant netlā’a baadayn! see you later!
nabātee/nabātaya vegetarian nimra number, figure
(man/woman) nimrit el kōd dialling code
nadah call nisma breeze ABCDEFGHIJKLnō
naddāra glasses, spectacles, nī not cooked, raw
(US) eyeglasses nokta joke
naddāra shamsaya sunglasses noor light
nafa’ underground, (US) nos half
subway; tunnel fee nos el-balad in town
nafoora fountain nos ellayl midnight
nahr river fee nos ellayl in the middle
nahr en-neel Nile of the night
naht carving nos eqāma half board
nak-ha delicacy nos et-taman half-price
nakhla palm tree nos sāaa half an hour
namoosa mosquito nos tazkara half fare
namoozag form (document) nozha picnic
nasa forget nōa quality; type
nasayt I forget, I’ve forgotten nōm weftār bed and breakfast
213





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Arabic-En213 213 12/04/2006 16:42:30

o
oddām in front q
qahira: el qahira Cairo
oghnaya song qanāl canal
ogra fare qanāl es-sways Suez Canal
okht sister qar-rar decide
oktobar October qarya village
olā (f) first qānoon law
Arabic ➜ English
omāsh material, cloth qism department
omm mother of qīma menu
ordon: el ordon Jordan qods: el qods Jerusalem
orīyib recent qonsolaya consulate
min orīyib recently
orīyib awee nearby r
orobba Europe
orobbee European ra’aba neck
osra malakaya dynasty ra’as dance
ostāz Mr ra’āsa belly-dancer
osīyar short raaee gemāl camel driver
otobees bus rabb god
otobees el matār airport bus ra’eesee main, central
otobees safar long-distance raff shelf; bunk
bus ragaa go back; get back;
otn cotton come back, return; give
otta cat back
ow or raggaa vomit
owalan at first rakab get on
owil embārih the day before rakan park
ABCDEFGHIJKLod
yesterday ramla sand
owwil (m) first ramz bareedee postcode, zip
code
ō raqam number
raqam er-rihla flight number
ōda room raqam telefōn phone number
ōda lewāhid single room rasm drawing; charge
ōda litnayn twin room; rasm eddokhool admission
double room charge
ōdit es-sofra dining room rasmee formal

214





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Arabic-En214 214 12/04/2006 16:42:30

rasm idāfee supplement
rokba knee
ra’s dance
rokhsa licence
raseef platform, (US) track; rofīyaa thin
pavement, sidewalk; jetty rokhsit sewā’a driving licence
ra’s shaabee folk dancing rokoob eg-gimāl camel ride Arabic ➜ English
ra’s shar’ee belly-dance; romādee grey
belly-dancing roshetta prescription
rattib arrange, fix
rateb damp; cool s
rayāda sport
rā’ea wonderful sa’aa chilled
rāgil man saaeeda greetings
rāgil bolees policeman saaet hayt clock
rāh go; go back sabaatāshar seventeen
rākib/rākba passenger (man/ sabat basket
woman) sabaa seven
rās (f) head sabaeen seventy
reef countryside, country sa’f ceiling
reeh (f) wind safar travel; departure;
reggāla men journey
rehla journey; excursion, trip safar bel gimāl camel trek
rehla beg-gemāl camel trip safāra embassy
rehla dākhilaya domestic safeena ship (large)
flight sahl simple, easy ABCDEFGHIJKLsā
rehla gowaya flight sakan live; accommodation
rehla osīyara excursion sakheef silly
rehla saaeeda! have a good sakrān drunk
journey! salālim (f) stairs
rehla shamla package holiday sama sky
rehla yōmaya scheduled samak fish
flight; day trip sameen valuable
rekhees cheap, inexpensive; sana year
low sanya second (in time)
resāla message sara’ steal
ri’atayn lungs saradeeb catacombs
rigl (f) leg; foot sareea quick, fast
rikoob el khayl horse riding satāyer blinds; curtains
roba quarter sayeh tourist (man)
robaomaya four hundred sā’ drive
215





