كفاية
kifāyastop it, everyday
To tell someone to stop doing something in Egyptian Arabic you say كفاية (kifāya), which means "enough". To ask someone to stop and wait, say استنى (istanna). It is also called قف (ʾif).
Meaning: stop, enough (verb)
Ways to say it
| Egyptian | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| كفاية | kifāya | stop it, everyday |
| استنى | istanna | wait, hold on, to a man |
| قف | ʾif | road sign, formal |
كفاية (kifāya) works for a noise, a joke or an argument that has gone on too long. استنى (istanna) means "hold on", and a woman is told استني (istanni).
Which one should you use?
The word قف (ʾif) is the one written on road stop signs. People do not use it much in conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
كفاية (kifāya) is fine among friends and family. To a stranger you can soften it with لو سمحت (law samaḥt), "please".
Did you know?
- Egyptians often add بقى (baʾa) after كفاية (kifāya) to show they have run out of patience.
Examples in context
- كفاية بقى!kifāya baʾa!Stop it now!
- استنى شوية.istanna shuwayya.Wait a bit.
- كفاية كده يا جماعة.kifāya kida yā gamāʿa.That is enough, everyone.
Example conversation
Two brothers, Ali and Youssef, argue over the TV remote at home.
- Aliهات الريموت!hāt er-rimūt!Give me the remote!
- Youssefاستنى، خلاص.istanna, khalāṣ.Wait, I am done.
- Motherكفاية بقى يا ولاد!kifāya baʾa yā wilād!Stop it now, boys!
