Ead Grammar v1

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Contents

Section I

Introduction

Essentials

Section II - Grammar

NounsPronouns

AdjectivesVerbs AdverbsPrepositionsConjunctions

Section III - Usage

CourtesiesQuestionsNegationOwnershipNumbersQuantitiesWhich one?

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Time

Section IV - How to say...

This section will be coming soon...

Appendices Arabic writing and pronunciationMore about verbs than you will ever want to knowIrregular verbs

About this documentCopyright

Introduction

This document is a concise reference to grammar for people who are learning the spoken arabic of Egypt. It is intended to be used alongside other study aids available free of charge atwww.lisaanmasry.com.

If you want to see a wider range of examples of Egyptian Arabic, check out the Lonely Planetpublication "Egyptian Arabic Phrasebook" by Siona Jenkins. It is a very useful pocket guide.

Getting started

This document is made up of three main sections:

essentials - an introduction to grammatical terms and to Egyptian arabic, pointing out the




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similarities and differences between Egyptian and Englishgrammar - a description of how to build sentences using the standard language elementsusage - commonly used words, phrases and expressions

A word about arabic writing

It is not difficult to learn to read and write in arabic, but it is an additional barrier to learning.Realistically, you are unlikely ever to see Egyptian Arabic in print: notices, packaging, adverts, websites etc are written in Modern Standard Arabic. And if you want to read Arabic handwriting, that's adifferent ballgame altogether. An understanding of the Arabic alphabet can sometimes be useful,but it is by no means essential.

The examples in this document are therefore written in both arabic and roman letters. There are two

ways of writing arabic using roman letters: the transliterated form tells you exactly how it would bewritten in arabic, and the pronounced form gives you an indication of how to pronounce it ineuropean letters. For the pronounced form, I have chosen to write things how and english personwould. My apologies to people whose first language is not english.

The pronunciation rules, the arabic alphabet and the transliterated and pronounced spelling areexplained in the section on arabic writing and pronunciation

The examples in the PDF version are this document are written in arabic and in pronounced form.

The essentials- Same same but different

In many cases, Egyptian uses the same structure as English: let's first look at some simpleexamples where the structure is similar, then move on to the differences.







Nouns and verbs

Here is a simple sentence in both english and Egyptian:

Ahmed loves sarahaacHmad biyiHibb saarao

Element English Egyptian

subject noun Ahmed'ahmad

د

محأ

verb lovesbiyihibb

ب

ح

ی

ب

object noun Sarahsaara

ة

ر

سا

In both the English and Egyptian examples, there are three words: two words are nouns (people,things or ideas) and the middle word is a verb, which explains what is happening. In both cases, thenoun before the verb (Ahmed) is the subject (the person or thing that is doing something) and thenoun after the verb (Sarah) is the object- is the person or thing that is having something done to it.

We can change the meaning by turning the words around, like this:

Sarah loves Ahmedsaarao bitHibb aacHmad








subject noun Sarahsaara

ة

ر

اس

verb lovesbitihibb

ب

ح

ت

ب

object noun Ahmed'ahmad

د

محأ

The nouns do not change, they have just moved: we know from the order of the words that Sarah isnow the subject- the one who is loving, and Ahmed is now the object, the one who is loved. Inenglish, the verb does not change at all, but in Egyptian it changes a little because the subject isnow female, not male. We will look in more detail at how exactly verbs change to match the subjectlater, in the section on verbs.

Subject and Object

The subject and object can be a name, for example Sarah and Ahmed, but there are some other possiblities as well. Here are some examples:


name Sarahsaara

ة

ر

سا







noun (specific) the manل

ج

لرا

ا

the womanissitt

ت

سل

ا

the cat

il'utta

ة ـط

قل

ا

the ideailfikra

ة

رك

فل

ا

noun(general) a manraagil

ل

ج

را

a woman sittت

س

a cat'utta

ة ـط

ق

an ideafikra

ة

رك

ف

noun(quantity) some menshwyit rigalaeة

ال

اج

ر ة

یوش

five menchamas rigalaال

اج

ر س

م

خ







any man'ay raagil

ل

ج

أي را

pronoun(subject) hehuwwa

و

ه

she hiyaي

ه

pronoun(object) him-uh

ه

ـ

her -ha

ه ـ

The word il- لـ

ا is corresponds to 'the' in english, but there is no equivalent to 'a'. The noun justappears on its own.

Note that adding il- لـ

ا to a word affects the pronunciation if it begins with a sun letter .

Pronouns

Pronouns are the short words like I and they that often replace nouns in spoken English andEgyptian, to make our speech clearer and more concise. Here is a simple example:

I love her aacnaa baHibbahaa








subject pronoun I'ana

نأ

verb lovebahibb

ب

ح

ب

object pronoun her -aha

ه

ـ

We can see that the subject is still at the start of the sentence and the object is still at the end of thesentence, but in Egyptian the object pronoun is attached to the end of the verb. Let's turn that roundand see what happens:

she loves mehiya bitiHibb-ny


subject pronoun shehiya

ي

ه

verb lovesbitihibb

ب

ح

ت

ب

object pronoun me-ny

ني ـ






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Woa, what happened there? Everything changed, in both English and Egyptian! The reason is that,in both languages, there are different forms of the pronoun for subject and object. There is a thirdform of the pronoun that indicates ownership (my/his/your/their/its) but we will save that until wecover pronouns in more detail. For now, let's just look at the subject and object pronouns.Remember that object pronouns are attached to the end of the verb.

Subject Object

English Egyptian English Egyptian

I'ana

نأ

me-ny

ني ـ

we 'ihnaنحإ

us -naن ـ

you(m)'inta

إنت

you(m)-ak

ك

ـ

you(f)'inti

إنت

you(f)-ik

ك

ـ

you(pl)'intu

إنتوا

you(pl)-ukw

كو

ـ

he/it(m)huwwa

و

ه

him/it(m)-uh

ه

ـ






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she/it(f)ي

ه

her/it(f)ه ـ

theyhumma

م

ه

them-uhum

م

ه

ـ

Here are a few more examples:

English Egyptian

I know him'ana Aaarif uh

ه

ف

ر

اع انأ

Ahmed knows him

'ahmad Aaarif uh

ه

ف

ر

اع دمحأ

Sarah knows himsaara Aaarifah

ه

ف

ر

اع ة ر

اس

I smoke cigarettes'ana bashrab sagaeyar

ر

ی

جا

س ب

رش

اب انأ

I write books'ana baktib kutub

توب

ك

ب

تك

با

أنا

Ahmed writes books'ahmad biyiktib kutub

توب

ك ب

تك

ی

ب أحمد

huwwa biyiktib kutub






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توب

ك ب

تك

ی

ب و

ه

Note that the subject pronoun can be omitted if the meaning is still clear

There is no 'is'

The word is/am/are is one of the most commonly use verbs in english.... but, if you are talking aboutsomething now (not the past or future), there is no word in Egyptian for 'is'. That's quite a bigdifference, but it's not too difficult. Let's take a look at some examples:

English Egyptian

I am tired'ana taAbaen

ن

ابع

ت أنا

Ahmed is Egyptian'ahmad masry

صري

م أحمد

the cats are in the gardenil'utat fy ilginynaة

نین

جل

ا

في

ط

ط

قل

ا

Sarah is available saara mawgudaة

دوجو

م ر ة

اس

today is fridayinnahaarda ilgumAa

ة

عم

جل

رد ة ا

اه

نل

ا





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this is my wife

تي

ار

م دي

my husband is at homeguzy fy ilbiyt

یت

بل

جوزي في ا

When you are talking about a past or future situation, then the Egyptian words kaen ن

اك - was andhaykun یكون

ه - will be are used. This will be covered in more detail later under verbs. Here aresome simple examples:

English Egyptian

I am tired'ana taAbaen

ن

ابع

ت أنا

Ahmed is tired'ahmad taAbaen

ن

ابع

ت أحمد

I was tired'ana kunt taAbaen

ن

عبا

ت

نت

ك

أنا

Ahmed was tired'ahmad kaen taAbaen

ن

ابع

ت ن

اك دمحأ

I will be tired'ana hakun taAbaen

ن

ابع

ت كون

ه أنا

'ahmad hayikun taAbaen





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ن

ابع

ت كون

ی

ه أحمد

There is no 'have'

The verb have is widely used in English, but there is no equivalent verb in Egyptian. Have is usedin many ways in English, and in Egyptian a different word is used for each meaning.

Meaning English Egyptian

have with me I have matchesmaAaya kabryt

بریت

ك عیا

م

own I have a houseAandy biyt

یت

ب ندي

ع

must I have to golaezim 'aruwh

وح

أر

م

ز

ال

eat, etc I will have dinner (I will dine)

hatAashsha

شا

عت

ه

take I will have a nap(I will take a nap)

haechuz taAsylaة

لیسع

ت

ذ

خ

ها

Masculine, feminine, plural

Like many european languages, all Egyptian nouns are either masculine or feminine. Here are





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some examples:

Gender English Arabic

masculine bookkitaeb

ب

ات

ك

masculine dogkalb

لب

ك

masculine manraagil

ل

ج

را

masculine biytbiyt

یت

ب

masculine milklaban

ن

ب

ل

masculine peacesalaem

م

ال

س

masculine teacher mudarrisس

ر

دم

feminine teacher mudarrisa

ة

س

ر

د

م








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English Arabic

Singular Plural Singular Plural

book bookskitaeb

ب

ات

ك

kutubب

ت

ك

dog dogs kalbلب

ك

kilaebب

ال

ك

man menraagil

ل

ج

را

riggalaال

اج

ر

child childrentifl

فل

ط

'atfael

ل

افطأ

house housebiyt

یت

ب

buyutیوت

ب

milklaban

ن

ب

ل

peace salaemم

ال

س

teacher(m) teachersmudarris

س

ر

دم

mudarrisynسین

ر

دم

mudarrisa mudarrisaet






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ة

س

ر

د م ت اس

ر

دم

idea ideasfikra

ة

رك

ف

'afkaar ر

اكفأ

table tables

tarabyza

بیز

ار

ت

ة

tarabyzaet

ت

ازیب

ار

ت

workshop workshopswarsha

ة

شر

و

wirashش

ر

و

woman womensitt

ت

س

sattaetت

اس

daughter girl

daughtersgirls

bintنت

ب

banaetت

نا

ب

fire firesnaar

ر

انnyraan

ن

ارین

head headsraas

س

ار

ru'wus

ر وس

In english, the majority of plural nouns are the same as the singular, with a suffix of -s for examplebook/books, but there are a small number of words with unusual plurals, for example man/men andchild/children. In Egyptian, feminine nouns that end in -a ة

ـ have a very straightforward plural- or -atت

اـ: plurals of masculine nouns vary quite a lot- the vowels move about a bit but the consonants

remain the same You will need to learn them







remain the same. You will need to learn them.

Note that, both in english and Egyptian, some words do not have a plural- for example milk andpeace.

Adjectives

Adjectives are words that describe something- for example, good or small. In english, adjectives donot change, but in Egyptian there are different forms of an adjective for masculine, feminine andplural. Here are some examples:

English Egyptian

he is tiredhuwwa taAbaen

ن

ابع

ت و

ه

she is tiredhiya taAbaena

ة

ن

عبا

ت

ي

ه

they are tiredhumma taAbanyn

نین

ابع

ت هم

he is goodhuwwa kuwayis

س

ی

و

ك و

ه

she is goodhiya kuwayisa

ة

س

ی

و

ك

ي

ه

humma kuwayisyn







they are goodhumma kuwayisyn

سین

ی

و

ك هم

The good news is that the majority of adjectives require just a different ending for feminine- -a ة

ـ

and plural -yn forms. We will cover this in more detail in the section onـین adjectives

Adverbs

Just as adjectives describe a noun, adverbs say something about a verb - where, when, how often,how much etc. They can also be used to describe the extent of an adjective (very good) or evenanother adverb (very slowly). Many English adverbs end with -ly. Usage of adverbs is very similar in English and Egyptian: here are some examples

describing English Egyptian

verb I will come back soon'ana hargaA baAd shuwaya

ة

ی

و

ش عد

ب ع

جر

ه أنا

verb Ahmed walks quickly'ahmad biyimshy bisuraAa

ة

ع

ر

س

ب مشي

ی

ب أحمد

adjective Ahmed is extremely clever 'ahmad shaatir giddaen

ا

د

ج

ر

ط

شا

د

محأ

adverb Ahmed drives reasonably fast'ahmad biyisu' bisuraAa maA'ula

ة

لوقع

م ة

ع

ر

س

ب سوق

ی

ب أحمد

Prepositions







Prepositions

In English, prepositions link to a noun. This is possible in Egyptian, but prepositions are alsocommonly used in place of verbs.

In Egyptian, prepositions are widely used in place of verbs, for example have is usually expressed

using the prepositions Aand ند

ع (own) and maAa ع

م (have with you): see ownership for moreinformation. Here are some examples of prepositions:


after baAd

عد

ب

she came after dinner hiya gaet baAd ilAashaa'

ء

شا

عل

ا

عد

ب

ت

جا

ي

ه

behind waraر

و

the garden is behind the house ilginyna wara ilbiytیت

بل

را ا

و ة

نین

جل

ا

have Aand

ند

ع

I have a house in CairoAandy biyt fy il'aehira

ة

ر

ه

لقا

ا يف تی

ب ندي

ع

there isfy

في

there is water fy mayae

ة

ایم في

Conjunctions

A conjunction joins two clauses to make a much more complex sentence. Here is an example:

I want to make bread but I don't have enough flour

Aaayiz aacAamil Aiysh lakin maAandysh diqyq kifaayao







Aaayiz aacAamil Aiysh lakin maAandysh diqyq kifaayao

Part English Egyptian

Main clause I want to make bread Aaeyiz 'aAamil Aiyshیش

ع ل

م

عأ ز

ی

عا

Conjunction but lakinن

ك

ل

Second clause I don't have enough flour maAandysh di'y' kifaeyaة

ی

فا

ك قیق

د شیدن

ع

م

In English, the same word is often used for a preposition and a conjunction, but in Egyptian it may

be different. Sometimes it is only necessary to add the word ma م to convert a preposition to aconjunction.


preposition(dinner is a noun)

wash your hands before dinner 'iGsil iydyk 'abl ilAashaa'ء

اش

عل

بل ا

ق یدیك

ا ل

سغإ

conjunction(you eat is a clause-it contains a verb)

wash your hands before you eat'iGsil iydyk 'abl ma taekulل

ك

تا

ما

بل

ق

یدیك

ا

ل

سغإ

Nouns

A noun represents a person, thing or concept. Here are some examples:







A noun represents a person, thing or concept. Here are some examples:

Type English Arabic

person Ahmed'ahmad

د

محأ

person man raagilل

ج

را

person player laeAib

ب

ع

ال

thing leather gild

لد

ج

concept wisdomhikma

ة

مك

ح

concept appointmentmyAaed

د

اعیم

Masculine and feminine

In arabic, nouns can be masculine or feminine. This does not necessarily mean that they belong tomale and female persons. Most words that end with -a ة

ـ are feminine. In addition, there are a smallnumber of words that do not end in -a ة

ـ that are also feminine. Some of these words are obvious:others less so. Here are some examples of feminine nouns:







English Arabic

ideafikraة

رك

ف

woman

sitt

ت

س

daughter bint

نت

ب

firenaar

ر

ان

head raasس

ار

Plurals

If there is more than one of something, the noun becomes a plural. For many nouns, only the ending

changes.

Gender Ending Singular Plural

masculine-yn

ین ـ

muhaesibب

س

حا

م

muhaesibyn

بین

س

حا

م

f i i-at muhasba muhaesibat







feminineت

ا ـ ة

بس

حا

م ت

اب

س

حا

م

Occupations

Generally speaking, the plural for trades ends with either -yn or -ayaـین ة

ي

ـ , but for professions

there are different endings for men -yn and women -atـین ت

اـ.

English Singular Plural

carpenter naggaar

ر

اج

ن

naggaar yn

رین

اج

ن

greengrocer chudary

ري

ض

خ

chudariyya

ة

یی

ر

ض

خ

male teacher mudarris

س

ر

دم

mudarrisyn

سین

ر

دم

female teacher mudarrisa

ة

س

ر

د

م

mudarrisat

ت

سا

ر

د

م

Collective nouns

In english, fish can mean pieces of fish or one fish or several: the former is described as acollective noun. In Egyptian, many foods- and some other things- have a collective noun. You can

talk about one item, for example one fish, by adding -a ة

ـ ending







p y g g

English Collective one

eggs

biyd

یض

ب

biyda

ة

ضی

ب

fishsamak

ك

م

س

samaka

ة

ك

م

س

fliesdibbaen

ن

ا

د

dibbaena

ة

ن

ا

د

Many materials- things that can be used to make something from, like leather or cloth, are treated inthe same way: you add -a ة

ـ to give the meaning a piece of...

English Collective a piece

wood chashabب

ش

خ

chashabaة

ب

ش

خ

soapsabun

بون

اص

sabuna

ة

نوب

صا

P i







Pairs

The egyptian word for shoes (gazma ة

مز

ج ) relates to a pair. For a single shoe, it is necessary tosay fardit gazma ة ج زم ة

در ف.

English Egyptian

shoesgazma

ة

مز

ج

sockssharaab

ب

ار

ش

glovesguwantyنتي

وا

ج

Duals

If you want to talk about two people, or specify a quantity of two, see the section on two in numbers.

If you want to talk about two things (not people or quantities), you should use the dual suffix -yn .ـینThis is equivalent to a couple which can mean exactly two, or approximately two. There are slightlydifferent forms for feminine nouns and words ending in -y :. Here are some examplesـي

English Egyptian Suffix English Egyptian







g gyp g gyp

book (m)kitaeb

ب

ات

ك

-ynین ـ

two books kitaabyn

chair (ends with y)

kursyرسي

ك

-tynتین ـ

two chairs kursiyyin

minute (f)di'y'aة

قیق

د

-iyyinن

يي

ـ

a couple of minutes diqiqtyn

Ownership

One way to express belonging is to add a posessive pronoun to the end of a noun. See ownershipfor information about other methods. Here are some examples:

English on its own with pronoun

his bookkitaeb

ب

تا

ك

kitaebuh

ه

ب

تا

ك

my wife does not exist on its own miraatyتي

ار

م

your(m) ideafikra

ة

كر

ف

fikritak

ك

ت

كر

ف

Compound nouns







You can describe a noun using another noun, for example to say what material it is made from. Thequalifying noun is always singular. If the main noun is preceded by il- لـ

ا the qualifying noun is alsopreceded by il- لـ

ا . Note that adding il- لـ

ا to a word affects the pronunciation if it begins with a sunletter .

English Arabic

a plastic bagkys blastik

ك

تس

كیس بال

the plastic bagilkys ilblastik

ك

تس

لبال

ا سیكل

ا

plastic bags'akyaes blastik

ك

تس

بال

س

أكیا

the plastic bagsil'akyaes ilblastikك

تس

لبال

ا س

ایكأل

ا

Pronouns

Pronouns are short words that are used to replace nouns in spoken English and Arabic, to makeour speech clearer and more concise. In this example, Ahmed is the noun and He is the pronoun:

Ahmed has a dog. He walks with it every dayH d A d h k lb h bi it h hY A h k l







aacHmad Aand-uh kalb wa huwwa biyitmashshY maAa-uh kul ywm

There are four main groups of pronoun:

personal pronouns - I, you, he, etcdemonstrative pronouns - this, thatindefinite pronouns - somebody, anywhererelative pronouns - who, which, that

Personal pronouns

In English, there are four versions of the personal pronoun (he, him, his, himself): in Egyptian, there

is an additional version (to him).

English Egyptian Form

hehuwwa

و

ه

subject

him -uhه

ـ

object

to him-luh

ه

ل ـ

indirect object

-

his posessive







ه ـ

himself nafsuh

ه

سف

ن

reflexive

In Egyptian, there are separate forms of you for masculine, feminine and plural, but there is no

neuter (it): instead, it is necessary to use the he or she form, depending on the gender of the noun

Subject pronouns

A subject is the noun that appears before the verb- the person or thing that is doing something.

I like to read

aacnaa baaHib aacktibThe subject pronouns are:

English Egyptian

I'ana

نأ

we'ihna

نحإ

you(m)'inta

إنت

you(f)'inti







y ( )إنت

you(pl)'intu

إنتوا

he/it(m)

huwwa

و

ه

she/it(f)hiya

ي

ه

theyhumma

م

ه

Personal pronouns are not needed with verbs, as it is clear from the verb, but it is common to usethem, especially for emphasis. They are often used with participles.

