Ways to say it
| Egyptian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| عيد سعيد | eid sa'eed | |
| كل سنة وانت طيب | kol sana w enta tayeb | general yearly wish, to a male |
| عيد مبارك | eid mubarak | also used |
Egyptians just as often use the all-purpose كل سنة وانت طيب (kol sana w enta tayeb) to a man, or كل سنة وانتي طيبة to a woman, the same wish used for birthdays and the new year. عيد مبارك (eid mubarak), 'blessed Eid', common across the Arab world, is heard in Egypt too.
What does it mean word for word?
عيد means 'feast' and سعيد means 'happy', so عيد سعيد is simply 'happy feast'. مبارك means 'blessed'.
Which one should you use?
All three greetings are warm and widely used. عيد سعيد and عيد مبارك name the feast directly, while كل سنة وانت طيب is the broader Egyptian phrase for any yearly occasion.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
All are informal enough for family, friends, neighbours and coworkers alike.
How does it change in a sentence?
طيب in كل سنة وانت طيب changes with the person addressed: طيب to a man, طيبة to a woman and طيبين to a group.
How do you pronounce it?
سعيد is stressed on the second syllable, sa-EED, with a long final vowel.
What mistakes should you avoid?
عيد ميلاد سعيد, for birthdays, should not be confused with the religious عيد سعيد or عيد مبارك said for Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha.
When do people say it?
On Eid morning, Egyptian families often visit each other after the Eid prayer, and children traditionally receive عيدية, small gifts of money, from relatives.
Did you know?
- Egyptian children traditionally receive عيدية, small cash gifts from relatives, on both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
- كحك, a powdered-sugar cookie baked specifically for Eid, is one of the most anticipated foods of the holiday in Egyptian homes.
Examples in context
- عيد سعيد يا جميع!eid sa'eed ya game'!Happy Eid, everyone!
- كل سنة وانتم طيبين بالعيد.kol sana w entom tayebeen bel-eid.Happy Eid to all of you.
- عيد مبارك، كل سنة وانت طيب.eid mubarak, kol sana w enta tayeb.Blessed Eid, happy Eid to you.
Example conversation
Amira greets her neighbour Sherif on the morning of Eid.
- Amiraعيد سعيد يا شريف!eid sa'eed ya Sherif!Happy Eid, Sherif!
- Sherifعيد مبارك يا أميرة، كل سنة وانتي طيبة.eid mubarak ya Amira, kol sana w enti tayba.Blessed Eid, Amira, happy Eid to you too.
- Amiraعملتوا كحك السنة دي؟amaltu kahk es-sana di?Did you make Eid cookies this year?
- Sherifطبعا، هبعت لكم شوية.tab'an, haba't lakom shwaya.Of course, I'll send you some.
