Want to light up a Cairo market with one friendly word? I’ve seen it happen—strangers smile, vendors pause, and conversations open.
I’m your on-the-ground guide with Egypt Tours by Locals, and I’ll give you a fast, field-tested list of words and phrases that locals actually use the first morning you land.
We’ll focus on high-impact terms—shokran (thank you), losama7t (please), 7amam (bathroom), beekam? (how much?)—and simple greetings that make people relax.
This is practical language for taxis, street snacks, temple queues, and bustling souks. You won’t get a grammar lecture—just short entries, phonetics you can say, and quick-use tips when you’re tired or jet-lagged.
By the end, you’ll carry a pocket-ready set of phrases that turn a tourist visit into a richer, warmer experience.
Key Takeaways
- Try a single word—locals love the effort and it opens doors.
- Focus on greetings and polite phrases to connect quickly.
- Use the list in taxis, markets, and at cafes for instant wins.
- Practice phonetics; pronunciation traps and tips are included.
- With Egypt Tours by Locals, you get real practice and confident scripts.
Why a few phrases go a long way in Egypt right now
Say just a couple of local words and watch doors open across Cairo. I’ve seen shoppers, taxi drivers, and cafe staff respond differently when a visitor makes the effort.
Quick wins:
- A few Egyptian Arabic phrases unlock goodwill fast—people appreciate the effort, and you feel calmer in the first taxi line.
- English is common in tourism, but one or two local words often speed up service, get clearer directions, and can even improve a price.
- Keep in mind that time here moves differently—if someone says Inshallah, it usually means “hopefully,” so confirm the exact time with a smile.
Short phrases cut friction in busy spots: ordering koshari, pointing to the 7amam, or paying for water. When you pair a line with a clear hand gesture—something I coach at Egypt Tours by Locals—you double your clarity in noisy markets.
You don’t need long sentences. Small efforts yield a richer experience and friendlier interactions. Use them the first morning, and the payoff stacks up the whole trip Egypt.
Essential Egyptian Arabic for Travelers: the core list you’ll actually use
I keep this core list pocket-ready. Say one word and you get faster service, clearer directions, and friendlier responses on the street or in a taxi.
Core vocabulary — say it loud, say it kind:
- Shokran (شكراً, “SHO-kran”) — thank you. Pair with a hand-over-heart for a polite, firm response in busy markets.
- Losama7t (لو سمحت, “lo-sa-MA7T”) — please. Use it in any request: “7amam, losama7t?” works wonders.
- 7amam (حمام, “ha-MAM”) — bathroom. Say it clearly and point if the noise is high.
- Beekam? (بكام؟, “bee-KAM?”) — how much? Try it with souvenirs, street snacks, or a taxi and smile when you haggle.
- Aiwa (ايوه, “EYE-wa”) / La’ (لا, “LUH”) — yes / no. Short and heard across a loud street.
- Mashy (ماشي, “MAY-shee”) — ok. Use it to agree and keep things moving with drivers or stallholders.
- Maya (مياه, “MY-ya”) — water. Point to the bottle if needed; avoid tap water.
- Amreeka (أمريكا, “am-REE-ka”) — America. Handy when someone asks where you’re from.
- Yalla beena (يلا بينا, “YELL-uh BEE-na”) — let’s go. Great to nudge a group along.
- Ana 3ayiz/3ayiza (أنا عايز/عايزة, “ANA EYE-yiz/EYE-ya-za”) — I want. Add your item: “Ana 3ayiza falafel.”
