Ways to say it
| Egyptian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| لو سمحت | law samaht | to a male |
| لو سمحتي | law samahti | to a female |
| عن إذنك | an eznak | more formal |
Said to a woman, it becomes law samahti. For a more formal moment, such as stepping past someone at an event, Egyptians say عن إذنك (an eznak), 'with your permission'.
What does it mean word for word?
لو سمحت literally means 'if you would allow', combining لو, 'if', with سمحت, 'you allowed'. عن إذنك uses إذن, 'permission'.
Which one should you use?
لو سمحت is the all-purpose phrase, used to get someone's attention, ask a favour or politely interrupt. عن إذنك is used mainly when physically passing by or briefly leaving a conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are polite. لو سمحت is slightly more common in daily life, while عن إذنك can sound a touch more formal.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending changes with the gender of the person addressed: samaht to a man, samahti to a woman, and samahtu to a group.
How do you pronounce it?
The h in سمحت is a breathy sound from the back of the throat, and the final t is clearly pronounced.
What mistakes should you avoid?
لو سمحت is also how Egyptians say 'please' when asking a waiter or shopkeeper for something, so context decides whether it means 'excuse me' or 'please'.
When do people say it?
Calling out لو سمحت is the standard way to get a waiter's attention in Egyptian cafes and restaurants, rather than raising a hand or calling 'waiter'.
Did you know?
- In Egyptian cafes, saying لو سمحت loudly across the room is the normal way to call a waiter, rather than waving or standing up.
- لو سمحت doubles as both 'excuse me' and 'please', so the same phrase can open a request and soften an interruption.
Examples in context
- لو سمحت، الحساب؟law samaht, el-hesab?Excuse me, could I have the bill?
- لو سمحتي، ممكن سؤال؟law samahti, mumken soal?Excuse me, could I ask a question?
- عن إذنك، لازم أمشي دلوقتي.an eznak, lazem amshi dilwa'ti.Excuse me, I have to go now.
Example conversation
Tamer tries to get a waiter named Gamal's attention at a cafe.
- Tamerلو سمحت يا جمال.law samaht ya Gamal.Excuse me, Gamal.
- Gamalأمرك، عايز حاجة؟amrak, ayez haga?Yes, do you need something?
- Tamerممكن كوباية مية كمان؟mumken kubbayet mayya kaman?Could I get another glass of water?
- Gamalتحت أمرك، ثانية واحدة.taht amrak, sanya wahda.Right away, one second.
