Essential Egyptian Arabic Phrases for Travelers (2026)
The Egyptian Arabic words that actually matter on a trip - greetings, thank-you, numbers, bargaining lines and the polite way to say no - written phonetically.
You don't need to learn Arabic to travel Egypt - English gets you through hotels, tours and most of Cairo and Luxor. But a dozen words, said with a smile, change the temperature of every interaction: a warmer welcome, a fairer opening price in the souk, a nod of respect from an older man in a village. The single most useful phrase is shukran (thank you), and the single most useful skill is counting to ten. Everything below is written the way it sounds, not in formal Modern Standard Arabic - Egyptians speak masri, their own dialect, and it's what you'll actually hear.
Start with greetings
Egyptian greetings are layered and a little theatrical, which is part of the charm. You give a greeting, the other person tops it, you thank them, and only then does business begin. Skipping straight to "how much?" reads as rude.
The universal opener is salaam aleikum ("peace be upon you"), answered wa aleikum es-salaam ("and upon you peace"). This one has been exchanged in exactly this form for centuries - the traveler Edward Lane recorded Egyptians "greeting each other with the salutation of 'Peace be on you'" in his 1842 account of daily life in Cairo, and it hasn't changed. For a lighter, more casual hello, izzayak (to a man) or izzayik (to a woman) means "how are you?" - reply kwayyis ("good", said by a man) or kwayyisa (by a woman), or just alhamdulillah ("praise God", the all-purpose "I'm fine").
| English | Egyptian Arabic | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (peace be upon you) | السلام عليكم | sa-LAAM a-LEY-koom |
| Reply to hello | وعليكم السلام | wa a-LEY-koom es-sa-LAAM |
| Hi / welcome | أهلاً | AH-lan |
| How are you? (to a man) | إزيك | iz-ZAY-yak |
| Good / fine | كويس | ku-WAY-yis |
| Goodbye | مع السلامة | ma-a sa-LAA-ma |
| Good morning | صباح الخير | sa-BAAH el-KHEIR |
The three words you'll use most
If you learn nothing else, learn these. Shukran (SHOK-ran) is thank you; add gazeelan for "thank you very much." Min fadlak (to a man) or min fadlik (to a woman) is "please" and doubles as "excuse me" to get attention. And aiwa (AY-wa) means yes, la (laa) means no. Egyptians often nod the head back and click the tongue - tsk with a slight upward chin lift - to mean no, which surprises visitors; it isn't disdain, it's just "no."
The reply to shukran is afwan ("you're welcome"). And you'll hear insha'allah ("God willing") constantly - it's attached to any future plan, from "the boat leaves at eight, insha'allah" to "see you tomorrow." Take it at face value: it means "probably yes, barring the unforeseen."
How to say "no, thank you" and mean it
Egypt's tourist zones come with persistent vendors, calèche drivers and men offering to "help" near the pyramids. The polite-but-firm exit line is la, shukran ("no, thank you") - say it once, calmly, keep walking, don't break stride to explain. If someone is really insistent, khalas (kha-LAAS, "enough / that's it") with a flat hand gesture ends most exchanges. Mafeesh ("there isn't / I don't have any") is useful for the endless requests for baksheesh or "just one dollar."
A word that smooths almost anything over: maalesh (MAA-lesh). It means "never mind / no worries / it's okay" and Egyptians use it for everything from a spilled tea to a two-hour delay. Deploy it generously.
Numbers and bargaining
Haggling is expected in souks like Khan el-Khalili and with taxi and calèche drivers - not in supermarkets, restaurants or fixed-price shops. Knowing the numbers lets you counter-offer instead of just staring at a calculator.
| Number | Arabic | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | واحد | WAA-hid |
| 2 | اتنين | it-NEEN |
| 3 | تلاتة | ta-LAA-ta |
| 4 | اربعة | AR-ba-a |
| 5 | خمسة | KHAM-sa |
| 6 | ستة | SIT-ta |
| 7 | سبعة | SAB-a |
| 8 | تمانية | ta-MAN-ya |
| 9 | تسعة | TIS-a |
| 10 | عشرة | ASH-ara |
| 100 | مية | MEE-ya |
The opening question is bikam? ("how much?", bi-KAM). When the price comes back, look mildly unimpressed and say ghali! ("expensive!", GHAA-li) or ghali awi ("very expensive"). Then counter at roughly half and settle somewhere in the middle. Aakhir kalaam? means "final price?" A relaxed smile beats a hard bargain - if you're enjoying it, so are they, and you'll pay less. For a fuller playbook on prices and haggling, see our Egypt travel tips and culture and customs guides.