Object pronoun suffixes

You can attach an object pronoun (for example me or him) as a suffix to an imperative, verb or participle. to refer to the object.

give me the knife

iicddyny iil-sikkynao







The object suffixes are similar to posessive suffixes on nouns:

English Suffix

me

-ni

ن ـ

us-na

ن ـ

You(m)-ak

ك

ـ

You(f)-ik

ك

ـ

You(pl)-kum

م

ك ـ

Him/it(m)-u

Her/if(f)-ha

ه ـ

Them-hum

م

ه ـ

م هـ ـ

If th i I b f th l t t d th ffi t t ith l th i i d d







If there is an I before the last consonant and the suffix starts with a vowel, the -i- is dropped, so...

possessive pronoun suffix

Things that would be expressed using a posessive pronoun (my, your... etc) in English can be

handled using a possessive suffix attached to the noun, or using bitaA ع

ت

ب . The latter is used for most imported words.

what (is) your name?

iicsm-ak iicyh?

The posessive pronouns themselves are pretty easy to learn, but when the pronouns are attachedto nouns, the vowels do a little dance to make sure that you don't get three consonants in a row.Here are examples for nouns that end with one or two consonants:

Nouns ending in two consonants

English after -C after -CC

saahibب

ح

صا

kalbلب

ك

my-y

ي ـ

saahibyبي

ح

صا

-yي ـ

kalbyلبي

ك

our -na saahibna -ina kalbina







ن ـ نب

ح

صا ن

ـ ن

بل

ك

your(m)-ak

ك

ـ

saahibakك

ب

ح

صا

-akك

ـ

kalbakك

بل

ك

your(f)

-ik

ك

ـ

saahibik

ك

ب

ح

صا

-ik

ك

ـ

kalbik

ك

بل

ك

your(pl)-kum

م

ك ـ

saahibkumم

كب

ح

صا

-ukumم

ك

ـ

kalbukumم

ك

بل

ك

his/its(m)-uh

ه

ـ

saahibuhه

ب

ح

صا

-uhه

ـ

kalbuhه

بل

ك

her/its(f) -haه ـ

saahibhaهب

ح

صا

-ahaه

ـ

kalbahaه

بل

ك

their -hum

م

ه ـ

saahibhumم

هب

ح

صا

-uhumم

ه

ـ

kalbuhumم

ه

بل

ك

For nouns ending in -a ة

ـ , the -a ة

ـ is replaced by -t or -itـت ت

ـ and then the ending is added.

Nouns ending in -a ة

ـ

English after -C after -CC

kura shanta

ة

ر و ك ة ط ن ش







my-ty

تي ـ

kurtyكورتي

-ityتي

ـ

shantityتي

طن

ش

our -itnaنت

ـ

kuritnaنت

كور

-itnaنت

ـ

shantitnaنت

طن

ش

your(m)-tak

ك

ت ـ

kurtakك

تروك

-itakك

ت

ـ

shantitakك

ت

طن

ش

your(f)-tik

ك

ت ـ

kurtikك

تروك

-itikك

ت

ـ

shantitikك

ت

طن

ش

your(pl)-itkum

م

كت

ـ

kuritkum

م

كت

كور

-itkum

م

كت

ـ

shantitkum

م

كت

طن

ش

his/its(m)-tuh

ه

ت ـ

kurtuhه

تروك

-ituhه

ت

ـ

shantituhه

ت

طن

ش

her/its(f)-itha

هت

ـ

kurithaهت

كور

-ithaهت

ـ

shantithaهت

طن

ش

their -ithumم

هت

ـ

kurithumم

هت

كور

-ithumم

هت

ـ

shantithumم

هت

طن

ش

Nouns that end in alif -a ـ are treated almost like feminine nouns, ie the alif is replaced by -it ت

اـand then the ending is added.

Nouns ending in -y or -wـي . are listed belowـو







Note that for most words ending in -w , for example baltwـو لتو

ب , one would normally use bitaA ع

ت

ب

rather than a posessive suffix.

Nouns ending in a vowel

English -a ـ

-yي ـ

-wو ـ

vylaڤیال

kursyكورسي

Aadwدو

ع

my-ya

ي ـ

vylity

تي

الیڤ

kursya

یسروك

Aadwy

دوي

ع

our -na

ن ـ

vylitnaنت

ڤیال

kursynaنیسروك

Aadwnaنود

ع

your(m)-k

ك ـ

vylitakك

ت

ڤیال

kursykكورسیك

Aadwkدوك

ع

your(f) -kiك ـ

vylitikك

ت

ڤیال

kursykyكورسیكي

Aadwikك

دو

ع

your(pl)-kum

م

ك ـ

vylitkumم

كت

ڤیال

kursykumم

كیسروك

Aadwkumم

كود

ع

his/its(m)ه ـ ه ت ال ی ڤ ه ی س ر و ك ه و د ع







her/its(f)-ha

ه ـ

vylithaهت

ڤیال

kursyhaهیسروك

Aadwhaهود

ع

their -hum

م

ه ـ

vylithum

م

هت

ڤیال

kursyhum

م

هیسروك

Aadwhum

م

هود

ع

Father and brother 'abb and brother 'achchأب - become 'abwأخ - and brother 'achwأبوـ when aأخوـpossessive pronoun is added.

English father aacbb

brother aacKK

my'abwya

یوبأ

'achwyaیوخأ

our 'abuna

نوبأ

'achunaنوخأ

your(m)

'abuk

أبوك

'achuk

أخوك

your(f)'abuky

أبوكي

'achukyأخوكي

'abukum 'achukum

م ك و ب أ م ك و خ أ







his/its(m)'abuh

أبوه

'achuhأخوه

her/its(f)'abuha

هوبأ

'achuhaهوخأ

their 'abuhum

م

هوبأ

'achuhumم

هوخأ

reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself)

Reflexive pronouns can be used after a noun or a verb.

English Egyptian

I can look after myself haechud baly min nafsy

فسي

ن ن

م لي

اب دخ

ها

The man himself irraagil nafsuh

ه

سف

ن ل

ج

لرا

اHe did it by himself

huwwa Aaemalha binafsuhه

سف

ن

ب له

م

و عا

ه

Demonstrative pronouns

These are the words that you use when you want to point at something.







English Egyptian

this (man)dah

ه

د

this (woman, thing) dyدي

those (men)dul

دول

those (women,things)dyh

دیه

If you want to use one of these with a noun, to indicate which one, (for example, this book), youshould use a Demonstrative adjective. Fortunately, in both English an Egyptian, the demonstrativepronouns are the same as the demonstrative adjectives. Note that, when using demonstrativeadjectives in Egyptian, the noun retains its il- لـ

ا prefix.

demonstrative English Egyptian

pronoun how much is thisbikaem dah

ه

د م اك

ب

pronoun how much is this bookbikaem ilkitaeb dahه

د ب

ات

كل

كا م ا

ب

ه ب م ب

Indefinite pronouns







de te p o ou s

These are words like anybody, something etc. In Egyptian, these are made up of two words, butthey are used in exactly the same way as in English.

English Egyptian

somebodyhadd

د

ح

anybody'ay hadd

د

ح أي

nobody wala haddد

ح ال

و

somethinghaega

ة

ج

حا

anything'ay haega

ة

ج

أي حا

nothingwala haega

ة

ج

ال حا

و

somewheremakaen

ن

كا

م

anywhere'ay makaen

ن

اك

م أي







nowherewala makaen

ن

كا

م

ال

و

Relative pronoun

The relative pronoun illy ي

ا is used to represent that, who and which

the left turn that is coming (ie the next left)iil-yimyn iilly gayy

the man who lives hereiil-raagil iilly saakin hinaa

Adjectives

Adjectives can be used in two ways: to describe something, or to specify which one of several youare talking about.

English Egyptiandescribe a cherry is red

kiryza hamraرم

ح

ة

ریز

ك

describe the ball is redilkura hamra

رم

ح لكور ة

ا

describe I want a red ball Aaeyiz kura hamra

رم

ح

ة

كور

یز

عا







specify I want the red ball Aaeyiz ilkura ilhamra

ة

رم

حل

لكور ة ا

ا ز

ی

عا

describe the book is big

ilkitaeb kibyr

بیر

ك ب

ات

كل

ا

describe I have read a big book'araa't kitaeb kibyr

بیر

ك

ب

تا

ك

ءت

را

ق

specify I have read the big book'araa't ilkitaeb ilkibyr

ب ا

ات

كل

ءت ا

ار

ق

بير

كل

describe the man is blindirraagil 'aAma

ل أعمى

ج

لرا

ا

describe a blind man is outsideraagil 'aAma barra

را

ب

أعمى

ل

ج

را

specify the blind man is outside ir raagil il'a Ama barraرا

ب ألعمى

ا ل

ج

لرا

ا

In English, when you use an adjective to specify which one of several you are talking about, you putthe word the in front of the adjective. It is almost the same in Egyptian, but you put il- لـ

ا beforeboth the adjective and the noun: the il- لـ

ا before the adjective is the one that means that the

adjective is specifying which one you mean. Note that adding il- لـ

ا to a word affects thepronunciation if it begins with a sun letter .







Masculine, feminine, plural

In english, there is only one form of an adjective, but in Egyptian, most adjectives must agree ingender and number with the noun that they relate to. Here are some examples:

English Egyptian

the man is clever irraagil shaatir

ر

ط

ل شا

ج

لرا

ا

the woman is clever issitt shaatr ah

ه

رط

اش ت

سل

ا

the children are clever il'atfael shaatir yn

ل شا

افطأل

ارين

ط

The following table shows some typical feminine and plural forms:

English Egyptian

masculine feminine plural

-ah -yn

ه ـ ن ی ـ

kibyr kibyrah kubaar







bigkibyr

بیر

ك

kibyr ah

ه

ریب

ك

kubaar ر

ابك

goodkuwayis

س

ی

و

ك

kuwayisah

ه

س

ی

و

ك

kuwayisyn

سین

ی

و

ك

red'ahmar

ر

محأ

hamr ah

ه

رم

ح

humr مر

ح

easysahl

هل

س

sahlah

ه

له

س

sahlyn

هلین

س

nice

latyf

طیف

ل

latyf ah

ه

فیط

ل

lutaaf

ف

اط

ل

freefaady

ضي

افfaadyah

ه

یض

فا faadyyin

ن

ییض

فا

brownbunny

ي

ب

bunnyي

ب

bunnyي

ب

The feminine form of most adjectives is made by adding the suffix -ah ه

ـ , and the plural is formed byadding the suffix -yn . Note that adding a suffix may affect theـین pronunciation.

We will look at some of the common exceptions later. Note that some words, for example brownbunny ي

ب are invariable- you use the same form for masculine, feminine and plural.

Countries







A country name is usually converted to an adjective by adding -y . This can be used to refer to aـيperson, a language or something from a country.

English Country m f pl

-yي ـ

-iyaة

ي

ـ

iyyinن

یی

Egyptmasr

صر

م

masryصري

م

masriyaة

ی

صر

م

masriyyinن

یی

صر

م

Greeceilyunaen

ن

انویل

ا

yunany

ني

انوی

yunaeniya

ة

ی

ن

یونا

yunaeniyyin

ن

یی

ن

یونا

Italy'iytalya

یل

إیطا

'iytalyلي

إیطا

'iytalyaة

یل

إیطا

'iytalyyinن

ییل

إیطا

Swedenissiwydوید

سل

ا siwydy

ویدي

س

siwydyaة

یدیو

س

siwydyyinن

ییدیو

س

the North ishshimaelل

ام

شل

ا shimaly

لي

ام

ش

shimaeliyaة

ی

ل

ما

ش

shimaeliyyinن

یی

ل

ما

ش

Europe'uurubba

ا

رو

أ'uurubby

ي

ورو

أ 'uurubbiyaة

یـورو

أ

'uurubbiyyinور

أ

ن

يي

ب

Irregular ones...

ilhind hindy hindya hunud







Indiailhind

ند

هل

ا

hindyندي

ه

hindyaة

یدن

ه

hunudنود

ه

America'amryka

كیرمأ

'amryky (people)أمریكي'amrikany ني

اك

رمأ (things)amrikiyaة

ی

ك

مر

اamrykaen

ن

اكیرم

ا

For some countries eg England, the adjective is made from the collective noun. Here are someexamples:

English Country m f collective noun

-y

ي ـ

-iya

ة

ي

ـ

England'ingiltira

ر

تل

جنإ

'ingilyzyلیزي

جنإ

'ingilyziyahه

ی

لیز

جنإ

'ingilyzلیز

جنإ

Arabia Aaraby

بي

ر

ع

Aarabyبي

ر

ع

Aarabiyahه

ی

ب

ر

ع

Aarabب

ر

ع

Russiarusya

یسور

rusyروسي

rusyahه

یسور

rusروس

Germany'almanya

ین

ألما

'almanyني

ألما

'almanyahه

ین

ألما

'almaenن

ألما

Spain 'asbanyaین

أسبا

'asbanyني

ابسأ

'asbanyahه

ین

أسبا

'asbaenن

ابسأ







For countries ending in two consonants and alif, the ending is -awy وي

اـ.

English Country m f pl

-awyوي

ا ـ-awiya

ة

ی

و

ا ـ-awiyyin

ن

ایی

و

ا ـ

Austriainnimsaسم

نل

ا nimsaewy

وي

اسم

ن

nimsawiyyahه

یی

و

سم

ن

nimsawiyyinن

یی

و

سم

ن

France

faransa

سن

ر

ف

faransaewy

وي

اسن

ر

ف

faransawiyah

ه

ی

و

سن

ر

ف

faransawiyyin

ن

یی

و

سن

ر

ف

One common usage of the country adjective is to talk about a person from that country. Here aresome examples:

English Egyptian

an Egyptian man waehid masryصري

م

د

ح

وا

an Egyptian womanwahda masrya

ة

یرص

م حد ة

او

'

an englishman زي

ل

جنإ د

ح

وا

wahda 'ingilyzya







an englishwomanwahda ingilyzya

ة

یزیل

جنإ حد ة

او

a frenchmanwaehid faransawy

وي

سن

ر

ف

د

ح

وا

a frenchwomanwahda faransawiyaة

ی

و

سن

ر

ف حد ة

او

The feminine and plural are used only for people. For inanimate objects, the masculine form only isused. Here are some examples:

English Egyptian

a greek boatmarkib yunany

ني

انوی ب

كر

م

French cheesegibna faransaewy

وي

نسا

ر

ف

ة

نب

ج

american carsilAarabiyaet 'amrikany

كا

رمأ ت

ای

ب

ر

عل

ا ني

Colours

The main colours follow a pattern. Here are some examples:







English m f pl

C=consonant aCCaC CaCCah CuCC

white'abyad

ض

یبأ

biyda

ضی

ب

biyd

یض

ب

black'iswid

د

إسو

sudaدوس

suwdود

س

yellow'asfar

ر

فصأ

safraرف

ص

sufr فر

ص

blue'azra'

ق

رزأ

zar'ahه

قر

ز

zur'رق

ز

green'achdar ر

ضخأ

chadraرض

خ

chudr ضر

خ

red

'ahmar

ر

محأ

hamra

رم

ح

humr

مر

ح

Colours derived from a material or thing just have a -y added. They are invariable: the feminineـيand plural form is the same as the masculine form.

English m/f/pl

brown bunny







coffeeي

ب

goldenzahaby

بي

ه

ذ

silver faddyي

ض

ف

copper nahasy

سي

اح

ن

light greyrumady

دي

ام

ر

dark greylead

rusaasyصي

صا

ر

dark greenolive

zytyزیتي

dark blue kuhlyحلي

ك

pale bluelabany

ني

ب

ل

dark redwine

nibytyبیتي

ن







chestnutkastanae'yy

ئي

انتس

ك

light brown

honey

Aasaly

لي

س

ع

purpleviolet

banafsigyجي

سف

ن

ب

orangeburtu'aly

لي

اقتر

ب

deep purpleaubergine

bitanganyني

اجن

ت

ب

Personal attributes

Personal attributes or disabilities follow the same pattern as the basic colours:

English m f pl

C=consonant aCCaC CaCCah CuCC

foolish'ahbal

ل

بهأ

hablaة

لب

ه

hublبل

ه

squinting 'ahwalل

وحأ

hulaa'ء

الوح

huwlول

ح







bald'a'raA

ع

أقر

'arAaة

عر

ق

'urAرع

ق

bald'aslaA

ع

لصأ

salAaa'

ء

اعل

ص

sulA

لع

ص

fair skinblonde

'ash'ar ر

قشأ

sha'araة

ر

ق

ش

shu'r قر

ش

dark skinbrunette

'asmar ر

مسأ

samraة

مر

س

sumr مر

س

frizzy haired 'akratت

ركأ

kartaة

تر

ك

kurtرت

ك

left handed'ashwal

ل

أشو

shulaة

لوش

shulشول

right handed'ayman

ن

میأ

yimna

ة

نم

ی

yumn

من

ی

lame'aArag

ج

رعأ

Aargaة

جر

ع

Aurgرج

ع

blind'aAma

أعمى

Aamyaة

یم

ع

Aumyمي

ع

deaf 'atrashش

رطأ

turshaa'ء

اشر

ط

turshرش

ط







deaf 'asam

م

صأ

samaa'ء

ما

ص

summم

ص

mute'achras

س

رخأ

charsa

ة

سر

خ

churs

رس

خ

Slightly, Very... Extremely...

The following adverbs can be placed after the adjective:

English Egyptian

slightlyshwaya

ة

ی

شو

moderatelybi'iAtidael

ل

اد

تعإ

ب

very 'awyوي

ق

extremelychaalis

ص

ل

خا

giddaen

دا

ج

Aail'achir







ر

خأل

ا

ع

too'awy

وي

ق

Here are some examples:

English Egyptian

the car is slightly damagedilAarabiya 'itdarrarit shwaya

ة

ی

شو

ت

ر

ر

ضتإ

ة

ی

ب

ر

عل

ا

the carpet was very expensiveissigaeda kaenit Galya 'awy

ة

یل

ت غا

ن

جا د ة كا

سل

ا وي

ق

he is extremely richhuwwa Gany giddaen

دا

ج ني

غ و

ه

this house is too big ilbiyt dih kibyr 'awy

وي

ق

بیر

ك

ه

د

یت

بل

ا

You may have noticed that the word qawy has two meanings: very and too. This sometimescauses confusion when Egyptians speak english: they say, for example, too much when they

mean very much.

Comparatives







In english we take an adjective like big and add suffixes -er to make comparative bigger and -estto make the superlative biggest. In Egyptian there is one word, a comparative, that is used for both.The context indicates the meaning.