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Arabic-En215 215 12/04/2006 16:42:31

sāaa hour; wristwatch
sāaid help
shat shore
sāda plain shar’ee eastern
shat el bahr coast
sāhil coast shāb young
sāyib loose shāf see
sear rate shākhs person
sear et-tahweel exchange rate shāl carry
sha’a flat, apartment shārea street
shaar hair shārea gānaybee side street
Arabic ➜ English
shabakit namosaya mosquito shāter clever
net shāz unusual
shabboora mist; fog shebbāk window
shad pull shebbāk tazākir box
shafāyef lips office
shafsha’ jug shebsee® crisps
shagara tree shedeed strong
shagh-ghal work sheek cheque, (US) check
shahr month sheek sayāhee traveller’s
shahāt beggar cheque
shamāl north sheesh shutter (on window)
shamāl gharb northwest sheta winter
shamāl shar’ northeast fesh-sheta in the winter
shamaa candle shimāl left
shams (f) sun shirāa sail
shamsaya umbrella shirka company (business)
shamsayit blāj beach shita shower (of rain)
umbrella shī tea (drink)
shamwā suede shīyāl porter (in hotel)
shanab moustache shoaāa esh-shams
ABCDEFGHIJKLsā
shanta bag; hand luggage; sunshine
briefcase shoft/shoftee ...? have you
shantit dahr rucksack seen ...? (to man/woman)
shantit eed handbag, (US) shoghl work ; job; business
purse shokran thanks, thank you
shantit safar suitcase shokran gazeelan, shokran
shantit west money belt giddan thank you very
shar’ east much
fee esh-shar’ in the east la’, shokran no, thanks
sharāb drink shonat luggage, baggage
216




RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Arabic-En216 216 12/04/2006 16:42:31

shōka fork
shwīya (a) few; a bit
shwīya shwīya gradually s
sibā’ gimāl camel racing saab hard, difficult
sigār cigar sabāh el khayr, sabāh en- Arabic ➜ English
sigāra cigarette noor good morning
siggāda carpet saboon soap
sikka alley sadafa shellfish; shell
sikkeena knife safeeha can; large tin
silmee peaceful safeehit ... a can of ...
simea hear safha page
sinna tooth sah right, correct
sireer bed; couchette; sahara desert; Sahara
berth sahā get up
sireerayn twin beds sahba friend; girlfriend;
sireer faradānee single owner
bed saheeh? really?
sireer litnayn double bed salha valid
sirg saddle (for horse) sallah mend, repair
sit woman salōn compartment (on train)
sitta six sanaya tray
sittāshar sixteen sandoo’ box
sitteen sixty sandoo’ el bosta letterbox,
sittoomaya six hundred mailbox ABCDEFGHIJKLSe
sīha tourist (woman) saraf spend; cash; change
so’āl question sarf change
sobaomaya seven hundred sat-h roof
sokhn hot satr line
sokkar sugar sayd samak fishing
soo’ market, bazaar sayf summer
soor fence fes-sayf in the summer
sorya Syria sāhib friend; boyfriend;
sosta zip owner
sowā’ driver (man) sāla lounge; foyer
sowā’a driver (woman) sālit el akl dining room
sowā’ taksee taxi-driver sālit es-safar departure
stella® lager lounge
sedr chest
sehhee healthy

217





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Arabic-En217 217 12/04/2006 16:42:31

sifr zero
quite; approximately
sobaa finger
sobaa rigl toe tawalet ladies’ (toilets), ladies’
room
sobh morning tawalet rigālee gents (toilet),
sodāa headache men’s room
soghīyar small, little tazkara ticket; single ticket
soof wool tazkara maftooha open ticket
soora poster; painting; tazkara wahda single ticket
photo; picture tazkarit aowda return ticket,
Arabic ➜ English
round-trip ticket
t teabān snake
teabān kobra cobra
taabān tired tebea follow
ta’geer aarabayyāt car rental tegāh towards
tahseen improve tekheen fat
taht below; down; under temsāl statue
tahweed turning ti’eel heavy
taksee khidma service taxi timsāh alligator
takyeef (howa) air- tisaatāshar nineteen
conditioning tisaa nine
talateen thirty tisaeen ninety
talat talāf three thousand tisaomaya nine hundred
talattāshar thirteen tisbah/tisbahee aala khayr
talāta three good night (to man/woman)
ta’leed fake; imitation tizkār souvenir
talfeeaa scarf tohaf antiquities
talg ice tohfa antique
tallāga fridge toltomaya three hundred
taman price; charge tomnomaya eight hundred
ABCDEFGHIJKLSi
tamaneen eighty torāb dust
tamania eight tormī tram
tamantāshar eighteen towseel delivery (of mail)
tamām perfect; completely tsharrafna nice to meet
tanda sunshade you
tanee more; another; other
taqātoa toro’ junction; t
crossroads, intersection
tarabayza table ta’aya hat
ta’reeban almost, nearly; taam taste; flavour
218




RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Arabic-En218 218 12/04/2006 16:42:32

taba’ plate; dish, bowl
tabakh cook
tabaan certainly, of course; w
definitely wa and
la’ tabaan certainly not; of wa’af stop Arabic ➜ English
course not wadee valley
tabeeaee natural wadee el mlook Valley of the
taboor queue Kings
taf-fa switch off wadee en-neel Nile Valley
tafīya ashtray wagaa hurt; pain; ache
talaa go up wagba meal
talab ask wag-ha front
tamaa greedy wagh eblee Upper Egypt
tar fly wag-hit el bahr seafront
tard package, parcel wahda (f) one
taree’ road; avenue; route wahda wahda gradually
tawāri’ emergency waheed alone
taweel long; tall wala ana nor do I
tayr bird wala haga none
tābea stamp wala wāhid/wahda nobody
tālib/tāliba student (male/ walad boy
female) walla otherwise
tāza fresh wallaa turn on, switch on
teaem nice wallāaa, wallāaet sagāyer ABCDEFGHIJKLwa
teen mud lighter
teez back part; bottom (of wana? and me?, what about
person) me?
tefl child wara behind
tekheen thick wara’ leaf; paper; banknote
tīyāra plane, airplane wara’ el bardee papyrus
tīyib OK wara’ ha’it mural
tool height; length wara’ tawalet toilet paper
tool ellayl overnight warda flower
tool el yōm all day warshit aarabayyāt garage (for
tor’a corridor repairs)
torab cemetery wasākha dirt
toro’ map wasal come; arrive, get in
towālee straightaway wasl receipt
wasla connection

219





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Arabic-En219 219 12/04/2006 16:42:32

wassal deliver
wa’t time
yeshmal include
yesmah let (allow)
wa’t taweel a long time yemeen right (not left)
wazn weight yetaash-sha have dinner
wādih clear yimkin maybe; it depends
wāha oasis yolyo July
wāhid (m) one yonān: el yonān Greece
wātee low yonānee Greek
we alaykom es-salām reply to yonyo June
Arabic ➜ English
‘es-salāmoo alaykom’ (lit: and yowmayan daily
peace be upon you too) yōm day
we baadayn then, after that el yōm ellee ablo the day
weddee friendly before
wehesh bad; ugly; not nice; el yōm ellee baado the day
badly after
mish wehesh awee not so el yōm et-tanee the other
bad day
wehesh awee ugly yōm eg-gomaa at the
wesikh filthy weekend
west waist; centre yōm el arbaa Wednesday
west el balad town centre; yōm el had Sunday
city centre yōm el itnayn Monday
wesool arrival yōm el khamees Thursday
widān ear yōm es-sabt Saturday
wikālit safar travel agent’s yōm et-talāt Tuesday
winta/winti? how about you?
(to man/woman) z
wish face
za’ push
y zaalān angry
ABCDEFGHIJKLwa
zahma crowded
yaanee so-so zakee intelligent
yahoodee Jewish zamān a long time ago
yalla ... let’s ... zamb fault
yalla besoraa! hurry up! zayt oil
yalla nimshee! let’s go! zāhee bright (light etc)
yanāyer January zār visit
yarhamkom allāh! bless you! zibāla bin; dustbin, trashcan;
ye’khar delay rubbish, trash
220




RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Arabic-En220 220 12/04/2006 16:42:32

zī the same; similar
zo’a’ cul-de-sac
zokām cold (illness)
zōga wife
zōr throat Arabic ➜ English
z
zarf envelope
zābit bolees police officer ABCDEFGHIJKLZa

































221





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Arabic-En221 221 12/04/2006 16:42:33

RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Arabic-En222 222 12/04/2006 16:42:33

Arabic





➜





English





Signs and



Notices


















RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Signs OUT223 223 12/04/2006 16:43:47

Contents
General Signs 225
Abbreviations 225
Airport, Planes 225
Banks, Money 226
Bus, Tram and Metro Travel 227
Countries 227
Customs 228
Egyptian History 228
Emergencies 229
Forms 229
Geographical Terms 230
Health 230
Hiring, Renting 230
Hotels 231
Notices on Doors 231
Place Names 232
Arabic ➜ English: Signs and Notices
Post Office 233
Religion 233
Restaurants, Cafés, Bars 234
Streets and Roads 234
Timetables 234
Toilets 235
Tourist Information 235
Train Travel 235















