Quick answer
You can travel Egypt in English, but twenty or so words of Egyptian Arabic change how people respond to you. Start with salamu aleikum (hello), shukran (thank you), la' shukran (no thank you), law samaht (please or excuse me), bi-kam? (how much?) and ma'lesh (never mind). Egyptians speak a colloquial dialect that differs from textbook Arabic, so learn the Egyptian forms, including the hard g in words like gamil (beautiful).
Do you need to speak Arabic to travel in Egypt?
No: on a guided trip you can manage entirely in English, but a handful of Egyptian Arabic words earns warmth, better humour in the markets and occasionally a better price. Guides, hotel and cruise staff and most shopkeepers in Khan el-Khalili, Luxor and Aswan speak working English. Outside the tourist circuit, in local cafés, pharmacies, taxis and villages, English thins out quickly.
Egyptians speak Masri (Egyptian colloquial Arabic), not the formal Modern Standard Arabic taught in most courses or read on the news. Thanks to a century of Egyptian films, music and television, Masri is the dialect most Arabs understand, so what you learn here is useful well beyond Egypt. Two sound changes matter most: the classical j becomes a hard g (so camel is gamal, and the pound is gineh), and the classical q usually turns into a little catch in the throat, written here as an apostrophe (so coffee is 'ahwa, not qahwa).
The transliterations on this page are simple Latin spellings, not an academic system. Say them as written, stress the syllable in bold where shown, and don't worry about perfection: Egyptians are delighted by any attempt.
How do you say hello and goodbye in Egyptian Arabic?
The all-purpose greeting is salamu aleikum (peace be upon you), answered with wa aleikum es-salam; the more casual ahlan (hi) works anywhere. Greetings in Egypt usually come in pairs, where the reply mirrors and improves on the opening line.
| English | Egyptian Arabic | Reply |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (formal, universal) | salamu aleikum | wa aleikum es-salam |
| Hi / welcome | ahlan, or ahlan wa sahlan | ahlan bik (to a man), ahlan biki (to a woman) |
| Good morning | sabah el-kheir | sabah en-nour (morning of light) |
| Good evening | masa' el-kheir | masa' en-nour |
| How are you? | ezzayak? (to a man), ezzayek? (to a woman) | kwayyis (m) / kwayyisa (f), el-hamdu lillah |
| Goodbye | ma'a salama | ma'a salama, or allah ysallimak |
El-hamdu lillah (thanks be to God) is the standard answer to "how are you?", used by Muslims and Christians alike, whether the day is going well or badly. Many Egyptian words change slightly depending on whether you are talking to a man or a woman; if you get it wrong, nobody minds. For greetings beyond words, such as handshakes and the hand on the heart, see our guide to etiquette and customs in Egypt.
What are the most useful polite words?
Learn shukran (thank you), law samaht (please, or excuse me) and la' shukran (no, thank you): between them they handle most daily encounters.
- shukran – thank you. Shukran gazilan is "thank you very much". The reply is 'afwan (you're welcome).
- law samaht – please, or excuse me, to a man (law samahti to a woman). Egyptians use it far more than min fadlak, the textbook "please".
- aywa – yes. la' – no.
- la' shukran – no, thank you. Said with a smile and without breaking stride, this is your best tool with touts, camel men and shop callers.
- ma'lesh – never mind, sorry, it's fine. Possibly the most Egyptian word there is, used when someone bumps you, a plan changes, or a mistake doesn't matter.
- mumkin? – may I? is it possible? Point at a camera and say mumkin? before photographing someone.
- inshallah – God willing. Attached to almost any statement about the future, from "see you tomorrow" to "the boat leaves at four".
- yalla – let's go, come on, hurry up.
- mish mushkila – no problem. tamam – okay, fine, agreed.
- ana mish 'arif – I don't know (a woman says ana mish 'arfa).
If you only remember one phrase for markets and pyramids touts, make it la' shukran. For more on handling persistent offers, see haggling in Egypt.
Which phrases help when shopping and eating?
For shopping, bi-kam? (how much?) and ghali 'awi (very expensive) open every bargaining conversation; in restaurants, el-hesab, law samaht brings the bill.
In the market
- bi-kam da? – how much is this? (bi-kam di? for a feminine noun; either is understood)
- ghali 'awi – very expensive. Delivered with a grin, it is part of the game.
- akher kalam? – your final word? (your best price?)
- ana bas bat-farrag – I'm just looking
- mish 'ayez – I don't want (it); mish 'ayza if you are a woman
Eating and drinking
- mayya – water. Ask for mayya ma'daneyya (bottled mineral water).
- shai – tea; 'ahwa – coffee. Sukkar is sugar, and min gheir sukkar means without sugar, which you must specify because Egyptian tea and coffee come very sweet.
