إيه
eh
In Egyptian Arabic, 'what' is إيه (eh).
إيه is placed at the end of a question in Egyptian Arabic rather than the start, as in عامل إيه؟, 'how are you doing', literally 'doing what'.
Meaning: the question word for what (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
إيه has no further breakdown, it is simply the Egyptian question word for 'what', replacing the Standard Arabic ماذا or ما.
Which one should you use?
There is one everyday word, إيه. ماذا exists only in Standard Arabic and is not used in Egyptian speech.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
إيه is used at every level of formality in speech, there is no more formal spoken alternative.
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike English, Egyptian Arabic question words like إيه typically come at the end of the sentence: اسمك إيه؟, 'what is your name', literally 'your name what'.
How do you pronounce it?
إيه is a short, open sound, said almost like the English letter 'A' but shorter.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Putting إيه at the start of a sentence, copying English word order, sounds unnatural. Egyptian word order usually keeps it at the end.
Did you know?
- Egyptian Arabic typically places question words like إيه at the end of a sentence, the reverse of English word order.
- إيه combines with other words to form common fixed phrases, such as عامل إيه؟ for 'how are you doing' and ليه for 'why', which is built from a different root.
Examples in context
- ده إيه؟da eh?What is this?
- بتعمل إيه دلوقتي؟betamel eh dilwa'ti?What are you doing right now?
- قلت إيه؟ مسمعتش كويس.olt eh? masma'tesh kwayyes.What did you say? I didn't hear well.
Example conversation
Hoda asks her son Adam what he is holding.
- Hodaده إيه اللي في إيدك؟da eh elli fi edak?What is that in your hand?
- Adamلعبة جديدة يا ماما.lo'ba gedeeda ya mama.A new toy, mom.
- Hodaجبتها منين؟gebteha menein?Where did you get it from?
- Adamبابا جابها لي امبارح.baba gabha li embareh.Dad brought it for me yesterday.