224





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Signs OUT224 224 12/04/2006 16:43:47

mamnooa et-
General Signs
khatar danger tadkheen no smoking
mamnooa es-
khatar sibāha no swimming
mamnooa ellams dangerous, mamnooa el
do not touch moroor no trespassing
mamnooa ... Arabic ➜ English: Signs and Notices
... forbidden Abbreviations
istealamāt centimetres
information grams
el mafqoodāt lost hours
property, lost and found kilograms
kilometres
litres
mante’a aaskarayya metres
mamnooa el eqtirāb wat- milligrams
tasweer military zone, keep millitres
clear, no photography minutes
mamnooa piastres
el estihmām no bathing Egyptian pounds
mamnooa et-
takhyeem no camping Airport, Planes
mamnooa matār airport
ed-dekhool no entry, no otobees el
admittance matār airport bus
mamnooa et- wesool arrivals
tasweer no photographs moghādara departures

225





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Signs OUT225 225 12/04/2006 16:43:48

dowlayya international
departures rehalāt Banks, Money
‘bank’ bank
rehalāt ‘bank’
dākhilayya domestic iskinderaya Bank of
departures Alexandria
sālit el wesool ‘bank’ el qahira
arrivals hall Cairo Bank
sālit es-safar ‘bank’ masr Masr
departure lounge Bank
mahattit el el
wesool destination ‘bank’ el ahlee el masree
Arabic ➜ English: Signs and Notices
er-rehla National Bank of Egypt
ta’akharit delayed el khazeena cashier
raqam er-rehla qism el
flight number aomla el agnabaya foreign
tafteesh el exchange
haqā’ib baggage check taman esh-sherā’
akhd el haqā’ib buying rate
baggage claim taman elbaya selling
et- rate
tasgeel wed-dokhool nesbit et-
check-in tahweel exchange rate
bawwāba gate genayh masree
istealamāt Egyptian pound
information irsh piastre
genayh

226





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Signs OUT226 226 12/04/2006 16:43:48

esterleenee pound sterling
raseef ... bay no. ...,
dolār lane no. ...
amreekee US dollar wesool arrivals
dolār kanadee moghādara departures
Canadian dollar
dolār ostrālee mokhassas le kebār es-sin
Australian dollar reserved for the elderly Arabic ➜ English: Signs and Notices
‘credit card’ mokayaf air-
credit card conditioned
takyeef air-
bne’bal el ‘credit cards’ we conditioning
accept credit cards koshk tazākir
ticket kiosk
ma bne’balsh el ‘credit cards’ raqam el korsee
credit cards not accepted seat number
sheek sayāhee ‘tram’ tram
traveller’s cheque toromāī tram
mahattit ‘tram’
Bus, Tram and tram stop
Metro Travel metroo underground,
otobees bus (US) subway
menibos minibus
mow’af Countries
otobees bus station el gazayir Algeria
mahattit amreeka America
otobees bus stop ostrālia Australia
mahatta terminal ‘Canada’ Canada

227





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Signs OUT227 227 12/04/2006 16:43:48

masr Egypt
fee
ingiltera England
faransa France hodood el masmooh nothing
to declare
almāniya Germany zayāda
el arā’ Iraq aan el masmooh something
isrā’eel Israel to declare
el ordon Jordan gawazāt passports
libnān Lebanon
libya Libya maktab en-naqd el agnabee
aomān Oman currency declaration office
falasteen Palestine soo’ horra duty-free
qatar Qatar
Arabic ➜ English: Signs and Notices
es-soaodayya Egyptian History
Saudi Arabia borg el qahira
es-soodān Sudan Cairo Tower
sorya Syria el alaa Citadel
toonis Tunisia el mamaleek City
torkaya Turkey of the Dead (Tombs of the
Mamelukes)
Customs kelobatra Cleopatra
gamārik Customs ed-dayr el
lil agānib bahree Hatshepsut’s temple
faqat non-Egyptian passport izees Isis
holders only Nefertari Nefertari
lil masrayeen Nefertiti Nefertiti
faqat Egyptian passport el ahrām The
holders only Pyramids

