Egyptian Arabic for your partner’s family

Talk to your partner’s family in their own language

If your partner is Egyptian, their family will speak Egyptian Arabic at the table, on the phone and at every visit. A few warm sentences in their dialect mean much more than any amount of textbook Arabic.

Start with the greetings below, then the family words. Egyptians use baba and mama for Dad and Mom at every age.

Meeting the family

• WelcomeAhlan wa sahlanأهلاً وسهلاًSaid to welcome a guest or someone who has just arrived. The reply is ahlan beek (to a man) or ahlan beeki (to a woman).
• Good morningSabah el kheyrصباح الخيرUntil around midday. The usual reply is sabah el noor, “morning of light”.
• How are you? (to a man)Ezzayak?إزيك؟The everyday “how are you?”. To a woman: ezzayek? A common answer is el hamdu lellah, kwayis, “thank God, fine”.
• Nice to meet youForsa saeedaفرصه سعيدهSaid when you first meet someone, often as you say goodbye. The reply is we ana asaad, “and I’m happier”.
• My name is ...Esmi ...إسمي ...Add your name after esmi.
• How is your day?Ezzay yoomak?إزاي يومك؟
• How are the kids?Ezzay el awlaad?إزاي الأولاد؟Asking after someone’s family is a normal part of greeting in Egypt.
• DadBabaبابا
• MomMamaماما

At the dinner table

• I want hot tea.Ana ayiz shay sokhnأنا عايز شاي سخنTea usually comes sweet. For no sugar, add men gheyr sokkar.
• I want to drink cold waterAna ayiz ashrab maya bardaأنا عايز أشرب ميه بارده
• I want to eat grilled meat.Ana ayiz akul lahma mashweyaأنا عايز آكل لحمه مشويه
• I want to eat meat with rice.Ana ayiz akul lahma we rozأنا عايز آكل لحمه و رز
• I want to eat fresh breadAna ayiz akul eysh tazaأنا عايز آكل عيش طازه

Saying goodbye

• See you laterHashoufak badeenهشوفك بعدينTo a woman: hashoufek badeen.
• Good nightLeyla saeedaليله سعيدهSaid when you part in the evening.
• GoodbyeSalaamسلامThe everyday “bye”.