Egyptian Arabic Phrasebook

What this solves

A tourist who knows 30 phrases in Egyptian Arabic ("Masri") gets a noticeably better trip than one who knows zero. Not because the locals don't speak English — many do, especially in central Cairo and the cruise-helis orculiar routes — but because the act of trying changes the social contract. A taxi driver who hears you attempt "law samaht, bi al-meter" is a different driver than the one who hears you say "ah, well, just take me there" with a shrug. A shopkeeper who hears "yimkin takhafis?" — can you reduce — is going to bargain with you. A shopkeeper who hears "fine, I'll just take a photo of the price tag" is going to tell you the price is firm.

This tool answers four questions, in order: what to say in this category, how polite to make it, which gender the speaker is addressing, and what you should never say. The politeness-level filter is the most important column — there's a real difference between "yalla" (casual, between friends) and "law samaht" (formal, between strangers), and using the wrong level marks you as either a backpacker or an arrogant foreigner.

A useful framing: Egyptian Arabic is the spoken vernacular, distinct from Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), distinct from Classical Arabic (Quranic). Tourist phrases here are in Masri, which is what you'll actually hear on the street. Pronunciation tips are Romanised for English speakers; if you want Arabic script, see the "Sources" section for standard references.

The calculator

How to read the output

Politeness level is the most important switch. "Yalla" (let's go / come on) is what you say to a friend. "Law samaht" (please, sir) is what you say to a stranger in a service context. "Min fadlak" (please, sir) sits between them. Mixing levels — saying "yalla" to a hotel concierge — is fine if the locals are friendly; using "law samaht" between friends sounds sarcastic. Pick the level for the social distance, not your mood.
Gender affects pronouns, not nouns. "Ism-ee..." (my name is...) is the same for male or female speaker. "Ana kont..." (I was...) takes a feminine suffix if the speaker is female. The verbs you'll use as a tourist mostly don't need gender, but if you say "ana taba'an" (I'm following / I follow), the suffix changes. The calculator handles this.
Numbers 1–10 in Egyptian Arabic are different from MSA. Wahed (1), itneyn (2), talata (3), arbaa (4), khamsa (5), sitta (6), sab'a (7), tamanya (8), tisa'a (9), ashara (10). MSA uses different forms; Masri is what you'll hear.
"Baksheesh" literally means "tip" and is used as a noun ("baksheesh?") when you politely ask if a small tip is welcome. It is not said to refuse a service ("no baksheesh" is unclear; instead use "la wallahi").
Negation softening. Saying "la, la, la" directly is read as aggressive. "La wallahi" (no, by God — meaning "really not" / "honestly no") softens it. "Ma fe mushkila" (no problem) is the polite default for declining.

Limitations

Romanisation is approximate. The "kh" in "kheir" is a voiceless velar fricative, like German "Bach." The "'" in "sab'a" is a glottal stop. The "aa" is a long vowel. If you can, listen to a YouTube video for pronunciation; the calculator cannot play audio without external resources.
Regional variation is real. Upper Egypt (Luxor, Aswan) has a different accent. Sinai Bedouin Arabic is different again. The cookie captures Greater Cairo Masri.
"Yalla" is context-dependent. It can mean "let's go" (encouragement), "come on" (impatience), or "hurry up" (mild urgency). The intonation matters.
This is not a substitute for a phrasebook. If you're staying longer than a week, buy a Lonely Planet or a Rough Guide phrase sheet — they have 1,000+ phrases and an audio app.
Religious phrases are omitted. Common phrases like "alhamdulillah" or "inshallah" appear in many tourist resources but are best learned in a religious/cultural context, not a tourist phrasebook. They're easy to over-use as a foreigner and miss the social cue.

FAQ

What is "as-salaam alaykum"?

"As-salaam alaykum" means "peace be upon you" and is the universal greeting across Arabic-speaking and Muslim-majority countries. Tourists can use it freely; it will be received warmly. The reply is "wa alaykum as-salaam" (and upon you, peace). It's gender-neutral, age-neutral, and never wrong. Pronounce it "as-sah-LAHM ah-LAY-koom."

What if I mispronounce something?

Egyptians are generally appreciative of foreigners who try. If you say "Sabah il-kheir" (good morning) and the kh becomes a hard "k," the listener will smile and probably reply with the correct version. The act of attempting is more important than the act of being correct. The only pronunciation that matters is "kh" — getting that one right unlocks 50% of the phrasebook.

Should I bargain with "fake" anger?

No. The bargaining ritual in Egypt is theatre, not combat. Both sides expect smiles, repeated offers, and a "fake" walk-away at the end. Real anger is read as rudeness; fake anger is read as incompetence. The polite version of bargaining: ask the price ("ad-eh?"), look thoughtful, say "ghalia" (expensive), counter with 50–60% of the asking price, and use "yimkin takhafis?" (can you reduce?) as the polite prompt. End with "ma fe mushkila, shukran" if you walk away.

What does "shukran" mean?

"Shukran" means "thank you." It's the polite default in any context. For emphasis, "shukran gaziilan" (thank you very much) is the more formal form. Pronounce "shukran" as "SHUCK-ran." Don't say "shukran" for something you didn't actually receive — like accepting a free drink but not consuming it — that signals disrespect.

Is "yalla" offensive?

No, but it can be read as impatience. "Yalla" is what friends say to friends. To a stranger, use "law samaht" (please) or "min fadlak" (please). If you say "yalla, yalla" to a hotel concierge while waiting for luggage, the concierge will understand and not be offended — but you signal impatience. The middle path is "min fadlak, mumkin?" (please, is it possible?) for a polite request that signals urgency without aggression.

What should I NOT say?

Three things: (1) "La, la, la" — direct triple no is read as aggressive; soften with "la wallahi" (no, by God, meaning "really not"). (2) Bargaining with fake anger — see above. (3) Don't shout — Egyptian bazaars are loud; voice volume is normal. Shouting signals either frustration or desperation. Finally, don't translate subject/dir verbs incorrectly: "ana 3ayza" (I want, female speaker) vs. "ana 3ayez" (I want, male speaker) — getting gender wrong in this phrase is funny but slightly off.

Sources

Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (Masri) phrase compendium, Cairo-based ESL teacher survey, autumn 2025.
Aronberg, Speak Egyptian Arabic, 2024 (greeting and bargaining sections).
Hinds, Egyptian Colloquial Arabic, 2023 (numbers and politeness levels).
Lonely Planet Egyptian Arabic phrasebook, 2024 edition.
Rough Guide to Egypt, 2024—2026 editions, gender and politeness notes.

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Disclaimer

For reference only. Pronunciation, dialectal variation, and usage cues change. Verify with a current phrasebook or a local teacher before relying on a phrase for a critical interaction. We are not a language teacher or translator. No warranty is made that any phrase will produce the expected social outcome.