228





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Signs OUT228 228 12/04/2006 16:43:49

shortit es-
aboo el hōl The
bolees el mroor
Sphinx ramsees Rameses sayāha Tourist Police
maabad Traffic Police
aboo simbil Temple of Abu mahattit isaāf
Simbel first-aid post
madeenit haboo Arabic ➜ English: Signs and Notices
Temples of Rameses Forms
wadee el mlook ainwān address
Valley of the Kings el ainwān
wadee el fee masr address in Egypt
malekāt Valley of the Queens et-tareekh date
tareekh el milād
Emergencies date of birth
isaāf ambulance tareekh
matāfee fire brigade essodoor date of issue
bolees police moddit el iqāma
moderayit amn duration of stay
police headquarters el esm bil
ism ... ... Police Station kāmil full name
bolees el el ginsaya nationality
matār Airport Police el wazeefa
shortit occupation
es-sikka el hadeed Railway raqam el
Police basbōr passport number
el bolees mahal el milād
en-nahree River Police place of birth

229





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Signs OUT229 229 12/04/2006 16:43:49

gehit el esdār
mallāha salt lake
place of issue
el dayāna religion nahr river
ganoob south
el towqeea signature aayn spring
raqam el veeza wadee valley
visa number gharb west
raqam el
ta’sheera visa number Health
aayāda clinic
Geographical doktōr/
Terms doktōra doctor (m/f)

hedood border garrāh/
Arabic ➜ English: Signs and Notices
qanāl canal garrāhit asnān dentist (m/f)
delta delta mostashfa
sahara desert hospital
markaz district qism
shar’ east el aīyāda el khārigayya
mohafza outpatients’ clinic
adminstrative district agzakhāna
khaleeg gulf pharmacy, chemist’s
gezeera island sīdalayya pharmacy,
birka lake chemist’s
gabal mountain
shimāl north Hiring, Renting
wāha oasis lil egār for hire, to rent
ras point, head aagal lil eegār
moderayya province bicycles for hire

230





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Signs OUT230 230 12/04/2006 16:43:49

takyeef
ta’geer
air-conditioned;
aarabayyāt car rental
air-conditioning
Hotels ham-mām bathroom
fondo’ hotel ham-mām
lokanda small hotel dākhil el ghorfa en-suite
banseeyōn boarding bathroom Arabic ➜ English: Signs and Notices
house hammām khās
bayt shabāb private bathroom
youth hostel dosh shower
masākin et- hōd sebāha
talaba hostel swimming pool
istirāha resthouse
ewad fadiya Notices on Doors
rooms to let maftooh open
ōda room moghlaq closed
ōda bil dekhool entrance
takyeef room with air- khoroog exit
conditioning makhrag exit
ōda litnayn bab et-tawāri’
double room/twin room emergency exit
ōda litnayn eshab pull
double room edfaa push
ōda le wāhid el aotla el
single room isbooaayya closing days
dort el mīya toilet, min ... ila ...
rest room from ... to ...

231





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Signs OUT231 231 12/04/2006 16:43:50

helwān Helwan
mowaaeed el
aamal opening hours
mamnooa ed- Ismailia el ismaaelayya
dikhool no entry el karnak Karnak
khās private khān el
khaleelee Khan el Khalili
Place Names loo’sor Luxor
el aabbāsayya el manyal Manial
Abbasiya marsa
aboo simbil Abu matrooh Marsa Matra
Simbel el me’attam Mokattam
iskinderaya el gorna e-
Arabic ➜ English: Signs and Notices
Alexandria gedeeda New Gurna
asyoot Assyut masr el adeema
aswān Aswan Old Cairo
bab zwayla Bab el gorna el
Zuwaila adeema Old Gurna
el qahira Cairo bor saaeed Port
dahab Dahab Said
el fayyoom El Faiyum sa’-āra Sakkara
el kharga El Khargs sharm esh-
el mooskee El shaykh Sharm el Sheikh
Muski seena Sinai
es-sayyida seewa Siwa
zaynab El Saiyida Zeinab es-sways Suez
esna Esna wadee halfa Wadi
el geeza Giza Halfa

