Belinda Brianna

In Egyptian Arabic, children call their father بابا (baba). A more affectionate and modern form is بابي (babi).

In Egyptian Arabic, “crazy” is مجنون (magnun) for a man and مجنونة (magnuna) for a woman.

In Egyptian Arabic, ‘no’ is لأ (la2). لأ is the everyday spoken word, written with a final hamza to show the sharp glottal stop at the end.

In Egyptian Arabic, Christmas is عيد الميلاد (eid el-milad), literally “the feast of the birth”. In casual talk many people also say كريسماس (krismas).

In Egyptian Arabic, Egypt is مصر (Masr). The same word is used for the country and, in daily speech, for Cairo.

In Egyptian Arabic the general word for jasmine is ياسمين (yasmīn). The white Arabian jasmine, very popular in Egypt, is called فل (full).

The standard word for pig in Egypt is خنزير (ḵanzīr).

In Egyptian Arabic, “coming” is جاي (gay) for a man, جاية (gaya) for a woman and جايين (gayyin) for several people.

In Egyptian Arabic, ‘my friend’ said about a male friend is صاحبي (sahbi). For a female friend, say صاحبتي (sahbeti).

In Egyptian Arabic, ‘sorry’ said by a man is آسف (aasef). A woman says آسفة (aasfa).