Egyptian Arabic for Tourists: 50 Words & Phrases That Make Your Trip Easier

You don't need to learn Arabic to travel in Egypt. You do need maybe 30 words. The difference between someone who can say "salaam alaikum, kam?" and someone who only points at things is the difference between a 200 EGP taxi ride and a 50 EGP one. This guide is the short list of words that actually pay off — the ones we'd put on a friend's phone before their flight.

Why a few words go a long way

Egyptian Arabic — locals call it "Masri" — is the most-understood Arabic dialect in the world, mostly because of decades of Egyptian films and music played across the Middle East. Native speakers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Morocco and Lebanon all understand it. As a tourist, you're learning the one dialect that opens the most doors.

You'll also notice that Egyptians genuinely lean in when foreigners try. Even a mangled "shokran" gets a smile and often a longer conversation than perfect English would. This isn't politeness — it's a cultural value placed on effort. The vocabulary below is the high-leverage minimum.

Greetings: the five you'll use every day

| Egyptian Arabic | Meaning | When | |---|---|---| | Salaam alaikum | Peace be upon you | Universal hello — walks into a shop, restaurant, taxi | | Ahlan / Ahlan wa sahlan | Hello / Welcome | Informal hello, also how locals welcome you | | Sabah el kheir | Good morning | Until ~noon | | Masa' el kheir | Good evening | After ~3pm | | Ma'a el salama | Goodbye | Leaving — "with safety" |

The response to "Salaam alaikum" is "Wa alaikum es-salaam" (and upon you, peace). You don't need to use the full thing — just smile and nod if it's faster.

Pronunciation tip: "kh" is a guttural sound from the back of the throat (like the Scottish "loch"). Don't worry about getting it perfect — people understand "sabah el khair" said by a tourist.

Polite words you'll use constantly

• Shokran (شكراً) — Thank you. You'll say this 30 times a day. Tip the waiter: shokran. Driver hands you change: shokran. Someone gives you directions: shokran.
• Afwan (عفواً) — You're welcome / excuse me. Also used to get past someone in a crowded market.
• Min fadlak (to a man) / min fadlik (to a woman) — Please. Adds polish to any request.
• Aasif (m) / Aasifa (f) — Sorry. Useful if you bump into someone, step on a foot, walk into the wrong room.
• Mafeesh moshkila — No problem. Universal Egyptian response when something minor goes wrong.

Shopping and bargaining vocabulary

This is where Arabic actually saves you money. In markets — Khan El-Khalili in Cairo, the Hurghada Old Town souk, Aswan's spice market — prices are negotiable and your starting position depends on how local you sound.

• Kam da? (كام ده؟) — How much is this? (The "da" means "this.")
• Ghali awi (غالي قوي) — Very expensive. The classic opening counter.
• Rakhis (رخيص) — Cheap.
• Eddini akhar se'r — Give me a better price.
• Khaleeha bi… — Make it for… (then say the number in EGP).
• Mashi (ماشي) — OK / Deal. The closing word.

A typical exchange:

Vendor: Three hundred pound, my friend, very nice quality. You: "Ghali awi. Hundred." (or in Arabic: "Meya bas.") Vendor: Two fifty, last price. You: "Meya wa khamseen." (150) Vendor: Two hundred. You: "Mashi. Shokran." (Deal, thanks.)

The starting offer of 30–40% of the asking price is standard. Don't feel rude — this is the expected game and both sides enjoy it.

Transport and directions

Even with Uber, you'll occasionally hail a taxi or need to redirect a driver.

• Feen…? (فين) — Where is…?
• Yameen (يمين) — Right
• Shemal (شمال) — Left
• Ala tool (على طول) — Straight ahead
• Hena! (هنا) — Here! (When you want to stop.)
• Aywa, hena kwayes — Yes, here is fine.
• Bekam ila…? — How much to…?

The most useful: "Addad, min fadlak" — "On the meter, please" — for the few metered Cairo taxis where you'd rather not negotiate.

Numbers worth memorizing for fares:

| Number | Pronunciation | |---|---| | 10 | Ashara | | 20 | Eshreen | | 50 | Khamseen | | 100 | Meya | | 200 | Mitayn | | 500 | Khomsemeya |

Food and restaurant words

• Akl (أكل) — Food
• Maya (مية) — Water. Add "maya ma'daniya" for sparkling.
• Shay (شاي) — Tea. Egyptian tea is strong, black, and served everywhere.
• Ahwa (قهوة) — Coffee. "Ahwa Turki" for Turkish-style.
• Hesab, min fadlak — The bill, please.
• Lazeez! — Delicious! Goes a long way with cooks.
• El menu, min fadlak — The menu, please.

Travel basics: hotel, room, airport

• Funduq (فندق) — Hotel
• Oda (أوضة) — Room
• Miftah — Key
• Hagz — Booking / reservation
• Shangta (شنطة) — Bag / suitcase
• Matar (مطار) — Airport
• Sefara — Embassy. Useful if anything goes wrong.

Everyday expressions worth knowing

These are the words Egyptians use constantly and that you'll start hearing on day one.

• Yalla! (يلا) — Let's go! / Come on! Used for everything from getting moving to expressing impatience.
• Mashi (ماشي) — OK / Fine / All right.
• Inshallah (إن شاء الله) — God willing. Sometimes literal, often a soft "maybe." If a driver says "Tomorrow, inshallah," budget for uncertainty.
• Khalas (خلاص) — Done / Enough / Finished. Useful for "I'm done eating" or "Stop, that's enough."
• Habibi (m) / Habibti (f) — Dear / friend. Used liberally, including by drivers and shopkeepers to friendly customers.
• La'a (لأ) — No. Note the small glottal stop — said with a soft tone, it's polite.
• Aywa (أيوه) — Yes.

Cultural notes about using the language

Three small things to know:

1. Egyptians compliment frequently. "Your Arabic is excellent!" after you've said "shokran" once is normal — it's a polite cultural reflex. Accept with another "shokran" and move on.
2. Religious phrases are everyday. "Inshallah," "alhamdulillah" (thank God / I'm well), and "ma'asalama" are used by Muslims and Christians alike, and increasingly by non-Egyptians too. You can use them naturally without religious connotation.
3. The double meaning of "Bukra." Bukra means "tomorrow," but in service contexts it can also mean "later" or "not now." When a repair, a delivery, or a tour confirmation is "Bukra inshallah," it's worth a polite follow-up the next day.

Where to learn more before your trip

If you want to go further, three free resources work well:

• Memrise — search for "Egyptian Arabic" community courses. 15-minute daily sessions for two weeks before your trip will easily get you to 200 words.
• The "Learn Arabic with Maha" YouTube channel — clear, slow, focused on the dialect.
• The Lingualism Egyptian Arabic Wordlist (free PDF) — 2,000 most common Egyptian Arabic words ranked by frequency.

Travel Egypt with someone who knows the language

Our guides are all Cairo or Hurghada-based Egyptians, so on any of our tours you have a fluent translator with you for markets, off-menu meals and local interactions. If you'd like a custom itinerary that includes language exchange or a local-family dinner experience, our contact page is the fastest way to ask.

For broader pre-departure reading, see our 12 essential tips for first-time travelers, the complete guide to Egypt, and the traditional Egyptian food guide — the food vocabulary above makes a lot more sense once you know what you're ordering.