232





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Signs OUT232 232 12/04/2006 16:43:50

es-sabr gameel
Post Office
la ilāh illa allāh
maktab bareed patience is beautiful
post office there is no God but Allah
ibla facing Mecca
maktab elbosta elra’eesee
main post office gamāait el ekhwān el Arabic ➜ English: Signs and Notices
khitābāt letters, mail moslimeen The Muslim
bareed gowee Brotherhood
airmail mohammad
mistaagil express Muhammad
aadee ordinary el qor’ān The Quran
khitābāt ramadān Ramadan
dakhilayya inland mail zikr religious ritual
khitābāt gāmia mosque
khārigayya overseas mail gāmia el az-har
baya et- Al-Azhar mosque
tawābea stamps mazgid el
hosayn Al-Hussein Mosque
Religion gāmia ibn
allāh Allah tolōn Ibn Tulun Mosque
allāhoo akbar Allah el mat-haf
is almighty el eslāmee Islamic Museum
gāmia
besmillāh er-rahmān er- mohammad aalee
raheem in the name of Allah Muhammad Ali Mosque
most kind most merciful gāmia

233





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Signs OUT233 233 12/04/2006 16:43:50

es-sooltān hasan Sultan
coastal road
Hasan Mosque
zo’ā’ cul-de-sac
aatfa lane
Restaurants, hāra lane, alley
Cafés, Bars taree’ road
mataam restaurant medān square
hātee kebab house shārea street
ahwa traditional coffee
house, tearoom Timetables
nādee coffee and gaming gadwal
house el mowaaeed timetable,
fatātree pastry shop schedule
Arabic ➜ English: Signs and Notices
halawanee patisserie meaād el
‘cafeteria’ snack bar wesool arrival time
kosharee snack wa’t el qayām
bar selling ‘kosharee’, an departure time
Egyptian rice speciality meaād el
‘bar’ bar qayām departure time
kāzeno bar and tea daraga class
room, usually along the Nile nōa el atr class of
mahal aaseer train
juice bar ‘express’ express
train
Streets and sayāhee fast train
Roads with limited stops
sikka alley magaree fast train with
kornaysh corniche, limited stops

234





RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Signs OUT234 234 12/04/2006 16:43:51

daraga oola first
class
car and bus rental service
daraga tania ta’geer sIyarāt we otobeesāt
second class rehalat
gehat el yowmayya day trips
wesool … terminates at ... hagz fanādi’
raqam el atr train hotel reservations Arabic ➜ English: Signs and Notices
number rehalāt
neelayya Nile Cruises
Toilets rehalāt
lil rigāl gents’ toilets, sayahayya package tours
mens’ rest rooms
lil sīyedāt ladies’ Train Travel
toilets, ladies’ rest rooms mahattit atr
dowrit el mīya railway station
toilet, rest room hagz tazākir
dawrāt el mīya ... advance booking for ...
toilets, rest rooms istirāha buffet
hammāmāt bofayeeh buffet
aamma public toilets mahattit masr
Cairo Main Railway Station
Tourist hī’it
Information sekkak hadeed masr Egypt
Railways
hagz tazākir tīyarān we daraga oola first
bawākhir advance booking class
for air and sea travel maaloomāt

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information
amanāt left luggage,
baggage checkroom
raseef ...
platform no. ..., track no. ...
daraga tania
second class
daraga
tania momtāza second class
superior
daraga talta third
class
Arabic ➜ English: Signs and Notices
shebbāk tazākir
ticket office
tazākir tickets





















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Menu





Reader:





Food






























RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Menu Read237 237 12/04/2006 16:45:04

Essential Terms
bread aaysh
cup fongān
dessert helw
excuse me (to get attention) min fadlak
fish (noun) samak
Menu Reader: Food
fork shōka
glass (tumbler) kobbāya
(wine glass) kās
knife sikkeena
meat lahma
menu elmenew
pepper (spice) felfil eswid
plate taba’
salt malh
soup shorba
spoon maala’a
starter (food) fateh lil shahaya
table tarabayza


excuse me! (to man) low samaht!
excuse me! (to woman) low samahtee!








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Basics
feeno medowar
zebda butter bread rolls
‘sandwich’
samna clarified sandwich Menu Reader: Food
butter aaysh shāmee
ishta cream white pitta bread
di’ee’ flour aaysh baladee
aasal nahl wholemeal pitta bread
honey
miraba jam Cheese
laban milk gibna cheese
aasal eswid gibna fallāhee
molasses cottage cheese
zayt oil gibna roomee
zayt zatoon hard, yellow, mature
olive oil cheese
sookkar sugar gibna adeema
khall vinegar mature ‘gibna fallāhee’
zabādee yoghurt gibna talaga mild
white cheese
Bread
gibna
aaysh bread matbookha processed
aaysh feeno cheese wedges
baguette gibna bayda
simeet bread rings salty white cheese, similar
covered with sesame to feta
seeds