Getting around
Taxis, ride-hailing and Nile ferries all go more smoothly with a few words. Confirm the fare before you get in an ordinary street taxi - Uber and Careem (both work well in Cairo, Alexandria and increasingly Hurghada) remove the haggling entirely, which is why many travelers default to them.
| English | Egyptian Arabic | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| Where is...? | فين...؟ | feyn...? |
| Airport | المطار | el-ma-TAAR |
| Straight ahead | على طول | a-la TOOL |
| Right / left | يمين / شمال | ye-MEEN / shi-MAAL |
| Stop here | قف هنا | wa-AF hi-NA |
| The bill, please | الحساب لو سمحت | el-hi-SAAB law sa-MAHT |
| How much is the fare? | الأجرة بكام؟ | el-OG-ra bi-KAM |
At the table
Egyptian food culture is warm and feeding you is a point of pride. Ana gaan means "I'm hungry"; the reflex answer to "how's the food?" is a happy lazeez! ("delicious!"). If you're full and someone keeps piling your plate, shabaan, shukran ("I'm full, thank you") is the escape. Vegetarians can say ana nabaati ("I'm vegetarian") - though be specific, since meat stock hides in some dishes; our vegetarian and vegan guide covers the wording in detail. To ask for the bill, el-hisab, law samaht. And when the tea arrives, as it always does, shukran and a hand over the heart is the perfect small courtesy.
A few etiquette words worth knowing
Habibi (to a man) or habibti (to a woman) literally means "my dear" and gets thrown around affectionately - a waiter, a shopkeeper, a taxi driver may call you habibi within a minute. It's friendly, not forward. If someone sneezes, sahha is the small blessing you offer. And the single most disarming thing you can do as a visitor is respond to the endless "Welcome to Egypt!" not with a nod but with shukran and a real smile. It costs nothing and it's remembered.
You will mangle the pronunciation. Everyone does. It does not matter even slightly - the effort is the message, and a fumbled shukran lands better than a fluent silence. Ready to put the words to use? Browse guided experiences and tours on our search page - a good local guide is the fastest way to pick up more.
Common questions
Do I need to speak Arabic to travel in Egypt?
No. English is widely understood in hotels, tourist sites, restaurants and by guides and drivers across Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea resorts. A handful of Arabic words - hello, thank you, numbers, 'no thank you' - are enough to earn warmth and smoother interactions, but you can travel comfortably on English alone.
What's the most useful Egyptian Arabic phrase for tourists?
Shukran (thank you), pronounced SHOK-ran. After that, learn min fadlak (please), la shukran (no thank you, for declining vendors), and the numbers one to ten so you can bargain. Maalesh ('never mind / no worries') is the local all-purpose smoother-over.
How do I politely say no to persistent vendors?
Say 'la, shukran' (no, thank you) once, calmly, and keep walking without stopping to explain. If someone is very insistent, 'khalas' (enough / that's it) with a flat hand gesture ends most exchanges. Don't engage in a back-and-forth - a brief, friendly firmness works best.
Is Egyptian Arabic the same as the Arabic in textbooks?
No. Textbooks usually teach Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), the formal written language. Egyptians speak masri, a distinct spoken dialect, which is what you'll actually hear on the street and what the phrases in this guide are written in. Egyptian Arabic is also widely understood across the Arab world thanks to Egypt's film and TV industry.
What does 'insha'allah' mean and why do Egyptians say it so often?
It means 'God willing' and is attached to almost any statement about the future - departure times, plans, promises. Treat it as 'probably yes, barring the unforeseen.' It's a normal part of everyday speech, not a way of dodging a commitment.
Do I bargain everywhere in Egypt?
No - only in souks and markets like Khan el-Khalili, with street taxis, and with calèche and camel operators. Supermarkets, chain shops, restaurants and fixed-price stores don't haggle. Start by asking 'bikam?' (how much?), counter at roughly half, and settle in the middle. A smile lowers the price more than a hard line.
How do I count to ten in Egyptian Arabic?
Waahid (1), itneen (2), talaata (3), arbaa (4), khamsa (5), sitta (6), sabaa (7), tamanya (8), tisaa (9), ashara (10). Learning these makes bargaining and reading prices far easier than relying on a calculator screen.
What should I say when someone gives me tea or feeds me?
Say 'shukran' with a hand over your heart - a small, sincere courtesy Egyptians appreciate. If the food is good, 'lazeez!' (delicious) delights hosts. When you've had enough and they keep serving, 'shabaan, shukran' means 'I'm full, thank you.'
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