We can compare two things using min ن

م :

English Egyptian

Ahmad is taller than me'ahmad 'atwal minny

ي

م ل

وطأ دمحأ

he is more stupid than I thought huwwa 'aGba min makunt faekir ر

ك

نت فا

ك

م ن

م و أغبى

ه

We can also make comparison without specifying the second thing like this:

English Egyptian

Ahmad is a lot taller 'ahmad 'atwal bikityr

تیر

ك

ب ل

وطأ دمحأ

the weather will be a little better tomorrowilgaww haykun 'ahsan shuwaya bukra

ة

رك

ب ة

ی

و

ش ن

سحأ یكون

ح و

جل

ا

For the superlative (best, biggest) the comparative is used immediately before a noun:

English Egyptian







English Egyptian

mohammed is the tallest studentmuhammad 'atwal taalib

ب

ل

ل طا

وطأ د ـم

ح

م

he is the youngest boy huwwa 'asGar waladد

ل

و

ر

غصأ

و

ه

the tallest student is 1m90ittaalib il'atwal tuluh mitr 1 wa 90 santy

٩٠ و ١ رت

م ل طولوه

وطأل

ا ب

ل

لطا

انتي

س

the most expensive drink is 20 pounds ilmashrub il'aGla 20 ginyhنیه

ج ٢٠ ىلغأل

ا بورش

مل

ا

this is the prettiest dress in the shopdih 'ahla fustaen fy ilmahal

ل

ح

مل

ن في ا

اتس

ف ه أحلى

د

it was the best day in my lifekaen 'ahsan yum fy hayaty

تي

یا

ح

في

یوم

ن

سحأ

ن

كا

Making comparatives

As you may have noticed from the previous examples, the comparative is often derived from theadjective as follows:

English adjective comparative

bigkibyr 'akbar







bigبیر

ك ر

بكأ

easysahl

هل

س

'ashalل

هسأ

talltawyl

ویل

ط

'atwalل

وطأ

classyraqy

قي

ار

'arqaأرقى

exceptions

goodkuwayyisس

یی

و

ك

'ahsanن

سحأ

For adjectives with two consonants and ending in -y or -wـي , the final letter changes to alif-layenaـو-a .ـى


prettyhilw

لو

ح

'ahlaأحلى

Galy 'aGla

لي

ا غ ى ل غ أ

loud/high Aaly 'aAla







لي

اع أعلى

richGany

ني

غ

'aGnaأغنى

healthysahy

حي

ص

no comp

stupidGaby

بي

غ

'aGbaأغبى

clever zaky

كي

ذ

'azka

أذكى

For adjectives with three consonants where the last two consonants are the same, the middle vowelis replaced with a fatha -a .


serious gaddد

ج

no comp

newgidyd

دید

ج

'agdadد

دجأ

important muhimmم

ه

م

'ahammم

هأ

Aadyd







numerous Aadyd

دید

ع

no comp

luckymahzuz

حظوظ

م

no comp

popular mahbub

حبوب

م

'ahabbب

حأ

lightchafyf

فیف

خ

'achaff ف

خأ

delicious lazyzذیذ

ل

'alazzذ

لأ

few'alayil

ل

ی

ل

ق

'a'aelل

أقا

In English, it is not possible to make a comparative in the usual way from some adjectives, for

example interesting: instead, we say more interesting. The same is true in Egyptian: the words'aktar ر

تكأ - more and 'a'ael ل

اقأ - less are used with the adjective. Here are examples of adjectivesthat are handled this way

Group English Egyptian

participlesbeginning with m-مـ

the contract is more acceptable likethis

ilAa'd ma'bul 'aktar kidahه

د

ك ر

تكأ قبول

م لعقد

ا







participlesbeginning with ta-ت

I am less traditional than you'ana ta'lidy 'a'ael minnak

ـك

م ل

اقأ يد

لق

ت أنا

adjectivesbeginning with 'a- أـ

he gets more selfish every dayhuwwa biyib'a 'anany 'aktar kulyum

ل یوم

ك ر

تكأ ني

انأ اقب

ی

ب و

ه

adjectivesending with -an ـ

Sarah is more tired than Ahmedsaara taAbaena 'aktar min 'ahmad

د

محأ

ن

م

ر

تكأ

ة

ن

عبا

ت

ة

ر

سا

Verbs

A verb tells you what is happening- for example, reading, walking etc. In Egyptian, the generalmeaning of a word is defined by the consonants, and several related words may contain this set of letters. For example, the letters ktb are used to make the words write, type, book, writer, written,writing, office and desk. The exact meaning is affected by the vowels, prefixes and suffixes (extrabits at the beginning and the end). Here are some of the ways the exact meaning can change for verbs:

tense - when something happens (past, present, future)case - who is doing it (I, you, he, etc)mode - must, could etc

pronouns - who is doing it, who is having it done to themnegation - say something is NOT happening

The examples that follow use the verb katab which means write: about 30% of verbs follow







The examples that follow use the verb katab ب

ت

ك , which means write: about 30% of verbs followthis pattern, and there are probably about three or four other patterns.

The web site www.lisaanmasry.com and the windows and Android apps that you can download

from the web site all provides full details for the majority of verbs.

Pronouns

There are three main types of pronouns that can be used with verbs:

subject - I, we, you, he, she, it, theyobject - me, us, you, him, her, it, themindirect object - to me, to us, to you, to him, to her, to it, to them

In Egyptian, the subject pronoun is a separate word before the verb: the object and indirect objectpronouns are attached to the end of the verb. Here are a some examples:

Pronoun English Arabic

Subject I know Ahmed 'ana Aaarif 'ahmadد

محأ

ف

ر

عا

أنا

Subject, object I know him'ana Aaarifuh

ه

ف

ر

اع انأ

Object Ahmed saw her yesterday 'ahmad shaefha 'imbaarihح

ر

ابمإ اهف

اش دمحأ

Obj t S h k hisaara Aaarif ah








Object Sarah knows himه

ف

ر

عا

ة

ر

سا

Object, Indirect give it to me !iddyhwly

یهولي

د

اSubject pronoun

The subject pronoun appears before the verb or participle.

English Arabic

I'ana

نأ

we'ihna

نحإ

you(m)

'inta

إنت

you(f)'inti

إنت

'intu

إنتوا

he/it(m)huwwa







وه

she/it(f)hiya

ي

ه

they hummaم

ه

Object pronoun

You can attach an object pronoun (for example me or him) to the end of an imperative, verb or

participle. See pronouns for more information. Ahmed envies me

aacHmad biyiHsad-ny

English Suffix

me-ny

ني ـ

us-na

ن ـ

you(m) -akك

ـ

(f)-ik







you(f)ك

ـ

you(pl)-kum

م

ك ـ

him/it(m)-uh

ه

ـ

her/it(f)-ha

ه ـ

them -humم

ه ـ

If there is an -i- ـ before the last consonant and the suffix starts with a vowel, the -i- ـ is dropped. If the verb requires a preposition (to, from etc) the object goes on the preposition.


English Egyptian

show me !warryny

یني

ر

و

nobody helped us mahaddish saeAidnaند

ع

ش سا

دح

م

I saw you(m)'ana shuftak







I saw you(m)ك

تف

ش

أنا

I love you(f)'ana bahibbik

ـك

ح

ب أنا I know him

'ana Aaarif uh

ه

ف

ر

اع انأ

I told them'ana 'ultilhum

م

هل

تل

ق

أنا

Indirect object

Some verbs require two objects- for example:

give it(f) to me

iiddy-haa-ly

It is the direct object and to me is the indirect object. The indirect object suffixes are as follows:

English Suffix

to me -lyلي ـ

to us-lina







to usن

لـ

to you(m)-lak

ك

ل ـ

to you(f)-lik

ك

ل ـ

to you(pl)-luku

ك

ل ـ

to him/it(m) -luل ـ

to her/it(f)-laha

ه

لـ

to them-luhum

م

ه

ل ـ

Tenses

In both english and Egyptian, a verb has different tenses to indicate when something happens- inthe past, now or in the future. The usage of each tense will be explained in more details later. Here

are some examples using katab ب

ت

ك :

Form Example Meaning No of cases







cases

perfectkatab

ب

ت

ك

he wrote 8 (i/we/you, etc)

simple imperfectyiktib

ب

تك

ی

used with modals - eg he must writeand kaen ن

اك - he used to write8 (i/we/you, etc)

bi-imperfectbiyiktib

ب

تك

ی

ب

he is writinghe writeshe knows how to write used with kaen ن

اك

8 (i/we/you, etc)

ha-imperfect hayiktibب

تك

ی

ه

he will writeused with kaen ن

اك

8 (i/we/you, etc)

active participlekaetab

ب

ت

كا

(he is) writing 3 (m/f/pl)

passive participlemaktub

كتوب

م

(it is) written 3 (m/f/pl)

imperativeiktibب

تك

ا

write! 3 (m/f/pl)

verbal nounkitaeba

ة

ب

تا

ك

(the box is covered with) writing 2 (s/pl)

placemaktab

ب

تك

م

writing place (desk or office) 2 (s/pl)

C







Case

The two main tenses of a verb are the perfect and the simple imperfect: the bi-and ha- imperfect

just have prefixes added to the simple imperfect. The usage of these tenses will be explained inmore detail the section on time. Here is the he case of each tense:

Tense English Egyptian

perfect he wrotehuwwa katab

ب

ت

ك و

ه

simple imperfect he must write huwwa laezim yiktibب

تك

ی م

ز

ال و

ه

bi-imperfect he writeshuwwa biyiktib

ب

تك

ی

ب

و

ه

ha-imperfect he will writehuwwa hayiktib

ب

تك

ی

ه و

ه

There are eight possible cases for each tense, corresponding to the eight pronoun forms(I/we/you/he, etc). Remember that the three imperfect forms are very similar.

Perfect

Here is an example of the perfect, which is used for things that occurred in the past.

Perfect







English Pronoun Verb

I wrote

'ana

نأ

katabt

بت

ت

ك

we wrote'ihna

نحإ

katabna

نب

ت

ك

you(m) wrote'inta

إنت

katabt

بت

ت

ك

you(f) wrote'inti

إنت

katabty

بتي

ت

ك

you(pl) wrote'intu

إنتوا

katabtu

بتوا

ت

ك

he/it(m) wrotehuwwa

و

ه

katab

ب

ت

ك

she/it(f) wrotehiya

ي

ه

katabit

ت

ب

ت

ك

humma katabu

ما ه ا و ب ت ك

Simple imperfect







The imperfect has no meaning on its own: it is used in four ways:

with kaen ن

اك for things that happened in the past

with modals like must, could, should etc.with bi-prefix for things happening nowwith ha-prefix for things that will happen

Here is an example with laazim, which means must.

Simple Imperfect

English Pronoun modal Verb

I must write'ana

نأ

laezimم

ز

ال

'aktibب

تكأ

we must write'ihna

نحإ

laezimم

ز

ال

niktibب

تك

ن

you(m) must write'inta

إنت

laezimم

ز

ال

tiktibب

تك

ت

you(f) must write'inti

إنت

laezimم

ز

ال

tiktiby

بي

تك

ت

you(pl)must write 'intuإنتوا

laezimم

ز

ال

tiktibu

بوا

تك

ت

he/it(m)must writehuwwa laezim yiktib







he/it(m)must writeو

ه م

ز

ال ب

تك

ی

she/it(f)must writehiya

ي

ه

laezim

م

ز

ال

tiktib

ب

تك

ت

they must writehumma

ما

ه

laezimم

ز

ال

yiktibu

بوا

تك

ی

The english word must is a proper modal, it is the same for all cases. The Egyptian word

laezim م

ز

ال is a proper modal. Later on, you will learn how to use participles and verbs as modals,and you will see how they will change to match the case.

bi-imperfect

For the majority of verbs, the bi-imperfect is used to describe things happening now, and for habitual actions. See active participles for the exceptions

It is the same as the simple imperfect, with a bi- ب in front. Note that there are some small changesto the beginning of the imperfect when the prefix is added.

bi-imperfect

English Pronoun verb

I write'ana

نأ

baktibب

تك

ب

we write'ihna biniktib







we writeنحإ ب

تك

ن

ب

you(m) write

'inta

إنت

bitiktib

ب

تك

ت

ب

you(f) write'inti

إنت

bitiktiby

بي

تك

ت

ب

you(pl) write'intu

إنتوا

bitiktibu

بوا

تك

ت

ب

he/it(m) writes huwwaو

ه

biyiktibب

تك

ی

ب

she/it(f) writeshiya

ي

ه

bitiktibب

تك

ت

ب

they writehumma

ما

ه

biyiktibu

بوا

تك

ی

ب

ha-imperfect

The ha-imperfect is used for things that will happen at some time in the future.

It is the same as the simple imperfect, with ha- ه in front. Note that there are some small changes tothe beginning of the imperfect when the prefix is added.

ha-imperfect








I will write

'ana

نأ

haktib

ب

تك

ه

we will write'ihna

نحإ

haniktibب

تك

ن

ه

you(m) will write'inta

إنت

hatiktibب

تك

ت

ه

you(f) will write'inti

إنت

hatiktiby

بي

تك

ت ه

you(pl) will write'intu

إنتوا

hatiktibu

بوا

تك

ت

ه

he/it(m) will writehuwwa

و

ه

hayiktib

ب

تك

ی

ه

she/it(f) will writehiya

ي

ه

hatiktibب

تك

ت

ه

they will writeما ه ا و ب ت ك ی ه

is/was/will be







As mentioned earlier, there is no word for is in Egyptian. There are, however, words for was - kaenن

اك and will be - haykun یكون

ه .

kaan

kaen ن

اك can be used on its own to talk about some situation in the past, or it can be used with theimperfect and bi-imperfect to move the meaning of the verb into the past, and with the ha-imperfectto indicate something that almost or nearly happened.

kaan


I wasana

ن

ا kunt

نت

ك

we wereihna

نح

ا kunna

ا

ك

you(m) were'inta

إنت

kuntنت

ك

'inti kunty

ت ن إ ي ت ن ك

you(pl) were'intu

إنتوا

kuntuنتوا

ك







he/it(m) washuwa

و

ه

kaenن

كا

she/it(f) was hiyaي

ه

kaenitت

ن

كا

they werehumma

ما

ه

kanuنوا

اك


English Egyptian

he was herekaen hina

ن

ه ن

اك

I was too tiredkunt taAbaen 'awy

وي

ق ن

ابع

ت نت

ك

the party was goodilhafla kaenit kuwayisa

و

ك

ت

ن

كا

ة

لف

حل

ا

ة

س

ي

preposition there was water, but it's finished kaen fy mayaeh wa chilsitت

صل

خ میا ه و ن في

اك

preposition we had a housekaen Aandina biyt







یت

ب

نا

ند

ع

ن

كا

bi-imperfect he was smoking a cigarettekaen biyishrab sygaara

ة

ر

اجیس ب

رش

ی

ب ن

اك

bi-imperfect he used to smoke cigaretteskaen biyishrab sigaeyar

ر

ی

جا

س ب

رش

ی

ب ن

اك

ha-imperfect I almost ran him over kunt hadusuh

ه

سود

ه

نت

ك

Note that, for prepositional sentences, kaen ن

اك does not change with the subject of the sentence -it is always kaen ن

اك - it was.

haykwn

haykun یكون

ه simply means will be. Here are some examples:

haykwnEnglish Pronoun verb

I will beana

ن

ا

hakunكون

ه

we will be ihnaنح

ا hankun

نكون

ه

you(m) will be'inta hatkun







إنت تكون

ه

you(f) will be'inti

إنت

hatkuny

تكوني

ه

you(pl) will be'intu

إنتوا

hatkunuتكونوا

ه

he/it(m) will behuwa

و

ه

haykunیكون

ه

she/it will be(f) hiyaي

ه

hatkunتكون

ه

they will behumma

ما

ه

haykunuیكونوا

ه


English Egyptian

the party will be goodilhafla hatkun kuwayisa

ة

س

ی

و

ك تكون

ه ة

لف

حل

ا

there will be a lot of wind tomorrow haykun fy hawaa' kityr bukraة

رك

ب تیر

ك ء

او

ه یكون في

ه

I will be free at five'ana hakun faady issaeAa chamsaة

سم

خ

ة

ع

لسا

ا

ضي

فا

كون

ه

أنا







Note that, for prepositional sentences, haykun یكون

ه does not change with the subject of the

sentence - it is always haykun یكون

ه - it will be.

Time

Here is a summary of ways to express when something happens:

Construction Example Meaning

perfectkatab

ب

ت

ك

he wrote

kaen ن

اك + imperfectkaen yiktib

ب

تك

ی

ن

كا he was writing

he used to write

kaen ن

اك + bi-imperfect

kaen biyiktib

ب

تك

ی

ب ن

اك

bi-imperfectbiyiktib

ب

تك

ی

ب

he is writinghe writeshe can write

ha-imperfect hayiktibب

تك

ی

ه

he will write

kaen hayiktibب

تك

ی

ه

ن

كا

he intended to write







kaen ن

اك + ha-imperfectkaen haymut

یموت

ه ن

اك

he almost died

raayih ح

ی

را + imperfectraayih yiktibب

تك

ی ح

ی

را

he is going to write

hayruh یروح

ح + imperfecthayruh yiktibب

تك

ی

یروح

ه

Participles

In both English and Egyptian, a participle is derived from a verb, but is used like an adjective. Thereare two types of participle- active and passive. As they are adjectives, in Egyptian, there are threeforms- masculine, feminine and plural.

Participle English Masculine Feminine Plural

-aة

ـ

-ynین ـ

Active wanting Aaeyiz

ز

ی

عا

Aaeyizaة

ز

ی

عا

Aaeyizynزین

ی

عا

Active knowing Aaarif ف

ر

اع

Aaarifaة

ف

ر

اع

Aaarifynفین

ر

اع

Active understandingfaehim faehima faehimyn







م

ه

فا ة

م

ه

فا مین

ه

فا

Active boilingGalayaen

ن

ایلغ

Galayaen

ن

ایلغ

Galayaen

ن

ایلغ

Active daydreamingsarhaen

ن

احر

س

sarhaenaة

ن

رحا

س

sarhanynنین

احر

س

Passive boundmitgalid

د

ل

جت

م

mitgalidaة

د

ل

جت

م

mitgalidynدین

ل

جت

م

Passive blessed mubaarakك

ر

ابم

mubaarakaة

ك

ر

ابم

mubaarakynكین

ر

ابم

Passive bornmawlud

ولود

م

mawludaة

دولو

م

mawludynولودین

م

Passive understoodmafhum

فهوم

م

mafhuma

ة

موهف

م

mafhumyn

فهومین

م

Active Participles

In English, we can describe something happening now by using the present tense or the activeparticiple:

present I look a single event or habitual action

present I am looking a continuous action







In Egyptian, for some verbs, the active participle is the normal way of expressing what somebody isdoing right now. For other verbs, the bi-imperfect is used. Generally, participles are used for verbs

that relate to a state or continuous actions, but there is no flexibility: you have to use a participle for a particular verb whether the action is continuous or not. The four groups of verbs where theparticiple is used are:

movement: going, coming etcsenses: seeing, hearingstates of mind: knowing, understanding, angrystates of body: sleeping

English Verb ActiveParticiple

puthatt

ط

ح

haatytطیت

اح

travel saefir ر

ف

سا

misaefir ر

ف

سا

م

know Airif

ف

ر

ع

Aaarif ف

ر

اع

understand fihimم

ه

ف

faehimم

ه

فا

sleepnaem

م

نا

naeyimم

ی

نا







angryziAil

ل

ع

ز

zaAlaenن

الع

ز

Active participles are like adjectives, and have masculine, feminine and plural forms. Here are someexamples showing how the participle agrees with the subject

English Verb

I(m) know Ahmed'ana Aaarif 'ahmad

د

محأ ف

ر

اع انأ

I(f) know Ahmed'ana Aaarifa 'ahmad

د

محأ ة

ف

ر

اع انأ

we know Ahmedihna Aaarifyn 'ahmad

د

محأ

فین

ر

عا

حنا

ا

you(m) know Ahmed'inta Aaarif 'ahmad

د

محأ ف

ر

اع تنإ

you(f) know Ahmed'inti Aaarifa 'ahmad

د

محأ

ة

ف

ر

عا

إنت






have masculine, feminine and plural forms.

English Arabic Verb

the food is cookedil'akl matbuch tabach




طبوخ

م ألكل

ا خ

ب

ط

the bowl is broken

issultaniya maksura

ة

روسك

م ة

ی

ن

طل

سل

ا kasar

ر

س

ك

the floors are washedil'ardiyaet maGsulynغسولین

م

ت

یا

ضرأل

ا

Gasalل

س

غ

I was marriedkunt mitgawwiz

ز

و

جت

م نت

ك

'itgawwizز

و

جتإ

smoked salamisalamy mudachan

ن

خ

د

م

مي

ال

س

dachchanن ـخ

د

modals: possibility, preference etc

You can use a modal together with the simple imperfect to indicate whether something must, may,

could happen. Most proper modals are invariable- there is no I/you/he form. Here are someexamples:

Modal Example Meaning

م

ز

ال

ب

تك

ی م

ز

ال

he must write

mumkinن

كم

م

mumkin yiktibب

تك

ی ن

كم

م

he could write

iht iht iktib







mihtaegج

حتا

م

mihtaeg yiktibب

تك

ی

ج

حتا

م

he needs to write

yimkinن

كم

ی

yimkin yiktibب

تك

ی ن

كم

ی

he might write

ilmafrudفروض

مل

ا

ilmafrud yiktibب

تك

ی

فروض

مل

ا

he should> write

darury

روري

ض

darury yiktib

ب

تك

ی روري

ض

it is essential that he should write

Aalashaenن

اش

ل

ع

pronounced Aashaenن

شا

ع

Aalashaen yiktibب

تك

ی ن

اش

ل

ع

in order to write

There are also some verbs or participles that can be used as modals. Here are some examples:

Type Modal Example Meaning

participleز

و

اع

ب

تك

ی ز

و

اع

he wants to write

participlenaewy

وي

انnaewy yiktib

ب

تك

ی وي

ان he intends to write

nifs nifsuh yiktib







nounnifs

فس

ن

nifsuh yiktibب

تك

ی

ه

سف

ن

he wishes he could write

verb 'idir, yi'dar ر

دق

ی ر

د

ق

yi'dar yiktibب

تك

ی ر

دق

ی

he is able to write

verb Airif, yiAraf ف

عر

ی

ف

ر

ع

yiAraf yiktibب

تك

ی

ف

عر

ی

he knows how to write

verbhabb, yihibb

ب

ح

ی ب

ح

yihibb yiktib

ب

تك

ی ب

ح

ی

he likes to write

verblihi', yihla'

ق

لح

ی ق

ح

ل

lihi' yiktibب

تك

ی ق

ح

ل

he managed to write

verbraah, yiruh

روح

ی

ح

را

raah yiktibب

تك

ی

ح

را

he went to write

verb nisy, yinsaنسى

ی سي

ن

nisi yiktibب

تك

ی س

ن

he forgot to write

Participles must agree with the gender and number, and verbs must be the appropriate case. Truemodals like laezim م

ز

ال do not change. Here are some examples.