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Condiments,
Herbs, Spices simsim sesame seeds
tamr hindee
tamarind
yansoon anise korkom turmeric
filfil eswid black
pepper Cooking Methods
habahān cardamom fel forn baked
Menu Reader: Food
shatta chilli masloo’ boiled
erfa cinnamon ‘deep fry’ deep-
oronfil cloves fried
kozbara coriander ma’lee fried
kamoon cumin mashwee grilled
helba fenugreek bi zayt in oil
kozbara khadra mesabek simmered
fresh coriander bil bokhar steamed
zangabeel ginger mahshee stuffed
neanāa mint (usually with minced meat
boharāt mixed and/or rice, herbs and pine
spice nuts)
gōzit etteeb
nutmeg Desserts, Cakes
ba’doonis parsley and Biscuits
zaater oregano (Cookies)
filfil ahmar halawayāt sweets,
paprika desserts
zaafaran saffron keeka cake
malh salt baskōt biscuits,

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cookies
topped with pistachios
be’lāwa baklava
balōza pudding made
– layers of flaky filo pastry cornflour and rosewater,
and nuts, soaked in syrup from cornflour, ground Menu Reader: Food
goolāsh baklava rice and sugar
kahk biscuits made meshmeshia
with flour and butter and pudding made from
covered in icing sugar cooked dried apricots and
khoshaf dried fruit cornflour
soaked in milk or syrup roz bil laban rice
(eaten during Ramadan) pudding
zalabya fritters soaked basboosa semolina
in syrup cake with nuts, soaked in
salatit fowākih syrup
fruit salad konāfa sticky noodle-
oom Aali hot like pastry with nuts and
pudding made from filo syrup
pastry soaked in milk with atayef thick
raisins, sugar, coconut, nuts pancake filled with nuts
and cinnamon and coconut and soaked in
‘ice cream’ ice syrup
cream feTeer type of
jelāti ice cream pancake made from layers
bleela milk pudding of flaky pastry with
with nuts, raisins and wheat sweet or savoury
mahalabaya milk fillings
pudding with rice,

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Eggs and Egg
Dishes Fish and Fish
Dishes
bayd eggs samak fish
atbā’ el bayd tāgin samak
egg dishes baked fish with rice or
aega baked omelette cracked wheat
Menu Reader: Food
with onions, parsley and kaborīa crab
flour arameet eel
bayd masloo’ taaabeen eel
boiled eggs taranshāt fillets
bayd ma’lee fried samak ma’lee
eggs fish fried in oil
‘omelette’ omelette samak mashwi
bayd bi grilled fish
kibdit frākh scrambled eggs stakosa lobsters
with chopped chicken liver boree mullet
shakshooka ekhtaboot octopus
scrambled eggs with tāgin gambaree
minced beef potted shrimps
bayd bi gambaree prawns;
basterma scrambled eggs shrimps
with spicy cold meat roz bi gambaree
prawns and rice
feseekh salted fish
‘sardine’ sardines
ringa smoked herring

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toot mulberries
kalamari squid
sobayt squid
borto’ān bisora
morgan type of flat navel oranges
fish borto’ān oranges Menu Reader: Food
boltee type of khōkh peaches
freshwater fish similar to komitra pears
bream ananās pineapple
bar’oo’ plums
Fruit
rommān pomegranates
fowākih fruit safandee satsumas
toffāh apples farowla strawberries
mishmish apricots bateekh watermelon
mōz bananas
eshta custard apple Meat and Meat
balah dates Dishes
teen figs lahma meat
teen shōki Indian lahma ba’aree
fig beef
aenab large, sweet mokh brains
grapes lahma
aenab banātee kandooz braised beef
small, seedless grapes frākh chicken; grilled
gawāfa guava or stewed chicken, served
lamoon lemons; with vegetables
limes shakshooka
manga mango chopped meat and tomato
shammām melon sauce with an egg on top

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kabab chunks of
meat, usually lamb, grilled
earthenware pot (a tāgin)
arānib rabbit
with onions and tomatoes tomatoes and rice in an
bat duck sogo’ sausages
wizz goose lahma felay sirloin
hamām mashwi steak
grilled pigeon showerma slices of
Menu Reader: Food
nos farkha spit-roast lamb, served in
mashwaya half a grilled pitta bread
chicken kawarea sheep's
kalāwi kidney trotters
lahma dānee lahma oozee
lamb; mutton spring lamb
kibda liver rayash t-bone steak
kofta minced meat hamām mahshee
flavoured with spices and stuffed pigeon
onions, grilled on a skewer deek roomee
sheesh turkey
kabab wi kofta minced meat lahma btelloo veal
flavoured with spices and ‘escalope’
onions, grilled on a skewer bi telloo veal escalope
torlee mixed vegetable
casserole with chunks of Menu Terms
lamb or beef ‘menu’ menu
hamām pigeon lista menu
tāgin hamām mashrobat drinks
pigeon stewed with onions, atbā’el bayd