- ana nabati – I'm vegetarian (ana nabateyya for a woman); min gheir lahma means without meat.
- gamil or tiheis – beautiful, or delicious (tiheis is colloquial for food)
- el-hesab, law samaht – the bill, please
- bil-hana wish-shifa – enjoy your meal, said by hosts and waiters; reply allah yihanneek.
Vegetarians will find more phrases and naturally meat-free dishes in our vegetarian and vegan Egypt guide.
How do you ask for directions and get around?
Ask fein ...? (where is ...?) followed by the place, and listen for yemeen (right), shimal (left) and 'ala tool (straight ahead).
- fein el-hammam? – where is the toilet? (Signs read rigal for men and sayyidat for women; see toilets in Egypt.)
- fein el-mat-haf / el-fondo' / el-mahatta? – where is the museum / the hotel / the station?
- hena, law samaht – here, please (to stop a taxi or Uber)
- 'ala gamb – to the side, pull over
- shwayya shwayya – slowly, slowly; also "a little"
- ba'id? – is it far? 'urayyib – near
- ana min ostralya – I'm from Australia (min nyu zilanda for New Zealand). You will be asked this constantly, and Australians usually get a warm reaction, often involving kangaroos or cricket.
Egyptians are generous with directions, sometimes even when they aren't sure of the way, so ask two people if it matters. In Cairo, rideshare apps remove most of the need to give directions in Arabic; see Uber and taxis in Cairo.
How do Arabic numbers work in Egypt?
Egyptians use Eastern Arabic digits on price tags, bus fronts, menus and number plates, and they are worth learning in ten minutes before you go. Unlike Arabic text, numbers read left to right, so ١٥٠ is 150.
| Number | Digit | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | ٠ | sifr |
| 1 | ١ | wahid |
| 2 | ٢ | itnein |
| 3 | ٣ | talata |
| 4 | ٤ | arba'a |
| 5 | ٥ | khamsa |
| 6 | ٦ | sitta |
| 7 | ٧ | sab'a |
| 8 | ٨ | tamanya |
| 9 | ٩ | tis'a |
| 10 | ١٠ | 'ashara |
Larger numbers worth knowing: 'ishreen (20), khamseen (50), miyya (100), miteen (200) and alf (1,000). The two digits that trip people up are ٥ (5), which looks like a zero, and ٦ (6), which looks like a 7. Prices are quoted in pounds, gineh; you may still hear 'irsh (piastre), though coins under a pound are now rarely used. For notes and denominations, see money in Egypt.
Which phrases do Egyptians love hearing from visitors?
A few expressions of warmth and blessing, such as ma sha' allah and Ramadan karim, show you understand everyday Egyptian life and usually earn a broad smile.
- ma sha' allah – literally "what God has willed": the polite way to admire a baby, a new car or a beautiful view without tempting the evil eye.
- ya'teek el-'afya – God give you strength: a kind thing to say to someone working hard, such as a felucca captain in a headwind.
- Ramadan karim – generous Ramadan, during the holy month (the reply is allahu akram). kull sana w enta tayyib – many happy returns, for Eid, Christmas or a birthday.
- Masr umm ed-dunya – Egypt, mother of the world: a proud national saying you will hear quoted back to you.
- habibi (to a man) / habibti (to a woman) – my dear. Shopkeepers will use it on you; save it yourself for people you know.
A practical approach before you fly is to save this page offline, practise the greetings, numbers and la' shukran on the plane, and ask your guide to correct you on the first day. Guides on private tours are usually happy to coach you, and by Luxor most travellers are greeting hotel staff with sabah el-kheir without thinking.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say thank you in Egyptian Arabic?
Say shukran (thank you) or shukran gazilan (thank you very much). The usual reply is 'afwan, meaning you're welcome.
Is Egyptian Arabic different from standard Arabic?
Yes. Egyptians speak a colloquial dialect called Masri with its own vocabulary and pronunciation, such as a hard g in place of j. Formal Modern Standard Arabic is used in writing and news broadcasts, but it sounds stiff in conversation. Because of Egyptian film and music, Masri is widely understood across the Arab world.
How do you say no thank you in Arabic in Egypt?
Say la' shukran, politely and without stopping. It is the most useful phrase for dealing with touts and street sellers, and it works better than ignoring people.
What does inshallah mean in Egypt?
Inshallah means "God willing" and is attached to almost any plan for the future. It can mean a genuine yes, a hopeful maybe or a polite no, so read it alongside the tone and context.
Do people in Egypt speak English?
In tourism, yes: guides, hotel and cruise staff, and many shopkeepers in tourist areas speak good English. Taxi drivers, small cafés and rural areas are hit and miss, which is where a few Arabic words and a translation app help.