Type English Arabic

modal I must write'ana laezim 'aktib

ب

تكأ م

ز

ال انأ







modal you(m) must write'inta laezim tiktib

ب

تك

ت

م

ز

ال

إنت

modal he must writehuwwa laezim yiktib

ب

تك

ی م

ز

ال و

ه

modal they must writehumma laezim tiktibu

بوا

تك

ت م

ز

ال مه

participle I want to write

'ana Aaeyiz 'aktib

ب

تكأ ز

ی

أنا عا

participle she wants to writehiya Aaeyiza tiktib

ب

تك

ت ز ة

ی

ي عا

ه

participle they want to writehumma Aaeyizyn yiktibu

بوا

تك

ی زین

ی

هم عا

verb I like to writeana baehibb 'aktib

ب

تكأ

ب

ح

با

نا

ا

verb he likes to writehuwwa biyihibb yiktib

ب

تك

ی ب

ح

ی

ب و

ه

verb she likes to write hiya bitihibb tiktibب

تك

ت

ب

ح

ت

ب

ي

ه

verb they like to writehumma biyihibbu yiktibu

بوا

تك

ی و ا

ح

ی

ب هم







If the subject of the verb is not the same as the subject of the modal

I want to go (same)I want him to go (different)

in both english and egpytian you add an object pronoun to the modal: in Egyptian it is attached tothe modal, or to any preposition associated with it.

English Arabic

she wants me to writehiya Aaeyizany 'aktibب

تكأ ني

ز

ی

ي عا

ه

she wants to writehiya Aaeyiza tiktib

ب

تك

ت ز ة

ی

ي عا

ه

she wants him to write hiya Aaeyizah yiktibب

تك

ی

ه

ز

ی

عا

ي

ه

he wants her to writehuwwa Aaeyizha tiktib

ب

تك

ت زها

ی

و عا

ه

she likes him to write bitihibbuh yiktibب

تك

ی ـه

ح

ت

ب

he likes her to writebiyihibbha tiktib

ب

تك

ت

ها

ح

ی

ب







I let him writechalitw yiktib

ب

تك

ی تو

ل

خ

I asked him to writetalabt minnuh yiktib

ب

تك

ی ـه

م بت

ل

ط

Imperatives

When you want to tell somebody to do something, you use an imperative. In Egyptian, there are

three forms- masculine, feminine and plural. Here are some examples.

English Verb Masculine Feminine Plural

Imperfect-y

ي ـ

-uوا ـ

look! yibussص

ب

ی

bussص

ب

bussyي

ص

ب

bussuوا

ص

ب

go!yiruh

روح

ی

ruwhوح

ر

ruwhyوحي

ر

ruwhuوحوا

ر

come!yiygy

یجي

ی

irregular

taAaelaل

عا

ت

taAalyلي

عا

ت

taAaluلوا

عا

ت

t!yaekul kul kuly kulu







eat!y

ل

ك

یا ل

ك

yلي

ك لوا

ك

shut up! yuskutت

كس

ی

'iskutت

كسإ

'iskutyتي

كسإ

'iskutuتوا

كسإ

calm down!yihda

هدى

ی

'ihdaإهدى

'ihdyإهدي

'ihduإهدوا

walk!

(go away)

yimshy

مشي

ی

'imshy

إمشي

'imshy

إمشي

'imshu

إمشوا

verbal nouns

It is sometimes useful to make a noun from a verb. Here are some examples:

English Arabic Verb

wash your hands before eatingiGsil iydyk 'abl il'aklألكل

ا لب

ق یدیك

ا ل

سغ

ا kal

ل

ك

I have a reservation Aandy hagz

جز

ح

ندي

ع

haegizز

ج

حا

This game is for four playersilliaAba dih li'arbAa laAyba

أربع ال

ل ه

د ة

بع

ـ

ا بيع

liAibب

ع

ل

Negation of verbs







Negation of verbs

You can say that something is not happening using the word mish ش

م . It can appear before a verb,or wrapped around it. Here are some examples:

English Egyptian

he is not herehuwwa mish hina

ن

ه ش

م و

ه

he was not here huwwa makansh hinaن

ه نش

اك

م و

ه

I have not travelled outside egyptmasafirtish barra masr

صر

م

ا

ر

ب

ش

تر

ف

س

م

I do not know'ana mish Aaarif

ف

ر

اع ش

م أنا he was not able to come

ma'dir sh yigyجي

ی

رش

قد

م

mish hayigy

جي

ی

ه ش

م

don't go!matimshysh

مشیش

ت

م

See Negation for more details







See Negation for more details.

Adverbs A verb explains what is being done: adverbs can be used to specify how, when, where and in whatmanner it is being done. There can be more than one adverb- they are placed after the verb. Hereare some examples.

English Egyptian

direction Ahmed is going up (stairs)'ahmad taalaA fu'

فوق

ع

ل

طا

د

محأ

position Ahmed is coming here'ahmad gayy hina

ن

ه یي

ج أحمد

time Ahmed will come tomorrow evening'ahmad hayigy bukra biillyl

یل

ا

ب كر ة

ب جي

ی

ح أحمد

frequency Ahmed always walks'ahmad biyimshy daymaen

می

د

مشي

ی

ب

د

محأ

'ahmad biyimshy bisuraAa

ة

ع

ر

س

ب مشي

ی

ب أحمد

extent Ahmed walks extremely quickly'ahmad biyimshy bisuraAa giddaen

دا

ج ة

ع

ر

س

ب مشي

ی

ب أحمد

'ahmad biyitaalaA issalaelim daymaenbi h h f ill l







Ahmed always walks slowly upstairs inthe evening

bishwysh fy illyl

شویش في

ب می

م د

ل

ال

سل

ع ا

ل

طا

ی

ب أحمد

یل

ا

direction

Direction adverbs can be used with verbs like go

English Egyptian English example Egyptian example

upfu'

فوق

I am going upstairs'ana taalaA fu'

فوق

ع

ل

طا

أنا

downtaht

حت

ت

he dived downGitis taht

حت

ت س

ط

غ

left shamaelل

ام

ش

turn left! chushsh shamaelل

ام

ش ش

خ

rightyimyn

مین

ی

look right!buss yimyn

مین

ی

ص

ب

straight ahead Aala tulلى

ع

طول

go(walk) straight ahead 'imshy Aala tulطول

لى

ع

إمشي

location







Location adverbs can be used with verbs like go


herehina

ن

ه

come here!taAala hina

ن

ه

لى

عا

ت

therehinaek

ك

ان

ه

I have to go there tomorrowlaezim 'aruwh hinaek bukrah

ه

رك

ب ك

ان

ه وح

رأ م

ز

ال

time

Time adverbs are used to specify when you do something: they can be used with almost any verb.Here are some examples:


immediatelyhalaen

ال

اح

I will open it immediatelyhaftahuh halaen

ال

اح ه

ح

تف

ه

' ' '

nowقتي

ول

د we are ready now

قتي

ول

د نیز

ه

إحنا جا

already noequivalent

he (is) already here huwwa mawgwd

innahaardailhafla innahaarda biillyl







todayinnahaarda

ة

رد

ها

نل

ا

the party is this evening ا

ب رد ة

اه

نل

ة ا

لف

حل

ا

يل

ل

tomorrowbukrah

ه

كر

ب

I will go to Alexandria tomorrow

haruwh il'iskandiraayabukrah

ة

ی

را

دنكسإل

وح ا

ر

ه

ه

كر

ب

the day after

tomorrow

baAd bukrah

ه

رك

ب عد

ب

I will come back the day after

tomorrow

'ana hargaA baAd bukrah

ه

رك

ب عد

ب ع

جر

ه أنا

yesterday'imbaarih

ح

ر

ابمإ

she arrived yesterdaywasalt 'imbaarih

ح

ر

ابمإ تل

ص

و

day beforeyesterday

'awil'imbaarih

ح

ر

ابمإ ل

وأ

I bought it the day before yesterday'ashtarytuh 'awil 'imbaarih

ح

ر

ابمإ ل

وأ ه

تیر

تشأ

next week

il'usbwaAilligaey

ع

وبس

أل

ا we will go home next week

hanrawwah il'usbwaAilligaey

جا ـ

ا ع

وبس

أل

ا ح

و

رن

ه

ي

اج ـ

ا ي

this weekil'usbwaA dih

ع

سبو

أل

ا

ه

د

we are on holiday this week

ihna fy 'agaeza il'usbwaAdih

سبو

أل

ا

ة

ز

أجا

في

حنا

ا

ه

د ع







last week

il'usbwaA 'illy

faetع

وبس

أل

ات

اف ي

إ

I saw her last week shuftaha il'usbwaA 'illyfaet

ت

اف ي

إ ع

وبس

أل

ا اه

تف

ش

earlybadry

دري

ب

we must get up early tomorrowlaezim ni'um badry bukrah

ه

رك

ب دري

ب قوم

ن م

ز

ال

evening biillylیل

ا

ب

there is a party this evening fy hafla biillylیل

ا

ب

ة

لف

ح

في

later baAdyn

عدین

ب

see you later hashufak baAdyn

عدین

ب ك

فوش

ح

again

kamaen

marrahه

ر

م ن

ام

ك

play that song again

Ganny il'aGniya dihkamaen marrah

ن

ام

ك ه

د ة

ی

نغأل

ي ا

غ

ه

ر

م

baAd kida we will eat and afterwards we will

hanaekul wa baAd kidahani'Aad fyilginyna

a erwar s

ة

د

ك عد

ب

sit in the garden د

عق

ن

ه د ة

ك عد

ب ل و

ك

هنا

ة

نین

جل

فیا

agomin

ن

م

I have lived here for a long time (lit.since a long time ago

sikint hina min zamaen

ن

ام

ز ن

م نا

ه نت

ك

س







frequency

This group of adverbs specifies how frequently you do something. Here are some examples:


usually Aaedataen

ت

عا د

I usually take a nap after lunchbaechud Aadataen taAsylla baAdilGadaa'

ء

ادغل

عد ا

ب ة ـیسع

ت ت عد خد

با always

daymaenمی

د

his office is always neatmaktabuh mitsattif daymaen

می

د

ـف

ست

م

ه

ب

تك

م

rarelynaediraan

ر

نا د I rarely see Ahmed'ana bashuf ahmad naediraan

ر

حمد نا د

شوف ا

اب انأ

regularly bi'intizaemم

اظ

تنإ

ب

I go to the gym regularly baruh ilgym bi'intizaemم

اظ

تنإ

ب لجیم

ا حور

ب

recentlmin 'urayib

ب

ی

ر

ق ن

م

somebody asked me about thathadd s'aalny Aanuh dih min'urayib

ب

ی

ر

ق ن

م

ب

ی

ر

ق ن

م ه

د ه

ن

ع لني

أس دح

at all'abadaen

د

بأ

I don't know him at allmish Aaarifuh 'abadaen

د

بأ ه

ف

ر

اع ش

م

againthany

I would like to go there again Aaeyiz 'aruh hinaek thany







ني

ثا ني

ثا

ك

نا

ه

أروح

ز

ی

عا

often Galibaenب

ل

غ

she is often tired hiya taAbaena Galibaenب

ل

غ ة

ن

عبا

ت ي

ه

forever lil'abad

د

بأل

ل

nobody lives for ever mahaddish biyiAish lil'abad

د

بأل

ل ش

ع

ی

ب ش

دح

م

all daytul ilyum

لیوم

ا

طول

it rained all daymattar tul ilyum

لیوم

ا

طول

ر ـط

م

all(my/his/her)life

tul ilAumr مر

عل

ا

طول

he smoked cigarettes all hislife

kaen biyishrib sagaeyar tulAumruh

ه

مر

ع

طول

ر

ی

جا

س

ب

شر

ی

ب

ن

كا

firstly'awilaen

ال

وأ

finally'achyraan

ریخأ

he finally visited londonzaar lundun 'achyraan

ریخأ ن

دنل ر

از

min wa't baruh ilginyna min wa't lilthany

occasionallyقت

و ن

م

ني

لثا

ل

I go to the park occasionally لثا

ل قت

و ن

م ة

نین

جل

روح ا

ب

ني

hourlybiissaeAa

ة

ع

لسا

ا

ب

you must check hourlylaezim titammim biissaeAa

ة

ع

لسا

ا

ب م ـم

ت

ت م

ز

ال







sometimes

'ahyanaen

ن

أحیا

we sometimes see sharks

here

binishuf samak 'irsh 'ahyanaen

hinaن

ه

ن

أحیا

رش

ق

ك

م

س

شوف

ن

ب

sometimes'aw'aet

ت

اقوأ

it sometimes rains in Egypt

'aw'aet bitmattar fy masr صر

م ر في ـط

مت

ب ت

اقوأ

Note: always goes at beginning of

sentence

Extent

The following adverbs can be placed after an adjective or another adverb to indicate the extent:

English Egyptian

slightly shwayaة

ی

شو

reasonablymaA'ula

ة

لوقع

م

very 'awyوي

ق

extremelychaalisص

ل

خا

giddaen







giddaen

دا

ج

Aail'achir ر

خأل

عا

too'awy

وي

ق

Derived adverbs

Most adjectives in english can be converted to an adverb by adding the letters -ly, for example nicebecomes nicely. In Egyptian, the adjective can be converted to an adverb by adding the ending -anـ

English adjective adverb

officiallyrasmy

سمي

ر

rasmyaenیمس

ر

nazary nazariyaen

ي ر ظ ن ی ر

ظ

ن

naturallytabyAy

بیعي

ط

tabyAyaenیعیب

ط

literallyharfy harfyaen







حرفي یفرح

generally Aumumyمومي

ع

Aumumaenموم

ع

normally Aady

دي

اع

Aadataenت

عد

slightly'ulayil

ل

ی

ل

ق

'alayalaenال

ی

ل

ق

Similarly, a noun can be converted to an adverbal phrase by adding the word with, for examplewith care. In Egyptian, the same can be achieved by adding bi- ب at the start of the word.


with care

bihazar

ر

ذح

ب

he opened the box carefully

fatah ilAalba bihazar

ر

ذح

ب ة

بل

عل

ح ا

ت

ف

with speedbisurAa

ة

عر

س

ب

Ahmed drives very fast'ahmad biyisu' bisurAa 'awy

وي

ق ة

عر

س

ب سوق

ی

ب أحمد

'

with calm

ة

ح

لرا

ا

ب

play (pl) quietly!

ة

ح

لرا

ا

ب عبو ا

لإ

with precisionbiizzabtبط

ظل

ا

ب

the meeting took exactly onehour

il'igtimaeA 'achad saeAabiizzabt

بط

ظل

ا

ب ة

ع

أخد سا ع

ام

تجإل

ا

with bi'iAatidael 'akul bi'iAatidael







withmoderation

bi iAatidaelل

اد

ت

عإ

ب

eat moderatelyakul bi iAatidael

ل

اد

ت

عإ

ب ل

كأ

in the eveningbiillyl

یل

ا

ب

there is a party this eveningfy hafla biillyl

یل

ا

ب

ة

لف

ح

في

Miscellaneous

English Egyptian English example Egyptian exampletogether (people)

sawaو

س

we will travel together 'ihna misaefiryn sawa

و

س رین

ف

سا

م إحنا

together (people andthings)

maAa baAdعض

ب ع

م

we will travel together 'ihna misaefiryn maAa baAd

عض

ب ع

م رین

ف

سا

م إحنا

separatelykul wahidliwahduhه

دح

و

ل د

ح

ل و

ك

we will travelseparately

'ihna misaefiryn kul wahidliwahduh

ه

دح

و

ل د

ح

ل و

ك رین

ف

سا

م إحنا

kuwayis

huwwa biyiGanny kuwayis 'awy

س

ی

و

ك

وي

ق س

ی

و

ك ي

غ

ی

ب و

ه

Prepositions

Prepositions define a relationship (in time, space,etc) between a noun and something else. In bothenglish and Egyptian, the preposition goes before the noun that it defines the relationship to. Here







are some examples:

Domain English Egyptian English Egyptian

time after baAd

عد

ب

she came after dinner hiya gaet baAd ilAashaa'

ء

شا

عل

ا

عد

ب

ت

جا

ي

ه

space behindwara

ر

و

the garden is behind thehouse

ilginyna wara ilbiytیت

بل

را ا

و ة

نین

جل

ا

quality likezayy

یي

ز

I need another pen likethis

mihtaeg 'alam thany zayy dahه

د

یي

ز

ني

ثا

م

ل

ق

ج

حتا

م

reference accordingto

hasabب

س

ح

according to the police,the riot started at 2am

hasab kalaem ilbulys, ishshaGab'ibtada issaeAa ithnyn

ا لبولیس

ا م ال

ك ب

س

ح

ثنين

ا ةع

لسا

ا ىد

تبإ ب

غ

شل

ownership have Aand

ند

ع

I have a house in CairoAandy biyt fy il'aehira

ة

ر

ه

لقا

ا يف تی

ب ندي

ع

The noun can be one of the following:

Element Preposition English Egyptian

name Ahmed she is with Ahmedhiya maAa 'ahmad

د

محأ ع

م ي

ه







simple noun the house the cat is inside the houseil'utta guwwa ilbiyt

یت

بل

وا ا

ج ة ـط

قل

ا

complexnoun

the manwho...

I arrived after the man whodelivered the carpet

wasalt baAd irraagil illy wasalissigaeda

ي و

ل ا

ج

لرا

ا دع

ب لت

ص

و

ة

د اج

سل

ل ا

ص

objectpronoun her I arrived after her wasalt baAdaha

ه

دع

ب لت

ص

و

qualifyingpronoun

this I need another pen like thismihtaeg 'alam thany zayy dah

ه

د

یي

ز

ني

ثا

م

ل

ق

ج

حتا

م

Be careful! If it's not a noun, but a complete clause (ie it has a verb), you have to use a

conjunction. In english, it's confusing because the preposition and conjunction are often the sameword: in Egyptian it is necessary to insert the word maa to convert a preposition ot a conjunction.See more about this below.

Prepositions of time


after baAd

عد

ب

we will start after the feasthanibtidy baAd ilAiyd

ید

عل

ا

عد

ب

دي

تب

ن

ه

before'abl

بل

ق

I must paint the house beforesummer

laezim 'adhin ilbiyt 'abl issyf بل ا لصیف

ق لبیت أدهن ا ز م

ال







during athnaa'ء

انث ا smoking is forbidden during dinner ittadchyn mamnuA 'athnaa' ilAashaa'ء

اش

عل

ء ا

انثأ عونم

م دخین

تل

ا

tilllihadd

د

ح

ل

I will be here till dinner 'ana mawgud lihadd ilAashaa'

ء

شا

عل

ا

د

ح

ل

وجود

م

أنا

tillliGaeyit

ة

ی

غا

ل

they are busy until 8pmhumma mawgudyn liGaeyit saeAatamanya

ة

ین

ما

ت ة

ع

ة سا

ی

غا

ل وجودین

م هم

Prepositions of space


frommin

ن

م

he is from Cairohuwwa min ilqaahira

ة

ر

ه

لقا

ا ن

م و

ه

away from Aan

ن

ع

the dog ran away from meilkalb garry minny

ي

م ي

ر

ج لب

كل

ا

at/toward Aala

لى

ع

that man is looking at usirraagil dah bass Aalyna

نیل

ع ص

ب ل د ه

ج

لرا

ا

atfy

في

my husband is at homeguzy fy ilbiyt

یت

بل

ا

في

جوزي

abovefu'

my apartment is above the laundrysha''aty fu' ilmaGsala







aboveفوق

my apartment is above the laundryة

ل

سغ

مل

تي فوق ا ـق

ش

belowtaht

حت

ت

there are many many fish under thewater

fy samak kityr taht ilmayaehه

ایمل

حت ا

ت تیر

ك ك

م

س في

opposite'usaad

د

اص

ق

the restaurant is opposite the railwaystation

ilmataAm 'usaad mahattitil'ataar

طا

قل

ة ا ـط

ح

م صا د

ق عم

ط

مل

ا

ر

opposite'ubael

ل

ابق

facingfywishsh

ش

و يف

the house is facing the desertilbiyt fy wishsh issaharaa'

ء

ار

ح

صل

ش ا

و يف تی

بل

ا

at Aand

ند

ع

the customs office is at the airportmaktab ilgamaarik Aandilmataar ر

طا

مل

ا

ند

ع

ك

ر

ما

جل

ا

ب

تك

م

at Aandند

ع

turn right at the pharmacychushsh yimyn Aand

issayidaliyaة

ی

ل

د

ی

صل

ا

ند

ع

مین

ی

ش

خ

behindwara

ر

و

the cat is behind you (f)il'utta waraaky

كي

ار

و ة ـط

قل

ا

b th id t b id th k f h dth b il A







besidegamb

مب

ج

there was an accident beside the

mosque

kaen fy hadtha ganb ilgamAa

مع

اجل

ا بن

ج ة

ثد

ن في حا

اك

infy

في

the dog is in the gardenilkalb fy ilginyna

ة

نین

جل

ا

في

لب

كل

ا

insideguwa

و

ج

we must stay inside the houselaezim ni'Aud guwa ilbiyt

یت

بل

وا ا

ج قعد

ن م

ز

ال

outside baraر

ب

do you want anything from outside? Aaeyiz haga min baraa?

