Basic Arabic Phrases

To make your time in Egypt and Syria even more enjoyable, we recommend that you learn a few basic word of Arabic…Egyptians and Syrians delight in visitors trying to converse in their beautiful language and they will proudly complement you and even try to teach you more!

Most people in the Middle East, particularly those in the travel industry, speak some English and often several other languages also. In Alexandria, formerly one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, it is still not unusual to find people who speak, read and write 6 languages fluently.

Good morning    -   sabaH al-khayr      

Good evening    -   masaH al-khayr

Hello       -   ahlan

Welcome     -   ahlan wa-sahlan

Goodbye     -   ma salaama

Yes     -   ahwah/na:am

No      -   la  .. emphatic – LA’A

Please      -   minfaDl-ak(m)/ik(f)

Thankyou        -   shukran

Don’t mention it    -   afwan ..a response

Ok      -   maashi

Excuse me       -   law samat

May I?/Do you mind?-    mumkin

Sorry       -   maalesh

How are you?    -   kayfa Haalak/ik

Hotel       -   funduq

Restaurant      -   maT:am

Market      -   suuq

Museum      -   al-matHaf

Cairo       -   al-qaahirah

Egypt       -   miSr

The pyramids    -   al-ahraam

English     -   ingliizi

How much?       -   bi-kam?

Excellent       -   mumtaaz

Too expensive   -   ghaali/ghaalya owi!!

Too small       -   sughayyar/a

Big     -   kibeer/a

I am from..     -   ana min..

I speak English -   atakallam ingliizi

I’m sick        -   ana ayaana

I’m tired       -   ana ta’baana

Breakfast/lunch/dinner- iftar/ghada/asha

Water       -   mayya

Sugar       -   sukkar

Tea     -   shay/chai

Tea with mint   -   shay bi na na

Coffee      -   ahwa

With/without    -   bi/bidoon

Milk        -   laban

Juice       -   ‘aseer

Beautiful       -   gameel/a

I want      -   ana isa

I don’t want        -   ana mish isa

Go away!        -   imshi…imshi ba!

Taxi        -   taaksi

Now     -   dilwati

Later       -   ba’den

Good        -   kwaiss

Bad     -   mish kwaiss

Help        -   ilha’ni/saa:ada

Police      -   poorlice!!

Doctor      -   duktoor

Hospital        -   mustashfa

Where are the toilets?- fayn il tawaleet?

How many?       -   kam waaHid?

0   -   sifr

1   -   waaHid

2   -   ithnayn

3   -   thalaatha

4   -   arba’a

5   -   khamsa

6   -   sitta

7   -   saba’a

8   -   thamaanya

9   -   tis’a

10  -   ashara

20  -   ishreen

30  -   thalatheen

40  -   arba’een

50  -   khamseen

100 -   miyya

500 -   khomsomiya