أنا
anaeveryday
Egyptian Arabic has no word for "am" in the present tense, so "I am" is simply أنا (ana), followed by what you are, for example أنا مدرس (ana mudarris), "I am a teacher".
Place أنا before a noun, an adjective or a place: أنا تعبان (ana taʿbān), "I am tired", and أنا في البيت (ana fil-bēt), "I am at home".
Meaning: statement of identity (phrase)
How does it change in a sentence?
Adjectives agree with gender: a man says تعبان (taʿbān) and a woman says تعبانة (taʿbāna). For the past, use كنت (kunt), "I was".
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not add a verb for "to be" in the present. أنا مدرس is complete as it stands.
Did you know?
- Egyptian Arabic also drops the verb "to be" in the present for sentences like هو طويل (huwwa ṭawīl), "he is tall".
Examples in context
- أنا مدرس.ana mudarris.I am a teacher.
- أنا تعبانة النهارده.ana taʿbāna en-nahardah.I am tired today.
Example conversation
Rania introduces herself to Peter at a language exchange evening in Cairo.
- Raniaأنا رانيا.ana rānya.I am Rania.
- Peterأنا بيتر. أنا من إنجلترا.ana bītar. ana min ingiltra.I am Peter. I am from England.
- Raniaأنا من القاهرة.ana min el-qāhira.I am from Cairo.
- Peterتشرفنا.tašarrafna.Nice to meet you.