را

ب

ن

م

ة

ج

ح

ز

ی

عا

on Aala

لى

ع

the bread is on the tableilAysh Aala ittarabyza

ة

زیب

ر

تل

لى ا

ع لعیش

ا

between bynبین

Hurghada is between the desert andthe sea

ilGarda'a byn issaharaa' wailbahr

ء و ا

ار

ح

صل

ة بین ا

ق

رد

غل

ا حر

بل

fy Aawamyd nur biittul

along

لطول

ا

ب

there are lamp posts all along the street

لشا

ا لوطل

ا

ب مید نور

او

ع في

ع

ر

surroundinghawalynلین

و

ح

The view surrounding the house isvery beautiful

ilmanzar hawalyn ilbiyt gamyl'awy

یت

بل

لین ا

و

ح ر

ظن

مل

ا







وي

ق

میل

ج

Note that you don't need a prepositional to after words like raah ح

ار - go.

I am going to Cairoaacnaa raayiH iil-Qaahirao

Miscellaneous Prepositions


concerning

'amae...fa...

٫٫٫

امأ

٫٫٫

ف

like zayyیي

ز

do you have something like this? Aandak haega zayy dih?ه

د يی

ز ة

ج

ك حا

دنع

fy

fy bu'Aa Aala il'amys dih

في

ه

د صیم

قل

لى ا

ع ة

عق

ب في

about Aan

ن

ع

I am reading a book about therevolution

ba'ra kitaeb Aan iththuraة

روثل

ا ن

ع ب

ات

ك قرا

ب

accordingt

hasab according to Ahmed, it will bei d t

hasab kalaem 'ahmad, haykun fyhawaa' kityr bukrah







toب

س

ح

windy tomorrow ء

او

ه یكون في

ح د

محأ ال م

ك ب

س

ح

ه

رك

ب تیر

ك

contrary Aaks

كس

ع

my opinion is contrary to yoursr'ayy Aaks r'ayak

ك

یأر كس

ع رأیي

except'ila

إال

there is no food except thisbread

mafish akl 'ila ilAayshsh dahه

د

یش

عل

ا

إال

كل

ا

ش

ف

م

except maAadaد

ع

م

instead of baddal

ل

دب give us chicken instead of beef 'idyna firaach baddal illahma

ة

مح ـ

ل ا

دب خ

ار

ف إدینا

despite

biirraGm

minغم

رل

ا

ب

ن

م

he succeeded despite his injuries nigih biirraGm min ziraaAuh ilmaksur كسور

مل

ا

ه

ع

را

ذ

ن

م

غم

لر

ا

ب

ح

ج

ن

fy Aashara duyuf zae'yid 'ithnyn

pluszae'yid

د

ئ

زا

there are ten guests plus twostaff

muwazafyn

و

م د إثنین

ئ

یوف زا

ض ر ة

ش

ع في

فين

ظ

Prepositions of ownership

This important group is discussed in more detail in the section on ownership







This important group is discussed in more detail in the section on ownership.


own Aand

ند

ع

I own a car Aandy Aarabiya

ة

ی

ب

ر

ع

ندي

ع

have with youmaAa

ع

م

I have a cigarette lighter maAayah walaeAa

ة

ع

ال

و ه

ی

ع

م

have gotly

لي

I have two legsly riglyn

جلین

ر

لي

for Aalashaen

ن

اش

ل

ع

there was a phone call for youkaen fy mukalma Aalashaenak

ك

ن

شا

ل

ع ة

مل

ك

م ن في

اك

Subordinate clauses: maa

A preposition connects a noun to a sentence. If you want to connect a clause (something with averb) to a sentence, you need to use a conjunction.

In English, many conjunctions are the same as prepositions: In Egyptian, some prepositions can be

converted to a conjunction by adding the word ma م . Here are some examples:


preposition wash your hands before dinner 'iGsil iydyk 'abl ilAashaa'

ء

اش

عل

بل ا

ق یدیك

ا ل

سغإ







conjunction wash your hands before you eat 'iGsil iydyk 'abl ma taekulل

ك

تا

ما

بل

ق

یدیك

ا

ل

سغإ

preposition she arrived after the bushiya wasalit baAd ilmasarahiya

ة

ی

ح

ر

س

مل

عد ا

ب ت

ل

ص

ي و

ه

conjunction she arrived after the bus had gonehiya wasalit baAd ma ilmasrahiya 'ibtaditت

د

تبإ

ة

ی

ح

سر

مل

ا

ما

عد

ب

ت

ل

ص

و

ي

ه

preposition he acts like the owner biyitsarraf zayy ilmaelik

ك

ل

لما

ا يی

ز ف

ر

صت

ی

ب

conjunction he acts as if he owns the placebiyitsarraf zayy ma yikun ilmakaen bitaeAuh

ه

ع

تا

ب ن

اك

مل

كون ا

ی یي ما

ز ف

ر

صت

ی

ب

yikun كون

ی is added in the last example because it is something that is unlikely to happen. See kaanfor more details.

Conjunctions

Conjunctions are the useful little words that join clauses together to make more complex sentences.

I want to make bread but I don't have enough flour Aaayiz aacAamil Aiysh lakin maAandysh diqyq kifaayao

Part English Egyptian

Main clause I want to make bread Aaeyiz 'aAamil Aiysh







Main clause I want to make bread

یش

ع ل

م

عأ ز

ی

عا

Conjunction butlakinن

ك

ل

Second clause I don't have enough flour maAandysh di'y' kifaeyaة

ی

فا

ك قیق

د شیدن

ع

م

If you just want to attach a noun, you should use a preposition, but if you want to attach a clause(ie, there is a verb on both sides), then a conjunction is required. In English, the same word is oftenused for both preposition and conjunction, but there are differences in Egyptian: see prepositionsand conjunctions for more details.

If there is a subject pronoun in the second clause, it becomes an object pronoun attached to theconjunction. For example:

I feared that she was lostaanaa Kuft iinnahaa tikwn taahit

The following table lists most of the common conjunctions, and gives examples how they can be

used.

English Egyptian English Example Egyptian Example

that'inn

إن

I feared that she was lostana chuft 'innaha tikun taehit

ت

ه

كون تا

ت فت إـها

خ ا نا

tul ma bitis'y ilginyna, izzaraA







as longas tul maم

طول

as long as you water the garden,the plants will grow

tul ma bitis y ilginyna, izzaraA

hayikbar ر

لز

ا

ة

نین

جل

ا

سقي

ت

ب

ما

طول

ر

بك

ي

ح

ع

because

Aalashaenن

اش

ل

ع

pronounced Aashaen

I don't have a car because there isnot enough money

maAndysh Aarabiya Aalashaenmafiysh filus kifaeya

یش

ف

م ن

اش

ل

ع ة

ی

ب

ر

ع عندیش

م

ة

ی

فا

ك لوس

ف

in order to

Aalashaenن

اش

ل

ع

I need money in order to buy foodmihtaeg filus Aalashaen 'ashtiry'akl

أكل

ري

تشأ

ن

شا

ل

ع

لوس

ف

ج

حتا

م

after

baAd ma

م عد

ب

we will leave after the movie has

finished

hanimshy bAad ma ilfylm yichlas

ص

لخ

ی لفیلم

ا ام دعب مشي

ن

ح

andwi

و

I went to the bank and it wasclosed

raht ilbank wi kaen ma'fulقفول

م

ن

كا

و

نك

بل

ا

حت

ر






of م ل

دب ,م

هم

ل

ك تروح

م ل ما

دب

likezay ma

م

ي

ز

as you did for him, he will do for you

zayy ma Aamalt fyh hayitAamilfyk

فیك

ل

م

عت

ی

ه

فیه

لت

م

ع

ما

یي

ز

neither..lae...walaeh.. neither this is working nor is this

ki

la dah naefaA walaeh dahbiyinfaA




nor..

٫٫ه

ال

و ٫٫٫ ال

workingy

ع

فن

ی

ب ال ه د ه

و ع

ف

ال د ه نا

or 'aw

أو

we can eat fish or chickenmumkin naekul samak 'aw firaach

خ

را

ف

أو

ك

م

س

ل

ك

نا

ن

كم

م

or (inquestion)

walaال

و

would you like fish or chicken? Aaewiz taekul samak walafiraach?

خ

را

ف

ال

و

ك

م

س

ل

ك

تا

ز

و

عا

rather than

'ahsanن

سحأ

I would prefer to eat fish rather than chicken

'akul issamak 'ahsan min ilfiraachخ

ار

فل

ن ا

م ن

سحأ ك

م

سل

ل ا

كأ

otherwisewa 'illa

الإ و

shut up otherwise we go home!'ichrassy wa 'illa haarawahik

ك

ح

و

ر

اه الإ و ي

س

رخإ

unless'ila 'iza

ذإ

إال

don't give him any money unless Iallow you to

matidyhush filus 'ila 'iza 'anasamahtylak

لوس إال إذا أنا

ف دیهوش

ت

م

ك

لیتح

م

س

conditional clauses (if.. then...)

There are two words meaning if : they are 'iza ذإ and law و

ل . 'iza ذإ can be used under allcircumstances: law و

ل cannot be used with the imperfect form of a verb or a preposition.

In English, the word then is occasionally used to complement if In Egyptian, there is no equivalentword.







If I were rich...

If an event or situation is improbable or impossible, in English we use modals like 'would' and 'were'.In Egyptian, the word kaen ن

اك is used after law و

ل . Compare these two sentences:

if I have time, I will read the bookiicdhaa Aandy waqt, haaqraac iil-kitaab

if I had time, I would read the booklaw kaan Aandy waqt, kunt qaryt iil-kitaab

When conditional clause

past 'iza kaen ن

اك اذإ + perfect

present 'iza kaen ن

اك اذإ + imperfect

future 'iza kaen ن

اك اذإ + imperfect

Courtesies

This section summarises the expressions that are used daily to greet and say goodbye to people,ask for things and thank people on a day to day basis.

Religion

Religion is very important in Egypt There are several phrases that you will hear regularly in any







Religion is very important in Egypt. There are several phrases that you will hear regularly in any

conversation.

Egyptian English

ilhamdu lillahه ـ

ل مد

حل

ا thanks to Allah

'allah yisalaemakك

م

ال

س

ی

ه ـأ

may god protect you m

'allah yisalaemikك

م

ال

س

ی ه ـأ

may god protect you f

'inn shaa' 'allahه ـأ

ء

شا

إن

god willing

ya rabب

ر ای Oh god!

ن ـ

ر

our god!

greetingissalaem Aalykum

م

كیل

ع ال م

سل

ا peace be with you m/f

response Aalykum issalaem

م

ال

سل

ا

م

كیل

ع







Addressing somebody

ya ی is often used before somebody's name or title as a greeting

Egyptian English

ya 'ahmad

د

محأ یا hey, Ahmad!

ya rayisس

ی

یا ر hey, boss!

ya 'ustahه

طس

یا أ driver!

ya 'ustaezذ

ستا

أ

یا

hey mister(teacher)!to a respectable person

ya 'ustaezaذ

اتس

أ ای

ذ

ستا

أ

یا

ة

hey madam!

bashaش

با

pasha m/f

In addition to the standard pronouns for you, there are some more formal versions:







Egyptian English

informal

'intaإنت

you m

'intiإنت

you f

'intuإنتوا

you pl

formal

hadritakضر

ح

ك

ت

sir

hadritikضر

ح

ك

ت

madam

ك

تد

ی

س

sir

siyadtikك

تد

ی

س

madam

'afandimم

ند

فأ

Sir/Madam







Greetings

To welcome somebody, you can use one of these phrases...

Egyptian English

greeting

'ahlaen wa sahlaen

هال

س أهال و

welcome and ease

response'ahlaen wa sahlaen

هال

س أهال و

welcome and ease

response'ahlaen byk

أهال بیك

welcome to you m

response 'ahlaen bykyبیكي

أهال

welcome to you f

hamd illah Aala salamtak

ك

تم

لا

س لى

ع ه ل

دم

ح

greetinghamd illah Aala salamtikك

تم

لا

س لى

ع ه ل

دم

ح

thank god for protecting you f

Whenever you meet somebody that you already know, you should shake hands (very gently) anduse one of the following greetings.







Before sunset, the following informal greetings are used:

Egyptian English

greetingsabaeh ilchyr

لخیر

ا

ح

با

ص

a day of wellbeing

response sabaeh innur لنور

ا ح

ابص

a day of light

responsesabaeh il'ishtaة

طش

قل

ح ا

ابص

a day of cream

responsesabaeh ilful

ل

فل

ح ا

ابص

a day of daisies

After sunset, the following informal greetings may be used: I have heard them very rarely, though.

Egyptian English

greeting misaa' ilchyr لخیر

ا

ء

سا

م

an evening of wellbeing

responsemisaa' ilchyr لخیر

ا ء

اس

م

an evening of wellbeing

responsemisaa' ilful

an evening of daisies







ل

فل

ء ا

اس

م

Next, you should ask how they are:

Egyptian English

question Aaemil 'iyh?

ل إیه

م

عا

what are you m doing?

question Aaemila 'iyh?

ة إیه

ل

م

عا

what are you f doing?

question'izayak?

ك

ی

إز

how are you m

question'izayik?

ك

ی

إز

how are you f

questionil'achbaar 'iyh?

ر إیه

ابخأل

ا what's new?

response

kuluh tamaem, ilhamdu lillah

ه ـ

ل مد

حل

ا م

ام

ت ه

ل

ك

all ok, thank god

responsemiya miya, ilhamdu lillah

ه ـ

ل

مد

حل

ا

ة

ی

م

ة

ی

م

100% thank god

responsekuwayis, ilhamdu lillah

ه ـ

ل مد

حل

ا س

ی

و

ك

I m am good, thank god







response kuwayisa, ilhamdu lillahه ـ

ل مد

حل

ا ة

س

ی

و

ك

I f good, thank god

responsenus nus

ص

ن

ص

ن

half and half

responsemish battaal

ل

اط

ب ش

م

not bad

questionwa 'inta?

إنت

و

and you m?

questionwa 'inti?

تنإ و

and you f ?

If you know them well, you should ask how their wives, children, etc...

Introductions

Egyptian English

'ismak 'iyh?ك إیه

مسإ

what is your m name?

'ismik 'iyh?ك إیه

مسإ

what is your f name?

'ismy ...







٫٫٫ يمسإ

my name is ...

tisharrafnaنف

ر

ش

ت

pleased to meet you

Making you comfortable

Egyptian English

'istirayahح

ی

ر

تسإ

make yourself m comfortable

'istirayahyحي

ی

ر

تسإ

make yourself f comfortable

tishrab 'iyh?ب إیه

رش

ت

what will you m drink?

tishraby 'iyh?

بي إیه

رش

ت

Meal time

Egyptians normally have two big meals a day, plus a snack before bedtime.

English Time Types of food Egyptian







breakfast 11-12am bread with salads, dips, luncheon meats, omelette withbastirma, tamiyya

fitaar ر

طا

ف

breakfast(Ramadan)

sunset cooked meat, rice and vegetables, juice, sweet things'iftaar

ر

اطفإ

lunch 5-8pm cooked meat or fish, rice and vegetablesGada

د

غ

dinner beforesleeping

yogurt, fruit Aasha

ش

ع

Here are some expressions that are often used around meal times

Egyptian When to say it

remarkbiilhanna wa ishshiffa

فا

شل

لها و ا

ا

ب

before or after eating

remarksufrah daeymaen

می

فر ه دا

س

say to host

before leaving tablelike "thanks for the meal"

responsebiilhanna wa ishshiffa

فا

شل

ا

و

ا

هل

ا

ب

Please







Egyptian English

to m Aan 'iznak

ك

نذإ ن

ع excuse meto get past someone

to f Aan 'iznik

ك

نذإ ن

ع

to mlaw samaht

حت

م

س

و

ل

please

to f law samahty

حتي

م

س و

ل

to m min fadlakك

لض

ف ن

م

please

to f min fadlik

ك

لض

ف

ن

م

request

mumkin...

٫٫٫ن

كم

م

Please could you/I.....

responsemumkin

ن

كم

م

Yes (it's possible)

Thank you







Egyptian English

remarkshukraan

رك

ش

remark'alf shukr

كر

ش ألف

remark mutshakir a'wyي

ا

ر

ك

شت

م

reply Aafwaen

وف

ع

don't mention ityou are welcome

replyilAafw

فو

عل

ا you are welcome

Goodbyes

Egyptian English

remarkmaAa issalaema

ة

م

ال

سل

ع ا

م

with safety

replymaAa issalaema

ة

م

ال

سل

ع ا

م

with safety

hashufak 'imtae?







اتمإ ك

فوش

ه

When will I see you f ?

hashufik 'imtae?

اتمإ ك

فوش

ه

When will I see you f ?

hashufak baAdynعدین

ب ك

فوش

ه

See you m later

hashufik baAdynعدین

ب

ك

فوش

ه

See you f later

Achievement

Egyptian English

hazz saAydعید

س ظ

ح

good luck!

mabruk

بروك

م

response'allah yibaarak fyk

ك فیك

ر

اب

ی ه ـأ

god bless you m

response'allah yibaarik fyky

فیكي

ك

ر

با

ی

ه ـأ

god bless you f







Occasions

Egyptian English

kul sana wa 'inta tayibب

ی

ط ة و إنت

ن

س ل

ك

every year and you are happybirthdays, new year, feasts

remark

ramadaan karym

ریم

ك ن

اض

م

ر

during ramadan

response'allah 'akram

م

أكر

ه ـأ

during ramadan

Opinions

Egyptian English

question'iyh r'ayak?

ك

یأر إیه

what do you m think?

question'iyh r'ayik?

ك

یأر إیه

what do you f think?

questiontamaem?

م

ما

ت

OK?

questiontamaem kidah?

ه

د

ك ما م

ت

Ok like this?







response 'aywaویأ

yes

responsemashy

شي

ما

It goesok

responsetamaem

م

ام

ت

good

responsetayib

ب

ی

ط

fine

responsehaadir

ر

ض

حا

right away

response mayinfaAshعش

فن

ی

م

it's no use

responsemish mumkin

ن

كم

م

ش

م

not possible

responselaa'

ء

ال

no

responselaa' 'abadaen

د

بأ

ء

ال

never!

response'aha

حأ

offensive way of disagreeing







response Aafwaen?

وف

ع

Pardon?if you didn't hear

response'ana mish 'akyd

أكید

ش

م

أنا

I m/f am not sure

response

'ana mish Aaarif

ف

ر

اع ش

م أنا I m don't know

response'ana mish Aaarifa

ة

ف

ر

اع ش

م أنا I f don't know

response'ana mish faehim

م

ه

فا

ش

م

أنا

I m don't understand

response 'ana mish faehimaة

م

ه

ش فا

م أنا I f don't understand

Hassle

'imshyإمشي

go away!

chalaas kidahه

د

ك ص

ال

خ

stop this

haraam Aalykshame on you m!







لیك

ع را م

ح

haraam Aalykyلیكي

ع را م

ح

shame on you f !

chalyk muhtaramم

ر

تح

م

لیك

خ

be respectful!if a man gets

over-friendly to a woman'ihtirim nafsakك

سف

ن م

ر

تحإ

Insults

remarkhumaar

ر

ما

ح

donkeyoffensive

remark'ibn marah

ه

ر

م إبن

your father is a womanvery offensive

'ibn sharmuta son of a whore/bitch

ة

طومر

ش إبن

very offensive

response'ifandim???

م

ند

فإ

pardon????

Negation

The word mish ش

م is used to negate a phrase. It is either placed in front of the verb or preposition,







or wrapped around it.

