ملح
milḥeveryday, Egyptian
The Egyptian Arabic word for "salt" is ملح (milḥ). Egyptians say الملح (el-milḥ) for "the salt".
You use it at the table and in the kitchen, for example when you ask for the salt or say that a dish needs more.
Meaning: salt (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The Egyptian pronunciation has a short "i" at the start, milḥ, while Standard Arabic is ملح (milḥ) with the same letters. A salt shaker is often just called مملحة (mamlaḥa).
Did you know?
- Egyptians say في بينا عيش وملح (fi bēnina ʿēsh wi milḥ), "there is bread and salt between us", to talk about a bond made by sharing a meal.
Examples in context
- ممكن الملح لو سمحت؟mumkin el-milḥ law samaḥt?Could I have the salt please?
- الأكل محتاج شوية ملح.el-akl miḥtāg shuwayyit milḥ.The food needs a little salt.
- حطيت ملح كتير.ḥaṭṭēt milḥ kitīr.I put in too much salt.
Example conversation
Dina tastes the soup while cooking with her mother in Alexandria.
- Dinaيا ماما، الشوربة محتاجة ملح.yā mama, esh-shorba miḥtāga milḥ.Mom, the soup needs salt.
- Motherخدي الملح من الرف.khudi l-milḥ min er-raff.Take the salt from the shelf.
- Dinaتمام، دلوقتي أحسن.tamām, dilwaʾti aḥsan.Good, it is better now.