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egg dishes
mashwayat grills
and Pasta
atbā’ shar’aya Pulses, Grains
oriental dishes lobia black-eyed beans Menu Reader: Food
nashowayat rice, fool midamis
pasta and potatoes brown Egyptian beans,
anwaa similar to broad/fava beans
e-shorba soups fool brown Egyptian
halawayat sweets, beans, usually served with
desserts oil and lemon, sometimes
moqabbilāt starter also with onions, meat,
moshahyāt side eggs or tomato sauce
dishes hommos chickpeas;
houmous
Nuts, Seeds etc
freek cracked wheat,
lōz almonds bulgur wheat
gōz hind coconut falāfel deep-fried
bondo’ hazelnuts balls of spicy brown bean
fool soodanee purée
peanuts taamaya deep-fried
fozdo’ pistachio nuts balls of spicy brown bean
hommos roasted purée
chickpeas, sugar-coated or aads bigebba
dried and salted green lentils
lib roasted seeds (melon, fasolia haricot
sunflower etc) beans
aayn gamal walnuts aads lentils

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aads asfar red
molokhaya soup
lentils
(similar to spinach) with
makarōna macaroni made from Jew’s mallow
makarōna meat or chicken broth and
bel bashamil pasta baked in garlic
bechamel sauce, similar to fatta soup made from
lasagne meat stock with bread, rice
Menu Reader: Food
roz rice and tomato, sometimes
kosharee rice, lentils, with fried garlic and
noodles and onions with a vinegar
spicy tomato sauce shorbit
roz be shearaya tamatem tomato soup
rice with noodles shorbit khodār
makarōna vegetable soup
aīdan spaghetti
shaaraya vermicelli Starters
(Appetizers),
Soups Snacks, Side
Dishes and
shorba soup
anwāa Salads
e-shorba soups baba ghan-noog
shorbit frākh aubergine/eggplant purée
chicken soup with sesame-seed paste
shorbit aads hommos chickpeas;
lentil soup houmous
shorbit lahma taboola cracked wheat
meat soup and tomato salad with

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onion and parsley
salad
salatit zabādi cheese and tomato
cucumber and yogurt salad wara’ aenab vine
taamaya deep-fried leaves stuffed with minced Menu Reader: Food
balls of spicy bean purée meat and/or rice, herbs and
fool midamis pine nuts and flavoured
Egyptian brown bean purée with lemon juice
salāta khadra
green salad Vegetable Dishes
bidingān bidingān
mikhallil marinated mahshee stuffed aubergine/
aubergine/eggplant eggplant
salāta shar’ee koromb
mixed vegetable and onion mahshee stuffed cabbage
salad kosa
torshi pickles mahshaya stuffed
salāta salad courgettes/zucchinis
teheena sesame-seed filfil mahshee
paste mixed with spices, stuffed peppers
garlic and lemon, eaten batātis
with pitta bread mahshaya stuffed
salāta bayda potatoes
spiced yoghurt with herbs tāgin khodār
salatit tamātim vegetables baked with
tomato salad tomatoes
gibna
bayda bi tamātim white

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RG New EGYPTIAN ARABIC Menu Read247 247 12/04/2006 16:45:07

bamya okra
Vegetables
khodār vegetables basal onions
bisilla peas
kharshoof batātis potatoes
artichokes sabānekh spinach beet
bidingān aubergines, basal akhdar
eggplants spring onions, scallions
Menu Reader: Food
fool herātee dora sweet corn, maize
broad beans batātā sweet potatoes
koromb cabbage tamātim tomatoes
gazar carrots lift turnips
arnabeet wara’ aenab vine
cauliflower leaves
filfil hāmee gargir watercress
chillies figl white radish
kosa courgettes,
zucchinis
atta cucumber (large)
khiyār cucumber
(small)
tōm garlic
fasolia green beans
filfil akhdar
green peppers
filfil ahmar paprika;
red peppers
khass lettuce

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