Structure English Arabic

Preposition

I have cigarettes Aandy sagaeyar

ر

ی

جا

س ندي

ع

I don't have any cigarettesma Aandysh sagaeyar

ر

ی

جا

س ندیش

ع

م

There is water fy mayaeh

ه

یا

م

في

There is no water mafysh mayaeh

ه

ایم فیش

م

kaan

I was there'ana kunt hinaek

ك

نا

ه

نت

ك

أنا

'

I was not there

ك

ان

ه ش

تن

ك

م أنا

perfect

I saw Ahmed'ana shuft 'ahmad

د

محأ فت

ش أنا

I did not see Ahmed'ana mashuftish 'ahmad

د

محأ

ش

تف

ش

م

أنا

'ana Aaarif







participle

I knowف

ر

اع انأ

I do not know

'ana mish Aaarif ف

ر

عا

ش

م

أنا

aacnaa maAaarifsh

imperfect

He wants to eat Aaeyiz yaekulل

ك

یا

ز

ی

عا

He does not want to eatmish Aaeyiz yaekul

ل

ك

ز یا

ی

ش عا

م

he must not eatmayaekulsh

لش

ك

میا

I like this bookbahibb ilkitaeb dah

ه

د

ب

تا

كل

ا

ب

ح

ب

bi-imperfect

I do not like this book

mabahibbsh ilkitaeb dah

ه

د ب

ات

كل

ش ا

ح

ب

م

less common...mish bahibb ilkitaeb dah

ه

د ب

ات

كل

ب ا

ح

ب ش

م

]







Ha-imperfectI will buy the book hashtiry ilkitaeb

ب

ات

كل

ري ا

تش

ها

I will not buy the bookmish hashtiry ilkitaeb

ب

ات

كل

ري ا

تش

ش ها

م

imperative

go away! iimshy!

don't go! use mish+you-imperfectmatimshysh

مشیش

ت

م

Sometimes ma- is used on it own- the -sh does not appear after the word. There are no rules about

when this can happen.Numbers

Arabic digits are not the same as Roman digits:

Digit English Egyptian0

٠

zerosifr

فر

ص

1١

onewaehid

د

ح

وا

2 t 'it







2٢

two 'itnynإتنین

3٣

threetalaeta

ة

ت

ال

ت

4٤

four 'arbaAa

ة

ع

برأ

5٥

fivechamsa

ة

سم

خ

6٦

sixsitta

ـة

س

7٧

seven sabAaة

عب

س

8٨

eighttamanyaة

ین

ما

ت

9٩ nine

tisAa

ة

عس

ت

10١٠

ten Aashara

ة

ر

ش

ع

Cardinals and Ordinals

I b th E li h d ti th t f f b di l d di l C di l







In both English and egyptian, there are two forms of number- cardinals and ordinals. Cardinals areused to count things (one, two, three), Ordinals are used to describe sequence (first, second, etc).

Example Function

Cardinal five used to count things

Ordinal fifth used to describe the order, or position in sequence, of something

Cardinals

Cardinals are used for counting and specifying how many of something. Usage of the first fewnumbers is complicated, but it gets easier after that :-). There are special rules for:

People of a particular nationality (eg one englishman)Quantities- weight, money, and when you are ordering something (eg teas)People in general (men, women etc)Things - everything else

The following table gives an overview of the situation:

Number Form NationalsEgyptians

Quantitiesweightmoneytea

Peoplemenwomen

Thingsbookschairsminutes

sifr







zero

فر

ص

mafyshفیش

م

+plural

noun

masriyyinن

یی

صر

م

waznزن

و

filusلوس

ف

shaeyي

شا

rigalaال

اج

ر

sittaet

ت

ا

س

kutubتوب

ك

karasyسي

ار

ك

da'aeyi'ق

ی

قا

د

waehidد

ح

وا

+singnoun

masryصري

م

kylwكیلو

ginyhنیه

ج

shaey

one

ي

اش

wahdaة

دح

او

+singnoun

masriyaة

ی

صر

م

kitaeb







nson its own

raagilل

ج

را

sittت

س

ب

ات

ك

kursyرسي

ك

di'y'a

ة

قیق

د 'itnyn

إتنین

+pluralnoun

masriyyinن

یی

صر

م

rigalaال

اج

ر

sittaetت

ا

س

'itnynإتنین

kylwكیلو

gynyh

two+singnoun

جینیه

shaeyي

اش

kitabynبین

تا

ك

kursiyyin







noun-ynkursiyyin

ن

یی

سر

ك

di'i'tynد

قتين

ق

three

talaetaة

ت

ال

ت

+singnoun

masryصري

م

masryaة

یرص

م

kylwكیلو

gynyhجینیه

shaey

ي

اش

kutubتوب

ك

ت

ل

ت

+pluralnoun

ال

جا

ر

sittaetت

ا

س

karasyسي

را

ك

da'aeyi'ق

ی

د قا

four thru nine, same as 3







Zero

For zero, there is no equivalent of no as in no books. Instead, the verb or preposition is negatedwith mish ش

م . As in english, the noun is a plural. Alternatively, you can use or without- min Gyr ن

م

.غیر

English Egyptian

zerosifr

فر

ص

no egyptians (m/f)mafysh masriyyinن

یی

صر

م فیش

م

no weight waznزن

و

filus

لوس

ف

no teashaey

ي

اش

no menragala

ال

جا

را

no womensittaet







ت

ا

س

no bookskutub

توب

ك

no chairskarasy

سي

را

ك

no seconds da'aeyi'ق

ی

د قا

One

The number one has a masculine and feminine form. Both forms are used for people of a particular nationality eg an englishman.

For weights, money and when ordering things, the masculine form only is used.

In English, we would usually say a book rather than one book: the same is true in Egyptian, but

there is no word for a - the noun is simply used on its own.

English Egyptian

onewaehid

د

ح

وا

one egyptian (m)waehid masry

صري

م د

ح

وا







one egyptian (f) waHdao maSriyao

a kilo waaHid kylw

a guinea waaHid ginyh

one tea waaHid shaay

a man raagil

a woman sitt

a book kitaab

a chair kursy

a minute diqyqao

Two

For people of a particular nationality, eg two englishmen or two egyptians, use the number 'itnyn إتنین

followed by a plural noun.

For weights, money and orders, use the number 'itnyn . followed by a singular nounإتنین

For things, you should use the suffix -yn for masculine nouns and -tynـین تین ـ for feminine nouns.Nouns ending in -y take the ending -iyyinـي ن

يي

ـ . This is equivalent to a couple which can meanexactly two, or approximately two.

English Egyptian







two'itnyn

إتنین

two egyptians (m/f)'itnyn masryyin

ن

ییرص

م

إتنین

two kilos iictnyn kylwtwo guineas iictnyn ginyh

two teas iictnyn shaay

two men iictnyn ragaalaa

two women iictnyn sittaat

two books kitaabyn

two chair kursiyyin

two minutes diqiqtyn

Three to Ten

For People of nationalities, use the number followed by a plural noun.

For weights, money and when ordering things, use the number followed by a singular noun.

For people and things, use the short form listed below followed by a plural noun:

Digit English Egyptian English Egyptian







Digit English Egyptian English Egyptian

3٣

threetalaeta

ة

ت

ال

ت

three bookstalat kutub

ب

ت

ك

ت

ل

ت

4٤

four 'arbaAa

ة

ع

برأ

four books'arbaAa kutub

ب

ت

ك ع

برأ

5٥

fivechamsa

ة

سم

خ

five bookschamas kutub

ب

ت

ك س

م

خ

6٦

sixsitta

ـة

س

six bookssitt kutub

ب

ت

ك

ت

س

7

٧ seven

sabAa

ة

عب

س

seven books

sabaA kutub

ب

ت

ك ع

ب

س

8٨

eighttamanyaة

ین

ما

ت

eight bookstaman kutub

ب

ت

ك ن

م

ت






ر

شـ

س

ب

ات

ك ر

شـ

س

seventeen sabaAtashar ر

ش

تع

ب

س

seventeen books sabaAtashar kitaebب

ات

ك ر

ش

تع

ب

س

eighteentamantashar

ر

ش

تن

م

ت

eighteen bookstamantashar kitaeb

ب

تا

ك

ر

ش

تن

م

ت

nineteentisAatashar

nineteen bookstisAatashar kitaeb




ر

ش

ت

عس

ت ب

ات

ك ر

ش

ت

عس

ت

The digits in Egyptian numbers are written in the same order as in European numbers. Whenexpressed as words, however, the two digits are stated as units and tens, as in german not english,with wa : in betweenو

35

٣٥

thirty fiveKamsao wa talatyn

Here are the numbers from 20 to 90:

English Egyptian

twenty Aasharyn

رین

ش

ع

thirtyتین

ل

ت

forty'arbaAyn

عین

برأ

fiftychamsyn

مسین

خ

sixty

sittyn







yین

س

seventysabaAyn

عین

ب

س

eightytamanyn

نین

م

ت

ninetytisAyn

سعین

ت

Hundreds

Here are the numbers from one to nine hundred. Note that the short form myt is used whenمیت

hundreds are followed by a noun (which must be singular):

English Egyptian short form+ singular noun

one hundredmiya

ة

ی

م

myt kitaeb

ب

ات

ك میت

two hundredmityn

تین

م

mityn kitaebب

تا

ك

تین

م

three hundredtultumiya

ة

ی

م

تل

ت

tultumyt kitaebب

ات

ك میت

تل

ت

four hundred rubAumiya rubAumyt kitaeb







yة

ی

م

عب

ر

yب

ات

ك میت

عب

ر

five hundredchamsumiya

ة

ی

م

سم

خ

chamsamyt kitaebب

تا

ك

میت

سم

خ

six hundredsuttumiya

ة

ی

مـ

س

suttumyt kitaebب

ات

ك ـمیت

س

seven hundredsubuAmiya

ة

ی

مع

ب

س

subuAamyt kitaebب

تا

ك

میت

ع

ب

س

eight hundredtumunumiya

ة

ی

م

ن

م

ت

tumunumyt kitaebب

ات

ك میت

ن

م

ت

nine hundred tusAumiyaة

ی

م

عس

ت

tusAumyt kitaebب

ات

ك میت

عس

ت

Thousands

Here are the numbers from one to nine thousand. Five thousand should really be chamsaet 'alf مسا

خ

ت ألف

, but it is pronounced as below.

English Egyptian

one thousandalf

لف

ا

two thousandalfyn

لفین

ا







three thousandtalat talaef

ف

ال

ت ت

ل

ت

four thousand'arbaA talaef

ف

ال

ت

ع

برأ

five thousandchamas talaef

ف

ال

ت س

م

خ

six thousandsit talaef

ف

ال

ت ت

س

seven thousand

sabaA talaef

ف

ال

ت ع

ب

س

eight thousandtaman talaef

ف

ال

ت ن

م

ت

nine thousandtisaA talaef

ف

ال

ت ع

س

ت

ten thousand Aashar talaef

ف

ال

ت ر

ش

ع

Ordinals

To explain the sequence of things (first, second, third), you use the ordinal. It can be either as anadjective or as a noun in the genitive form: As an adjective, the ordinal be preceded by il ل

ا and, for







j g j p y1 to 9, must agree with the gender of the noun. From 11 onwards, the cardinal numbers are thesame as ordinals, and are used as adjectives only.

English Egyptian

the third dayilyum ittaelit

ت

ل

لتا

ا مویل

ا

third daytaelit yum

ت یوم

ل

تا

the third timeilmarra ittalta

ة

تل

لتا

ا

ة

ر

مل

ا

third timetaelit marra

ة

ر

م ت

ل

تا

ilyum ilAaeshir

ر

ش

لعا

ا مویل

ا

tenth day Aaeshir yumر یوم

ش

عا

the tenth timeilmarra ilAaeshiraة

ر

ش

لعا

ا

ة

ر

مل

ا

tenth time Aaeshir marra

ة

ر

م ر

ش

عا







the eleventh dayilyum ilhidaeshar

ر

ش

دا

حل

لیوم ا

ا

eleventh timeilmarra ilhidaeshar ر

ش

دا

حل

ا

ة

ر

مل

ا

the twentieth day ilyum ilAasharynرین

ش

عل

لیوم ا

ا

twentieh timeilmarra ilAasharynرین

ش

عل

ا

ة

ر

مل

ا

Here are the first ten ordinals:


awwil

ilkitaeb il'awwil

ل

و

ا ل

وأل

ا ب

ات

كل

ا

'uulaوال

أ the first cat il'utta il'uulaوال

أل

ا ة ـط

قل

ا

secondtany

ني

تا

the second bookilkitaeb ittanyني

لتا

ا

ب

تا

كل

ا

tanya

ة

ین

تا the second cat

il'utta ittanya

ة

ین

لتا

ا ة ـط

قل

ا







thirdtaelit

ت

ل

تا the third bookilkitaeb ittaelitت

ل

لتا

ا ب

ات

كل

ا

taltaة

تل

تا

the third catil'utta ittalta

ة

تل

لتا

ا

ة ـط

قل

ا

fourth rabAaبع

ار

the fourth book ilkitaeb irrabAaبع

ارل

ا ب

ات

كل

ا

rabAaة

عب

ر

the fourth catil'utta irrabAa

ة

عب

لر

ا

ة ـط

قل

ا

fifthchams

مس

اخ

the fifth bookilkitaeb ilchaamis

س

م

لخا

ا ب

ات

كل

ا chamsa

ة

سم

خ

the fifth catil'utta ilchamsa

ة

سم

خل

ة ا ـط

قل

ا

sixthsaedis

س

د اس

the sixth bookilkitaeb issaedis

س

د اسل

ا ب

ات

كل

ا saetit

ة

ت

سا

the sixth catil'utta issaetit

ة

ت

لسا

ا

ة ـط

قل

ا

seventhsaebiA

ع

ب

سا

the seventh bookilkitaeb issaebiAع

ب

لسا

ا ب

ات

كل

ا

seventh saebiAaة

عب

سا

the seventh cat il'utta issaebiAaة

عب

ة ا لسا ـط

قل ا







eighthtaemin

ن

م

تا

the eighth bookilkitaeb ittaemin

ن

م

لتا

ا

ب

تا

كل

ا

eighthtamna

ة

نم

ت

the eighth catil'utta ittamna

ة

نم

تل

ة ا ـط

قل

ا

ninthtaesiA

ع

س

تا

the ninth bookilkitaeb ittaesiA

لتا

ا

ب

تا

كل

ا

ع

س

ninthtasAa

ة

عس

تا

the ninth catil'utta ittaesiAaة

ع

س

لتا

ا

ة ـط

قل

ا

tenth Aaeshir

ر

ش

عا

the tenth bookilkitaeb ilAaeshir ر

ش

لعا

ا ب

ات

كل

ا

Aaeshira

il'utta ilAaeshira

ة

ر

ش

عا

ة

ر

ش

لعا

ا ة ـط

قل

ا

From the eleventh onwards, the cardinal and ordinal are the same. Here are some examples:

Number Ordinal English Egyptian

elevenhidaeshar

ر

ش

دا

ح

the eleventh bookilkitaeb ilhidaeshar

ر

ش

دا

حل

ا

ب

تا

كل

ا

twelve 'itnaeshar the twelfth book ilkitaeb il'itnashar







ر

ش

إتنا ر

ش

نتإل

ب ا

ات

كل

ا

thirteentalaetashar ر

ش

ت

ال

ت

the thirteenth bookilkitaeb ittalaetashar ر

ش

ت

ال

تل

ب ا

ات

كل

ا

twenty Aasharyn

رین

ش

ع

the twentieth bookilkitaeb ilAasharyn

رین

ش

عل

ب ا

ات

كل

ا

thirtythalatyn

تین

ل

ث

the thirtieth bookilkitaeb ittalatyn

تین

ل

تل

ب ا

ات

كل

ا

forty'arbaAyn

عین

برأ

the fortieth bookilkitaeb il'arbaAyn

عین

برأل

ب ا

ات

كل

ا

one hundred miyaة

ی

م

the hundredth book ilkitaeb ilmiyaة

ی

مل

ا

ب

تا

كل

ا

mityn

ilkitaeb ilmityn

تین

م

تین

مل

ب ا

ات

كل

ا

three hundred tultumiyaة

ی

م

تل

ت

the three hundredth book ilkitaeb ittultumiyaة

ی

م

تل

تل

ب ا

ات

كل

ا

one thousand'alf

ألف

the thousandth bookilkitaeb il'alf

أللف

ا

ب

تا

كل

ا

Fractions

The following fractions are widely used:







The following fractions are widely used:

English Egyptian

half nus

نوص

a thirdtilt

لت

ت

a quarter rubaA

ع

ب

ر

three quarters

talaet 'arbaAa

ع

برأ ت

ال

ت

Questions

To ask how many people or things, you should use kam م

ك before the noun. To ask for asequence or reference number (what or which, you put the kam م

ك after the noun. In all of thesecases, the noun is singular.

Type English Egyptian

count How many children do you have? Aandak kam walad?

د

ل

كم و ك

دنع

count How many days will you stay? kam yum hatinizil?







ل

ز

ن

ته

یوم

كم

count How many guests tomorrow?kam zibun bukrah?

ه

رك

ب بون

ز مك

what What is your telephone number?nimritak kaem?

م

اك ك

ت

مر

ن

what What time is it?issaeAa kaem?

م

كا

ة

ع

لسا

ا

what What time is the meeting?il'igtimaeA issaeAa kaem?م

اك ة

ع

لسا

ا ع

ام

تجإل

ا

what What is your apartment number? sha''ytak raqam kaem?م

اك مق ك ر تـیق

ش

Aaeyiz dur kaem?

م

اك رود ز

ی

عا

Ownership

There are several different ways to indicate ownership and belonging. These are:

Egyptian Meaning Egyptian English

possessivepronoun my/your/his 'ismuhه

مسإ

his name







simplegenitive

of ism ilwalad

د

ل

لو

ا مس

ا the name of the boy

bitaeA

ع

ات

ب

belongingilbasbur bitaeAy

تا

ب

سبور

بل

ا

عي

my passport

Aandند

ع

ownershipAandy biyt

یت

ب ندي

ع

I have a house

maAaع

م

have with youmaAaek kabryt?

بریت

ك ك

اع

م

Do you have matches (on you)?

lyلي

having for a purposeintended for attached

fy busta lyk

ة لیك

طسوب في

there is some post for you

milk

لك

م

(my/your/his) propertyilbiyt dah milkuh

ه

كل

م یت د ه

بل

ا

that house is his property

possessive pronoun

In both english and arabic, the most common way of expressing ownership is with a posessivepronoun (my, your... etc). In egyptian, this is a suffix attached to the noun. Here are some examples:

English Arabic'ismy







my nameismy

إسمي

your(m) name'ismak

ك

مسإ

your(f) name 'ismikك

مسإ

my housebiyty

یتي

ب

his housebiytuh

ه

تی

ب

my father 'abwya

یوبأ

your(f) father 'abuha

هوبأ

his father 'abuh

أبوه

our godrabbina

ن ـ

ر

The posessive pronouns themselves are pretty easy to learn, but when the pronouns are attachedto nouns, the vowels do a little dance to make sure that you don't get three consonants in a row.







to nouns, the vowels do a little dance to make sure that you don t get three consonants in a row.See pronouns for more information.

simple genitive

In english, the simple genitive can take two forms: both are expressed in the same way in arabic.

English Egyptian

the man's name'ism irraagil

لرا

ا مسإ

ل

ج

the name of the man 'ism irraagilلرا

ا مسإ

ل

ج

il- لـ

ا can be attached to the second noun if required, but must never be attached to the first noun. If the first noun is feminine, the -a ة

ـ ending changes to -it ت

ـ . Nothing must be placed between thetwo nouns. Adjectives go after the second noun, but must agree in gender and number with the firstnoun. If a possessive suffix is required, it must go on the second word (or use bitaeA ع

ات

ب ). Here aresome examples:

English Egyptian

the boy's name is strange

'ism ilwalad Garyb

ریب

غ لد لو

ا مسإ

A d i it til f h







I have her telephone number Aandy nimrit tilyfunha

هنوفیل

ت ة

رم

ن ندي

ع

Where is the railway station?mahatit il'atr fyn?

طر فین

قل

ة ا

ط

ح

م

Do you know my cousin? (uncle's son) 'inta Aaarif 'ibn Aammy?ي

م

ع

إبن

ف

ر

عا

إنت

Do you know my cousin? (uncle's son)tiAarif 'ibn Aammy?

ي

م

ع ف إبن

ر

ع

ت

Have you seen the boss's new car?'inta shuft Aarabiyit ilmudyr ilgidyda?

ة

دید

جل

دیر ا

مل

ة ا

ی

ب

ر

ع إنت شوفت

Have you seen the new boss's car?'inta shuft ilAarabiya 'illy maAa ilmudyr ilgidyd?

