Word of the day
feen el-hammam?
Where's the bathroom?
فين الحمام؟
1Must-knowGreet & be polite
ahlan
Hi / Hello
أهلاً
The easiest one. Use it with everyone.
shokran
Thank you
شكراً
Said 100 times a day. Hand on heart makes it warmer.
min fadlak
Please
من فضلك
To a woman, say min fadlik.
aywa / la'a
Yes / No
أيوة / لأ
la'a has a little catch, like 'uh-oh'.
la'a, shokran
No, thank you
لأ شكراً
Gold for politely passing on a vendor.
maalesh
No worries / never mind
معلش
The most Egyptian word there is.
yalla
Let's go / hurry up
يلا
Heard constantly — taxis, friends, everywhere.
2Magic wordsMake people light up
sabah el-kheir
Good morning
صباح الخير
kh = a soft throat-clear.
masa el-kheir
Good evening
مساء الخير
Switches in after about 2pm.
izzayyak?
How are you?
إزيك؟
To a girl/woman: izzayyik.
el-hamdu-lillah
I'm good (thank God)
الحمد لله
H is breathy, like fogging a mirror.
tamam
Great / all good
تمام
Add a thumbs-up.
law samaht
Excuse me
لو سمحت
To get attention before asking.
aasef
Sorry
آسف
A girl says asfa.
ma'a salama
Goodbye
مع السلامة
Literally 'go in safety'.
3Out & aboutMarkets, taxis, food
bekaam da?
How much is this?
بكام ده؟
Point and ask, then haggle with a smile.
ghali awi!
Too expensive!
غالي أوي!
Say it playfully — bargaining is a friendly game.
feen el-hammam?
Where's the bathroom?
فين الحمام؟
The most useful sentence on any trip.
mayya min fadlak
Water, please
مية من فضلك
Order anything: '[thing] min fadlak'.
betetkallem ingelizi?
Do you speak English?
بتتكلم إنجليزي؟
Ask it in Arabic and they'll already love you.
ana batkallem arabi shwayya
I speak a little Arabic
بتكلم عربي شوية
shwayya = a little.
mumken sora?
Can I take a photo?
ممكن صورة؟
Always ask before photographing people.
4Sound like a localSlang that gets laughs
gaamed!
Awesome! / Cool!
جامد!
Hard G like 'go'. Makes Egyptians grin.
helw awi
Really nice / sweet
حلو أوي
For food, a view, anything good.
ya sahbi
My friend / buddy
يا صاحبي
Tag onto thanks: 'shokran ya sahbi'.
aamel eh?
What's up?
عامل إيه؟
Answer: el-hamdu-lillah.
khalas
Done / enough / OK
خلاص
Super versatile word locals use constantly.
★The one to nailYour superpower sentence
ana ismi …, w-ana farhan eni fi Masr
My name is …, and I'm happy to be in Egypt
أنا اسمي لوكاس وأنا فرحان إني في مصر
If they learn only one sentence, make it this one.
🟦Squash bonusEgypt = squash capital
ana baleab squash
I play squash
أنا بلعب اسكواش
Egypt makes the world's best players — instant connection.
masr el-ahsan fel squash
Egypt is the best at squash
مصر الأحسن في الاسكواش
A guaranteed smile.
da laeb gaamed
That's an awesome player
ده لاعب جامد
Drop a name — Ali Farag, El Sherbini — and you've got a conversation.
Tap a card to hear it and to mark it got it— that's a point.