ا

دیر

مل

ا

ع

م

ي

إ

ة

ی

ب

ر

عل

ا

شوفت

إنت

ديد

جل

I want a bottle of water Aaeyiz 'izzaezit mayaehه

ایم ة

ز

ازإ ز

ی

عا

give me this bottle of water iddyny 'izzaezit ilmayaeh

ه

یا

مل

ا

ة

ز

ا

زإ

یني

د

ا

dyh

Belonging- bitaAت ع

ب







bitaA ع

ت

ب is used in several ways:

noun + bitaA + possessive suffix, to indicate ownershipnoun + bitaA + possessive suffix, as an alternative to a genitivebitaA + product (milk, onions, tyres etc), to indicate somebody who sells the product

bitaA + possessive suffix, to refer to a man's or woman's private parts

bitaA ع

ت

ب is always used for ownership when the noun ends in -yn and for imported words (myـینvilla). It is not used for parts of the body (my leg).

English Egyptian

I have lost my passport'ana daayAt ilbasbur bitaAy

عي

ات

ب سبور

بل

یعت ا

اض انأ

Aandak kam 'uuda fy ilvyla bitaAtak?

how many rooms does your villa have? تا

ب لڤیال

ا يف ة

ضو

كم أ ك

دنع

ك

تع

Where are your teachers?fyn ilmudarrisyn bitwaAak?

ك

ع

تو

ب سین

ر

دمل

فین ا

He is a vegetable seller huwwa bitaeA chudaar

ر

اض

خ ع

ات

ب و

ه

He is a milk seller means he's a ladies' man huwwa bitaeA laban

ن

ب

ل

ع

تا

ب

و

ه







Stop scratching yourself!battal tuhrush fy bitaeAak

ك

ع

تا

ب ش في

ره

ت ل ـط

ب

bitaeA ع

ات

ب is like a participle, so it has to agree in gender and number with the noun. Here are all of

the possible endings:

English m f pl

the book the bag the books

ilkitaeb bitaeA-عـ

تا

ب

ب

تا

كل

ا

ishshanta bitaAt-تـع

تا

ب

ة

طن

شل

ا

ilkutub bituA-عـوت

ب

توب

كل

ا

belonging to mebitaAy

عي

ات

ب

bitaAtyعتي

ات

ب

bituAyتوعي

ب

belonging to usنع

ا ت ب ن ت ع ا ت ب ن ع و ت ب

belonging to you(m)bitaeAak

ك

ع

تا

ب

bitaAtakك

تع

تا

ب

bituAakك

عوت

ب

belonging to you(f)bitaeAik

ك

ع

تا

ب

bitaAtikك

تع

تا

ب

bituAikك

عوت

ب

belonging to you(pl)

bitaAkum

م

كع

تا

ب

bitaeAitkum

م

كت

ع

تا

ب

bituAkum

م

كعوت

ب

bitaeAuh bitaAtuh bituAuh







belonging to himbitaeAuh

ه

ع

تا

ب

bitaAtuhه

تع

تا

ب

bituAuhه

عوت

ب

belonging to her bitaAha

هع

تا

ب

bitaeAithaهت

ع

تا

ب

bituAhaهعوت

ب

belonging to them bitaAhumم

هع

تا

ب

bitaeAithumم

هت

ع

تا

ب

bituAhumم

هعوت

ب

Ownership - Aand ع ند

Aand ند

ع means that you own something but don't necessarily have with you. It can also be usedabout members of your family. An object pronoun can be added to indicate who owns something.Here are some examples:

English Egyptian

I have a car Aandy Aarabiya

ة

ی

ب

ر

ع ندي

ع

he has two childrenAanduh waladyn

دین

ل

و

ه

ند

ع

do you have any books?Aandak kutub?

ب

ت

ك ك

دنع

Here are all of the possible forms.







English Arabic

I have Aandy

ندي

ع

we have Aandinaن

عند

you(m) have Aandak

ك

دنع

you(f) have Aandik

ك

ند

ع

you(pl) have Aandukum

م

ك

عند

he hasه

دنع

she has Aandaha

ه

عند

they have Aanduhum

م

ه

ند

ع

Having with you maAaم ع

maAa means that you have something or somebody with you. It takes an object suffix to say who it







y g y y j yis with.

English Egyptian

Do you have the keys?

maAak ilmafatyh?

تیح

افمل

ك ا

ع

م

I will go with you'ana haaruh maAaak

ك

ع

م روح

اه انأ

Do you have any change?maAak fakka?

ة ـك

ف

ك

ع

م

Here are all of the possible forms:

English Egyptian

I havemaAaeya

ی

عا

م

we havemaAana

ن

عا

م

you(m) havemaAaek

ك

اع

م

you(f) have maAakyكي

عا

م







you(pl) havemaAaekum

م

ك

عا

م

he hasmaAaeh

ه

اع

م

she hasmaAaha

ه

عا

م

they havemaAaehum

م

ه

عا

م

intended for - ly-لی

ly can be used for parts of the body, members of your family, for something that is attached, andلي

for something that is intended for somebody or something. It is also used when an inanimate objecthas something. Here are some examples:

English Egyptian

he has only one leglyh rigl wahda bas

س

ب حد ة

او لج

ر هیل

she has two childrenlyha waladyn

دین

ل

لیها و

there is mail for you (f)fy busta lyky







there is mail for you (f)y y y

ة لیكي

طسوب في

I owe you five poundsLit: I have five founds for you(m)

Aandy chamsa giny lyk

لیك

نیة

ج

ة

سم

خ

ندي

ع

this present is for (all of) you(pl) ilhidaya dy lykumم

كیل ة دي

ی

د

هل

ا

I want a garden seat A seat intended for the garden

Aaeyiz kursy lilginiynaة

نی

ن

جل

ل رسي

ك ز

ی

عا

the flat has a garageishsha''a lyha garaaj

چ

ار

ج ة لیها ـق

شل

ا the flat has two bedroomsuse fy because rooms are insideفي

ishsha''a fyhae'uudtynوضتین

أ اهیف ة ـق

شل

ا

Here are all of the possible forms:

English m

I haveliya

ي

ل

we havelyna

نیل

you(m) havelyk







لیك

you(f) havelyky

لیكي

you(pl) havelykum

م

كیل

he haslyh

لیه

she haslyha

هیل

they havelyhum

م

هیل

Possession property milk لك

م

Ownership of real estate - houses, land etc, can be expressed with milk- لكـ

م plus a suffix.

English Egyptian

He has his own house Aanduh biyt milkuh

ه

كل

م

یت

ب

ه

ند

ع

I own land in Hurghada Aandy 'ard milk fy ilGarda'aرد

غل

لك في ا

م ندي أرض

ع







ة

ق

Quantities

You can specify a quantity in several ways:

measures - metres, kilos etcnumberscontainers - packs, bottles etcapproximate amounts - a little, a lot etc

Measures

For weights, lengths and other measurements, you use a number followed by a singular noun.

'

Ahmed is 1m90 tall

نتي

س ٩٠ و ١ رت

م أحمد طولوه

this bag is 20 poundsishshanta dih bi Aishryn ginyh

نیه

ج شرین

ع ه ب

د ة

طن

شل

ا

2 kilos of potatoes, please'itnyn kylw bataatis, law samaht

حت

م

س

و

ل

س

ط

طا

ب

كیلو

إتنین

I want a hundred grams of salami Aaeyiz myt garam salamy

مي

ال

س ر م

ج ز میت

ی

عا

I need a quarter kilo of buttermihtaeg rubaA kylw zibda







I need a quarter kilo of butter ة

بد

ز

كیلو

ع

ب

ر

ج

حتا

م

the truck brought eight tonnes of water ilAarabiya gaebit tamanya tun mayae

یا

م ن

ط ة

ین

ما

ت ت

ب

ة جا

ی

ب

ر

عل

ا

ة

Numbers

See the section in numbers for more information about this.

Containers

If you want something in a container of some sort: carton, bottle, etc, you use the genitive of thecontainer. The main effect of this is that words ending in tee-marbuta -a ة

ـ are pronounced -it ت

ـ .Here are some examples:






ة

ی

فا

ك لوس

ف ندیش

ع

م

he has a lot of money Aanduh filus kityr تیر

ك لوس

ف عند ه

you have a lot of friendsinformal

Aandak 'ashaeb yama

م

یا

ب

أصحا

ك

ند

ع

Questions

There are four main groups of questions.




Direct- what, when, whyIndirect- courteous question and whether Confirmation - isn't it so?Rhetorical- you are making a point and don't expect an answer

English quirks

In english, it is possible to ask a question in many different ways. some of these translate easily intoEgyptian: others require a little thought. The ones you need to watch out for are:

sentences with 'do' where you are not doing anything

sentences with 'got' where you are not getting anythingsentences with how followed by an adverb or adjective (see adverbal question)

For all english verbs except is and have, you can turn a statement into a question by putting do in

front of it.

you know Johndo you know John?

.

In egyptian, you can either add huwwa و

ه at the start of the sentence or use inflection you know john?

The word have is somewhat overused in english, and English speakers often reduce the risk of confusion by saying have you got rather than the older form, still used by most americans, do youhave...?. There is no equivalent in egyptian, so inflection is used







Direct questions

It is possible to frame a direct question in several ways:

using a query word at the end of the sentencepreceding a sentence with huwwa و

ه

by inflection

Query words

In english, a query word normally start the sentence: in egyptian it is normally at the end of the

sentence. For example

where are you going?raayiH fyn?

The following query words can be used:

English Egyptian

what'iyh

إیه

when'imta

إمتى

wherefyn







فین

where fromminyn

نین

م

how 'izzayي

زإ

which'anhw

أنهو

how many

kaemم

اك

followed by singular noun

what (number)م

اك

how much (of something) 'add iyhیه

ا دق

how much (money)bikaem

م

كا

ب

whylyh

لیه







The simple imperfect ('aAamil, tiAuz, yiruh روه

ی عوز

ت ل

م

عأ is often used in questions. Here are someexamples:

English Egyptian

how are you?'izzayak?

ك

ی

إز

how are you?lit. what are you doing?

'aAamil 'iyh?إیه

ل

م

عأ

what are you doing? bitaAamil 'iyh?ل إیه

م

ع

ت

ب

' '

when will I see you?

ك إمتى

فوشأ

where is the station? ilmahatta fyn?ة فین ـط

ح

مل

ا

where can I buy flowers from?mumkin 'ashtiry ward min fyn?

فین

ن

م

رد

و

ري

تشأ

ن

كم

م

where can I buy flowers from?minyn mumkin 'ashtiry ward?

رد

و ير

تشأ ن

كم

م نین

م

where are you from?'inta minyn?







yنین

م

إنت

how do I charge this phone?'ashhan ittilyfun dah 'izzay?

ي

زإ ه د نوفیل

تل

ن ا

حشأ

which book (m) do you(m) want? Aaewiz ilkitaeb 'anhw?ب أنهو

ات

كل

ز ا

و

اع

which glass (f) is yours(m)?'anhw ilkubaeya bitaAitak?

ك

ت

ع

ت

ب

ة

ی

با

كل

ا

أنهو

how much milk would you like? Aaewiz laban 'add iyh?

یه

ا دق ن

ب

ل ز

و

اع

how much is this bag?ishshanta dy bikaem?

م

اك

ب ة دي

طن

شل

ا

why is he going?huwwa raayih lyh?

ح لیه

ی

و را

ه

Here are some common answers to questions

English Egyptian

How much? This much 'add iyh? 'add kidahه

د

ك قد یه

ا دق

lyh? Aalashaen







Why? Because.lyh? Aalashaen

ن

اش

ل

ع لیه

Why? It's like thatlyh? kidah

ه

د

ك

لیه

Why? Better like thislyh? 'ahsan kidah

ه

د

ك ن

سحأ لیه

Why? Why not?lyh? lyh laa'?

ء

ال هیل لیه

To ask how many people or things, you should use kaem م

اك before the noun. To ask for asequence or reference number (what or which, you put the kaem م

اك after the noun. In all of these

cases, the noun is singular.

English Egyptian

How many children do you have? Aandak kaem walad?

د

ل

ك كا م و

دنع

How many days will you stay?hatinizil kaem yum?

ل كا م یوم

ز

ن

ت

ه

How many guests tomorrow?kaem zibun bukrah?

ه

كر

ب

بون

ز

م

كا







What is your telephone number?nimritak kaem?

م

اك ك

ت

مر

ن

What time is it?issaeAa kaem?

م

اك ة

ع

لسا

اWhat time is the meeting?

il'igtimaeA issaeAa kaem?

م

اك ة

ع

لسا

ا ع

ام

تجإل

ا

What is your apartment number?sha''itak ra'am kaem?

م

اك مق ك ر

ت ـق

ش

Which is your apartment? sha''itak 'anhw?أنهو

ك

ت ـق

ش

Which floor do you want?

م

اك رود ز

ی

عا

Pronoun questions

In english, it is possible to make a question by swapping the subject and verb. For example,

he is englishis he english?

The equivalent in Egyptian arabic is to put the query pronoun huwwa و

ه at the start of thesentence. You should think of this as "Is it so that..."







huwwa iicnta gaay maAa-naa?Is it so that you are coming with us?

Inflection

In english, you can make a statement by saying she is coming. or turn it into a question, she iscoming? just by the tone of your voice: the pitch rises a little at the end of the sentence to indicatea question. You can do exactly the same thing in Arabic. hiya gayya ة

یی

ج ي

ه is a statement nd hiyagayya? ة

یی

ج ي

ه is a question.

Indirect questions (whether)

An indirect question is made up of two clauses: the first clause is often a courtesy clause "Couldyou possibly..." and the second clause is the real question. Here are some examples of direct andindirect questions.

Direct Indirect

where is the station? Can you tell me where the station is?

what is the time? Do you know what the time is?

is he coming? Do you know whether he is coming?

The query-word whether is used only in indirect questions: in egyptian, 'iza ذإ is used for this.

English Egyptian

mumkin ti'uly fyn ilmahatta?







Can you tell me where the station is?mumkin ti'uly fyn ilmahatta?

ة ـط

ح

مل

لي فین ا

ق

ت ن

كم

م

Do you know what the time is?'inta Aaarif issaeAa kaem?

م

اك ة

ع

لسا

ا ف

ر

اع تنإ

Do you know whether he is coming?'inta Aaarif 'iza huwwa gayy?

یي

ج و

ه ف إذا

ر

اع تنإ

Confirmation questions

If you are pretty sure about something but want to check, you can use one of the following methods:

English Arabic

he's coming, isn't he? huwwa mish gaey?ي

اج ش

م و

ه

he's coming, isn't that so?huwwa gaey, mish kidah?

ه

د

ك ش

م ي

اج و

ه

he's coming, right?huwwa gaey, sahh?

ح

ص

ي

جا

و

ه

Rhetorical questions







Rhetorical questions

A rhetorical question is used to make a point: you don't expect an answer. Any of the abovemethods can be used to ask rhetorical questions.

English Arabic

wouldn't it be better if you(m) shut up?mish tiskut 'ahsan?

ن

سحأ

ت

كس

ت

ش

م

you(m) must be kidding!bithazzar, mish kidah?

ه

د

ك ش

م ر

ز

هت

ب

you(m) are an idiot, right?'inta 'ahbal, sahh?

ح

ص ل

بهأ إنت

Adverbal and adjectival questions

In english, it is possible to ask a question using how followed by an adjective or adverb. There isno similar construction in Egyptian, so it is necessary to re-phrase the question, usually so that youare asking for a number. Here are some examples:

English re-phrased Egyptian

How fast were you driving?

how many kilometers an

hour..

kaem kylumitr fy issaeAa

ة

ع

لسا

ا يف رت

مولیك كا م

How often do you go to thegym?

how many times a week...kaem marra fy il'usbwaA...







gym?y

٫٫٫ع

وبس

أل

ا يف ة ر

م كا م

How hot is the oven? what is the temperature?ilharraara kaem

م

كا

ة

ر

ا

ر

حل

ا

How difficult was the exam? was the exam difficulthuwwa il'imtihaen kaensaAb?

عب

ص ن

اك ن

اح

تمإل

و ا

ه

Time

Time can be expressed in several different ways:units of time - days, weeks etcparts of the day - morning/afternoon

time of day - 6.30relative time (before/after) - today/yesterday etc

days of the weekdates

Units of time

English Egyptian Plural

moment lahzaة

ظح

ل

lahzaetت

اظح

ل

dthanya thawany







secondy

ة

ین

ثا y

ني

او

ث

minutedi'y'aة

قیق

د

da'aeyi'ق

ی

قا

د

hour saeAa

ة

ع

سا

saAaetت

اع

اس

dayyum

یوم

'ayaemم

ایأ

week'usbuA

سبوع

أ'asaebiyA

یع

ب

أسا

shahr shuhur

ر ه ش ر و ه ش

year sanaة

ن

س

sinynنین

س

lifetime Aumr

مر

ع

'aAmaar ر

أعما

Parts of the day

The main events in the day are sunrise and sunset. Midnight, noon and the six prayer times canalso be used to specify an approximate time.







English Arabic

last prayers till dawnillyl

یل

ا dawn until sunset

issubhبح

صل

ا

after sunsetmasaa'

ء

سا

م

dawn fagr جر

ف

noonهر

ضل

ا

after noon baAd idduhr هر

ضل

عد ا

ب

sunsetilmaGrib

ب

غر

مل

ا

midnightnus illyl

یل

ص ا

ن

Time of day







In English, it is normal to use half and quarter hours to describe time. In addition, in Egyptian, thirdsare used. Here is a list of the words that can be used:

English Arabic

half nus

ص

ن

a thirdtilt

لت

ت

a quarter rubAبع

ر

andwa

و

less'ila

إال

Here are all the times at five minute intervals:

English Arabic

seven o'clocksabAa

ة

عب

س







five past seven pastsabAa wa chamsa

ة

سم

خ

و

ة

عب

س

ten past seven

sabAa wa Aashara

ة

ر

ش

ع ة و

عب

س

quarter past sevensabAa wa rubA

بع

ر و ة

عب

س

twenty past sevensabAa wa tilt

لت

ت

و

ة

عب

س

twenty five past sevensabAa wa nus 'ila chamsa

ة

سم

خ ص إال

ن ة و

عب

س

half past sevensabAa wa nus

ص

ن ة و

عب

س

twenty-five to eightsabAa wa nus wa chamsa

ة

سم

خ

و

ص

ن

و

ة

عب

س

twenty to eighttamanya 'ila tilt

لت

ت ة إال

ین

ما

ت

quarter to eight tamaanyao iiclaa rubaA

ten to eighttamanya 'ila Aashara

ة

ر

ش

ع ة إال

ین

ما

ت







five to eighttamanya 'ila chamsa

ة

سم

خ ة إال

ین

ما

ت

Relative time

English Arabic

the day before yesterday'awil 'imbaarih

ح

ر

ابمإ ل

وأ

yesterday'imbaarih

ح

ر

ابمإ

innahaarda

ة

در

اه

نل

ا

tomorrow bukrahه

رك

ب

the day after tomorrowbaAd bukrah

ه

كر

ب

عد

ب

English Arabic

last week iluusbwaA 'ily faetت

اف يلإ ع

وبس

ال

ا

iluusbwaA dih







this weekiluusbwaA dih

ه

د ع

وبس

ال

ا

next weekiluusbwaA 'ily gaey

ي

اج يلإ ع

وبس

ال

اEnglish Arabic

nowdilwa'ty

قتي

لو

د

soon baAd shuwayao

later baAdyn

عدین

ب

not yetlissah

ه ـس

ل

earlybadry

دري

ب

late (at night)wachry

خري

و

Days of week

English Arabic







Sundayyum ilaahad

د

ح

ال

ا موی

Monday

yum il'ithnyn

إلثنین

ا موی

Tuesdayyum ittalaetت

ال

تل

ا

یوم

Wednesdayyum il'arbaAa

ع

برأل

یوم ا

Thursdayyum ilchamysمیس

خل

ا

یوم

Fridayyum ilgumaAaة

ع

م

جل

یوم ا

Saturdayyum issabtبت

سل

ا

یوم

Dates

Which one?

This section explains how to specify which of several things we are interested in, or talking about.

Definite article







To talk about a particular man, we say 'the man' in english. In arabic, we attach il- لـ

ا to the front of the noun.

the man is reading his bookiil-raagil biyiqraac kitaab-uh

Note that adding il- لـ

ا to a word affects the pronunciation if it begins with a sun letter .

Indefinite article

If we don't want to refer to any man in particular, we say 'a man' in english. There is no equivalent of

a in arabic, you just use the noun on its own.

I want a dogaacnaa Aaayiz kalb

If you want to make it clear that you are talking about just one, you can use the word waaHid- one.When used for emphasis like this, you place it after the noun.

I want (just) one dog

aacnaa Aaayiz kalb waaHid







You also use it with nationalities to indicate that you are talking about a person, rather than (for example) the language.

an English man (or woman)waaHid iingilyzy

waaHdao iingilyziyao

Adjectives

In both English an Egyptian, you can use an adjective to specify which one you are interested in:

you simply put the - il- لـ

ا in front of the adjective. Note that, in Egyptian, the noun still retains its il-لـ

ا prefix.

English Egyptian

describe I want a red ball Aaeyiz kura hamra

ة

رم

ح ز كور ة

ی

عا

specify I want the red ball Aaeyiz ilkura ilhamra

ة

رم

حل

لكور ة ا

ا ز

ی

عا

specify I have read the big book'araa't ilkitab ilkibyr

ا

ب

ت

كل

ا

ءت

را

ق

بير

كل

Demonstrative adjectives







One particular type of adjective is a demonstrative adjective. These are almost the same as thedemonstrative pronouns.

this maniil-raagil dah

The demonstrative adjectives are:

English Arabic

this (man) irraagil dahه

د ل

ج

لرا

ا

this (thing, m)

ه

د ب

ات

كل

ا

this (thing, f) ilhaga dahه

د ة

ج

هل

ا

this (woman)issitt dy

دي

ت

سل

ا

these (men)irragala dul

ال دول

اج

رل

اthese (men) nearer

irragala dyدي

ال

جا

لر

ا







these (women)issittaet dulت دول

ا

سل

ا

these (things,m) ilkutub dyتوب دي

كل

ا

these (things,f)ilhagaet dy

دي

ت

جا

هل

ا

over there (m)'ahw

أهو

over there [f]'ahy

أهي

over there (pl)'ahum

أهوم

Comparatives

You can use a comparative in the same was as an adjective to specify which one you mean:

English Egyptian

mohammed is the tallest student muhammad 'atwal taalibب

ل

ل طا

وطأ د ـم

ح

م

he is the youngest boyhuwwa 'asGar walad







y g yد

ل

ر و

غصأ و

ه

the tallest student is 1m90ittaalib il'atwal tuluh mitr 1 wa 90 santy

٩٠

و

١

تر

م

طولوه

ل

ألطو

ا

ب

ل

لطا

ا

نتي

س

the most expensive drink is 20 poundsilmashrab il'aGla 20 ginyh

نیه

ج ٢٠ ىلغأل

ا ب

رش

مل

ا

this is the prettiest dress in the shopdih 'ahla fustaen fy ilmahal

ل

ح

مل

ن في ا

اتس

ف ه أحلى

د

it was the best day in my lifekaen 'ahsan yum fy hayaty

تي

یا

ح

في

یوم

ن

سحأ

ن

كا

Arabic Writing and pronunciation

This chapter describes the arabic alphabet, and how it can be written using roman letters, thengoes on to explain the general pronunciation rules of the language.

Please remember that Egyptian Arabic is an oral language. When people are asked to write it, somewrite in Modern Standard Arabic and then pronounce it the Egyptian way, others write it as anEgyptian would say it. As a result, there may some variation in the way things are spelt.

Arabic script

There are 28 basic letters in Egyptian arabic, and about a dozen modifiers.

W iti f i ht t l ft d th j it f bi l tt j i t th f ll i l tt d







Writing goes from right to left, and the majority of arabic letters join onto the following letter and sothere are therefore four forms of each letter: solitary, initial, middle and final. For the six letters thatdo not join, there are just two forms- solitary and final.

position normal letter non-joining letter

solitary ج د

initial جـ

middle ـجـ

final ج ـ د ـ

The three short vowels a , i and u and shadda , which doubles the length of a consonant, are

collectively called tashkyl شكیل

ت or vowellization. Tashkyl is not normally used in written arabic apartfrom in the Quran. If they are used, they are written above a consonant but pronounced after it: for

the convenience of non-arabic readers, I have included the tashkyl, but written it after theconsonant.

Transliterated arabic

The transliterated form is an exact representation of the arabic script in roman letters: this is notalways straightforward, as there are a lot more letters and modifiers in arabic than there are in the

roman alphabet.If you want to be able to say words accurately, you need to be able to read either arabic or thetransliterated form- for example, so that you can see the difference between syn and saad.







Here is a summary of the less obvious features of the system:

Letter Transliterated Pronounced/arabic

short vowel a [e] i ua e i u

long vowel (alif) aa ee ii uua 'e i uu

ا

آ

ا

alif with hamza aac iic uuc'a 'i 'u

أ إ

other long vowels y w

ي و

other long vowels with hamza yc wc 'y 'w ئ

gluttal stop qaf q'

ق

voiced qaf Qq

ق

soft consonant d h s t zd h s t z

ز

ت

س

ه

د







hard consonant D H S T Zd h s t z

ض ح ص ط ظ

double-letter consonants dh sh th z sh thذ ش ث

t-marbuta o-a

ة

ـ

alif-layena Y-a

ى ـ

It is readable if you ignore hamza ' - and tee-marbutaء , and read atif-layena aـة asى a.

Pronounced arabic

The pronounced form is supposed to be how an english person would write a word or phrase. For ease of reading, the pronounced arabic in this document does not follow the rules that join wordstogether, for example sun letters and consonant clusters.

the alphabet

This table shows how to read and pronounce the arabic letters, and how they are written in romanletters throughout the dictionary.

name arabic transliterated

pronounced examples Notes







alif hamza above

أ

ـــــأ

aac 'a

'aywaویأ

mas'ala

ة

لأس

م

bad'aدأ

ب

ae as inaeroplane

'intaegج

اتنإluGaet

ت

اغ

ل

makaenن

كا

م

after soft consonant

alif fatha ـــــ

aaن

اك

م

aa as in hard

hamraa'

ء

ارم

ح

faar ر

افGata

ط

غ

after hard consonantbefore r

alif

kasra ـــــ ii i

ilwalad

د

ل

لو

ا'ism

إسم







alif hamza below

إ iic 'i'istanna

ى

تسإ

'itfaehim

م

ه

إتفا

alif damma

uuc 'u

'ummم

أ

'ustaezذ

ستا

أ

alif آ

'esif ف

سآ

mut'ekilل

كآت

م

madda ـــــآ

ل

كآت

م

'echir

ر

خآ

by

ب

بـــــ

ـــــبـــــ

ـــــب

b b

baAdعد

ب

kibyr بیر

ك

gawaeb

ب

او

ج

ت

tahtهت

ت

'aktar







ty تـــــ

ـــــتـــــ

ـــــت

t taktar

ر

تكأ

kursaet

ت

اسر

ك

thy

ث

ثـــــ

ـــــثـــــ

ـــــث

th th

thabbitـت

ث

mathalل

ث

م

bahth

حث

ب

gaeb

gyn

ج

جـــــ

ـــــجـــــ

ـــــج

g g

ب

اج

magmuAa

جموع

مchurraagج

اروخ

jyn

چ

چـــــ

ـــــچـــــ

ـــــچ

j j

jaekitت

ك

چا

'ajinda

دن

چأbyjبیچ

not arabic

borrowed from farsi

haedith







ha

ح

حـــــ

ـــــحـــــ

ـــــح

H h

haedithث

د ـ

ح

'ihna

نحإ

yiruhروح

ی

kha

خ

خـــــ

ـــــخـــــ

ـــــخ

K

ch

as in loch

chaaf ف

اخ

achaz

ذ

خ

ا taarych

ریخ

ات

dal د

ـــــد

d d

daemم

دا

nadyدي

انzaed

د

از

thal ذ

ـــــذ

dh zth as in there

zaekar ر

ك

ذا

kizbذب

ك

'ustaez







ذ

ستا

أ

ray ر

ـــــر

r r

raahح

ار

tary'ریق

ط

'iftakar ر

ك

تفإ

zyn ز

ـــــز

z z

zayy

یي

ز

gazar ر

ز

ج

gahhizز ـه

ج

syn

س

ســـــ

ـــــســـــ

ـــــس

s s

sittت

س

masaa'ء

سا

م

darsرس

د

shyn

ش

شـــــ sh sh

shaef ف

اش

rashwa







ـــــشـــــ

ـــــش

ة

شو

ر

mishش

م

saad

ص

صـــــ

ـــــصـــــ

ـــــص

S s

sanf نف

ص

'asadد

ص

ق

chaalisص

ل

خا

ض

ضـــــ

dahr هر

ض






gin

غ

غـــــ

ـــــغـــــ

ـــــغ

G G - gargling noise

ب

ل

غ

suGayar

ر

ی

غ

صbaeliGغ

ل

با

fah

ف

فـــــ

ـــــفـــــ

ـــــف

f f

fiAlaenعال

ف

mifalis

س

ل

ف

مnidyf ضیف

ن

vyla




veh

ڤ

ڤـــــ

ـــــڤـــــ

ـــــڤ

v v

vylaڤیال

nuvimbir ر

بم

ڤون

not arabicborrowed from farsi

qaf

ق

قـــــ

ـــــقـــــ

q'as in cockney bottle(bo'le)

'udaemم

ادقnu'ta

ة

طق

ن

sadda'ق

دص

cannot tell from arabicwhether qaf is pronounced

ـــــقـــــ

ـــــق

q ksounds swallowed

qanaن

ق

raqamم

ق

ر

sadyqدیق

ص

upper egyptians say g

kef

ك

كـــــ

ـــــكـــــ

ـــــك

k k

kaenن

كا

'aktar ر

تكأ

hadritakك

ت

ضر

ح







lem

ل

لـــــ

ـــــلـــــ

ـــــل

l l

lakinن

ك

ل

Aalaلى

ع

fulفول

mym

م

مـــــ

ـــــمـــــ

ـــــم

m m

mumkinن

كم

م

Aaemilل

م

عا

naem

م

ان

nwn

ن

نـــــ

ـــــنـــــ

ـــــن

n n

nashaat

ط

اش

ن

'ihnaنحإ

sinynنین

س

heyه

هـــــ

ـــــهـــــ

ـــــه

h h

hina

ن

ه

zahar ر

ه

ز







tee-marbuta

ة

ـــــ _ah asura

ة

صور

ة

ـــــ _it it 'izzaezit zytة زیت

ز

ازإ

genitivebottle of oil

wow و

ـــــو

w w

wishshش

و

yumیوم

Audwدو

ع

wow-hamza

ـــــ

wc 'w

s'waelل

اس

mas'wliyaة

ی

ل س

م

wow-alif وا

ـــــوا

oo u'intu

إنتوا

unusual pronunciationfor verb endings

yeh

ي

یـــــ

ـــــیـــــ

ـــــي

y y

yizhar ر

هظ

ی

taarychریخ

اتzayy

یي

ز







yeh-hamza

ئ

ـــــئـــــ

ـــــئ

yc 'y

ra'yysئیس

ر

daf'yفئ

اد

alif-layena ى

ـــــى

Y a

Aalaلى

ع

nada

دى

ان

used at end of words

alif-layenamadda

ىـــــى Ye emuthannae

ى

ث

م

short vowels

fatha a a

dawlaة

لو

د basal

ل

ص

ب

'intaإنت

'arbaAaع

برأ

madda e e short e rarely used







kasra i i

minن

م

kibyr بیر

ك

'intiإنت

damma u u

sufrahه

رف

س

tulaebب

ال

ط

'anhuh

أنهوه

sukun silent means that there is no vowel

other symbols

shadda

sadda'ق

دص

haddد

ح

doubles the letter it is above

fathatantanwyn

N ndaeymaen

می

دا used on alif at end of word

tatwyl ـ used for spacing







hamza

أ

ـئـ

ـ

aacycwc '

as in cockney bottle(bo'le)

'anaنأ

r'yaة

ئر

s'waelل

ا

س

small above alif, yeh, wow

ء C

hawaa'ء

او

ه

laa'ء

ال

full size, on its own

©Copyright Mike Green 2010-2012

You can print out this table and keep it handy for reference.Stress

In most words, the second to last syllable is usually stressed.

'if takar ر

ك

تفإ

kitaeb ب

ات

ك

mudachan ن

خ

مد

The stress moves to the last syllable if it contains a long vowel (alif, wow, yeh) or ends with adouble consonant. Remember that the letter AIN is treated as a consonant.







taAbaen ن

ابع

ت

maf tuh حوتف

م

yidu'' ق

د

ی

This means that the stress will move if suffixes are added to a word.

Feminine endings

When a word ends in _aaCiC (where C is any consonant) has a feminine ending attached, the i

disappears and the aa is pronounced as an a.waehid د

ح

-> wahdaوا ة

دح

او

Elision

If a word ends with a vowel and the first vowel of the next word is either an i or a u, the words arerun together (elided) and the i or u omitted.

'inta minyn? نین

م ? -> 'intamnynإنت منین

تنإ

This also happens if you attach an object suffix that begins with an i.

consonant clusters

If putting two words next to each other makes more than two consonants in a row, a shwa (whichsounds like a short a) is inserted between the words.







baAd kidah ه

د

ك عد

ب -> baAdakidah ه

د

ك

عد

ب

Sun letters

If the definite article, il- لـ

ا , is attached to a word that begins with a sun-letter (t t d d l r n s s z z ت ط

:) the l is dropped and the sun-letter is doubledد ض ل ر ن س ص ز ظ

il- shams مس

ش لـ

ا -> ishshams شـمس

ا

Pronunciation exceptions

The pronunciation of some pronoun and verb endings is a little unusual. For the you(pl) 'intu إنتوا

subject pronoun and for you(pl) and they in the verb perfect, the ending is written -w a butـو pronounced -uh ه

ـ .

The word because is written Aalashaen ن

اش

ل

ع but pronounced Aashaen ن

اش

ع .

The word orange is written burtu'ael ل

اقتر

ب but pronounced burtu'aen ن

اقتر

ب .

Irregular verbs

There are very few irregular verbs in Egyptian: here are all the ones that I know of:

be/was - kaen ن

اك

eat - kul ل

ك

take - chud د

خ







come - gih ه

ج

give - idda د

fall - wi'iA ع

ق

stop - wi'ifو ف

ق

و

Be - kaen كا ن

The verb 'to be' does not exist in the present tense. It is used only in the perfect and Ha-imperfectforms.

English Pronoun Perfect Ha-Imperfect

I'ana

نأ

kuntنت

ك

hakunكون

ه

we 'ihnaنحإ

kunnaن

ك

hankunنكون

ه

you (m)'inta

إنت

kuntنت

ك

hatkunتكون

ه

you (f)'inti

إنت

kunty

نتي

ك

hatkuny

تكوني

ه

you (pl)'intu

إنتوا

kuntuhه

تن

ك

hatkunuhه

نوكت

ه

hhuwwa kaen haykun







heو

ه ن

اك

yیكون

ه

she hiyaي

ه

kaenitت

ن

كا

hatkunتكون

ه

theyhumma

ما

ه

kanuhنوه

اك

haykunuhه

نوكی

ه

Eat- kul ل

ك

kul has irregular imperfect froms

Pronoun Perfect Imperfect Imperative ActiveParticiple

'anaنأ

kaltلت

ك

akulل

ك

ا

ihnaنح

ا

kalnaنل

ك

naekulل

ك

نا

'inta

إنت

kalt

لت

ك

taekul

ل

ك

تا

kul

ل

ك

'intyإنتي

kaltyلتي

ك

taklyكلي

ت

kulyكولي

'intu kaltu kalu kulw







إنتوا لتوا

ك لوا

ك لو

ك

huwaو

ه

kalل

ك

yaekulل

ك

یا

hiyaي

ه

kalitت

ل

ك

taekulل

ك

تا

hummaما

ه

kalwلو

ك

yakluhكلوه

ی

Take- chud د

خ

Kud has irregular imperfect froms


'anaنأ

chudtدت

خ

achudد

خ

ا

ihnaنح

ا

chadnaند

خ

naechudد

خ

نا

'intaإنت

chudtدت

خ

taechudد

خ

تا chud

د

خ

'inty chady tachdy chudty







إنتي دي

خ خدي

ت دتي

خ

'intu

إنتوا

chadtw

دتو

خ

chadtw

دتو

خ

chudw

دو

خ

huwaو

ه

achadد

خ

ا yaechud

د

خ

یا

hiyaي

ه

chaditت

دخ

taechudد

خ

تا

hummaما

ه

achaduدوا

خ

ا

yachduhه

خد

ی

Come- gih ه

ج


'anaنأ

gytجیت

'egyآجي

ihnaنح

ا gyna

نیج

nygyنیجي

'intaإنت

gytجیت

tygyتیجي

taAaelaل

اع

ت

gaeyي

اج

'inty gyty tygy taAaly gaeya







إنتي جیتي تیجي لي

عا

ت ی

جا

'intuإنتوا

gytuجیتوا

tyguتیجوا

taAaluلوا

اع

ت

gayyinن

یی

ج

huwaو

ه

gihه

ج

yigyجي

ی

hiyaي

ه

gaetت

جا

tigyجي

ت

hummaما

ه

gumجوم

yiguجوا

ی

Give- idda ى

د


'anaنأ

'idytإدیت

addyي

د

ا

ihna

نح

ا

'iddyna

إدینا

niddy

ي

د

ن

'intaإنت

'iddytیت

دإ

tiddyي

د

ت

'iddyي

دإ

'inty 'iddyty tiddy 'iddit







إنتي یتي

دإ ي

د

ت ت

دإ

'intuإنتوا

'iddytuیتوا

دإ

tidduوا

د

ت

'idduوا

دإ

huwaو

ه

'iddaى

دإ

yiddyي

د

ی

hiyaي

ه

'iddytیت

دإ

tiddyي

د

ت

hummaما

ه

'idduوا

دإ

yidduوا

د

ی

fall- wi'iA ع

ق

و


'anaنأ

wi'iAtعت

ق

و

a'aAع

ق

ا

ihna

نح

ا

wi'iAna

نع

ق

و

nu'aA

ع

ق

ن

'intaإنت

wi'iAtعت

ق

و

tu'aAع

ق

ت

wae'iAع

ق

وا

'inty wi'iAty tu'aAy wa'Ait







yإنتي

yعتي

ق

و

yعي

ق

ت ت

عق

وا

'intuإنتوا

wi'iAtuعتوا

ق

و

tu'aAuعوا

ق

ت

wa'Aynقعین

او

huwaو

ه

wi'iAع

ق

و

yu'aAع

ق

ی

hiya

ي

ه

wi'Ait

ت

عق

و

tu'aA

ع

ق

ت

humma wi'Au yu'aAu






ي ه ت ف ق و ف ق ت

humma

ما

ه

wi'fu

قفوا

و

yu'afu

فوا

ق

ی

Verbs: Root and Stem

A verb is made up of a root (a set of consonants) and a stem (a prefix and the vowels between).There may be more than one verb derived from the same root- for example, starting with fhm, youcan make fihim (to understand) and fahhim (to make somebody understand).

Most roots have three consonants: it is conventional to describe this type of verb using the lettersK, T and B, as in kitab ب

ت

ك , write. For words with four consonants, the letter L is used as well. Asmall number of roots have two or four consonants. There are five main roots, and each of thesecan make three main stem types, as per the following table. Note that, in arabic, AIN is treated a




consonant, so Airif is of the form KiTiB.

A B C D E

1 KVT KvTv KvTT KvTvB KvTBvL

2 KvVVvT KvTTv KvTTvT KvTTvB

3 KaaViT KaaTi KvTT KaaTiB KvTBvL

KTBL=root consonants

v=aiu

V=wy

From any of these main stems, it is possible to derive more stems by adding prefixes. Here are

some examples:

Prefix Main stem Derived stem Meaning

iit- KvTvB iitKvTvByitKvTvB

passive (be *-ed)reflexive (* oneself)

iit- KvTTvB iitKaTTaByitKvTTvB

passive (be *-ed)reflexive (* oneself)

iit-

KaaTiB

yiKTvB

iitKaaTiB

yitKaaTiB each other

iiKt- KvTvB iiKtvTvByiKtvTvB

as iit-

iin- KvTvB iinKvTvB as iit-







iin KvTvByinKvTvB

as iit

iista- KvTvB iistaKvTvByistaKvTvB consider or seek

There are also some verbs that are derived from classical arabic- the perfect genarally begins withaa-, and the imperfect with yu-.

About this document

I would like to thank the residents of the White House, Suze Labib and Rana el Hindy for helpingme to make this possible.

The logo was designed by Khaled Adel of Absolute Studios.

This document is a work in progress. It was developed and revised over several years as a studyaid for my own use: It has been extensively checked, but I am sure that there are still mistakes andomissions.

The dictionary and grammar are supplied 'as is': you are welcome to use them on condition that youdo not hold me responsible for any loss, injury or embarrassment that may result from their use. Seethe copyright notice if you wish to publish any part of this document.

If you notice any errors or omissions or have suggestions for improvements, you can contact meusing the Contact us page.

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Copyright

This material is Copyright © 2007-2012 Mike Green.

You may distribute the documents and applications free of charge if it is strictly for non-commercial

use, and:

either the material is supplied complete and in its existing form

or extracts from the material are attributed to www.lisaanmasry.com and carry the originalcopyright details of the document

If you need to access the entire dictionary database for any reason, please ask and maybe I cansupply it in a more convenient form.

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