Tip: With Egypt Tours by Locals, I role-play these lines until your delivery gets natural, even with taxi drivers. Small practice makes a big difference in real exchanges.
| Phrase | When to Use | Quick Tip |
| Shokran | After a purchase or help in a street market | Hand-over-heart adds polite firmness |
| Beekam? | Buying snacks, souvenirs, or in a taxi | Smile and offer a counterprice |
| 7amam | Needing a bathroom in cafes or tourist sites | Say clearly and repeat if noisy |
| Ana 3ayiz/3ayiza | Ordering food or asking for an item | Use a gender form that matches your voice |
Greetings and peace: everyday ways to open conversations
Begin with peace, and you’ll notice people lean in—always a good first move. The classic opening is As‑Salam w elykom (السلام عليكم). It literally offers peace and acts as an easy doorway into any chat with people in a shop or a café.
Reply if someone greets you with Wuh elykom as‑salam—matching that rhythm shows respect and relaxes the exchange. Use Saba7 el kheir (صباح الخير) to say good morning; the kh has a soft throaty sound—slow it down and it will stick.
- Ma‘a salama (مع سلامة) — goodbye; literally “with peace.”
- Ezzayak? (man) / Ezzayik? (woman) — How are you? Tiny gender tweaks, big connection.
- Ahlan wa sahlan — welcome. Reply Ahlan beek (to a man) or Ahlan beeki (to a woman).
Keep your tone calm and your gesture open—a light nod or hand over chest adds warmth. If the street is loud, slow your pace; clear sound beats speed every time.
Tip: With Egypt Tours by Locals, I coach the full greeting sequence. By your second morning, you’ll deliver these Arabic phrases with ease and natural sound.
Get insider tips on Egypt’s etiquette, safety, and dress code travel smart and blend in like a local!
| Phrase | Use | Quick tip |
| As‑Salam w elykom | Open a conversation | Say it slowly and smile |
| Saba7 el kheir | Morning greetings | Pronounce the kh softly |
| Ezzayak / Ezzayik | Ask how someone is | Match the form to man or woman |
Getting around Egypt: taxis, street navigation, and time cues
Start each ride with a clear landmark—tell the driver a building name or shop near your drop-off, and then guide with simple words.
Use: yameen (right), shemal (left), and alatool (straight). Say one instruction at a time; calm sound beats speed in noisy traffic.
- Ask the fare up front with Beekam?—this phrase keeps taxi drivers honest and avoids surprises.
- If they give a fuzzy arrival, keep in mind that Inshallah can soften a time estimate—repeat the time and confirm the destination.
- Point and pair words like henna (here) or hinek (there) with eye contact for a fast response.
- Need a quick stop? Say 7amam, losama7t? Drivers take short requests faster than long explanations.
When the route drifts, reset with alatool then yameen or shemal. If a fare feels high, smile, counter, and end with mashy when you agree.
I ride with many guests on day one at Egypt Tours by Locals—after a few reps you’ll handle directions, fares, and quick bathroom asks with confidence. Always finish with shokran to leave on good terms.
| Tip | Use | Quick example |
| Landmark first | Start of ride | “Near the big mosque, then yameen.” |
| Confirm fare | Before moving | “Beekam? 20?” |
| Quick stop | On the road | “7amam, losama7t?” |
Shopping and street food: prices, bargaining, and polite refusals
Start your Shopping adventure in Egypt with warmth—then use one clear phrase to steer the moment. Open a market encounter with a smile and a quick “salaam,” then ask Beekam? to start the price chat.
When you want to try some delicious Egyptian Foods, say Ana 3ayiza falafel (or 3ayiz if you’re a man). Short, friendly orders work best in busy stalls and will earn you a quick smile from the vendor.
- Not interested? Say Shokran and place your hand over your heart—this is a polite, firm refusal that most people read right away.
- If the seller persists, repeat the same word calmly; consistency beats long explanations on a crowded street.
- Thirsty? Point and ask Maya for sealed water; keep in mind to avoid tap water while you travel.
- Use aiwa or la’ for quick yes/no answers to keep things moving.
- To save time, bundle purchases: ask Bee-kam kullu? (how much for all?) then counter gently.
- Need to find a bathroom? Ask for the 7amam at cafés and stalls; most vendors will point you right away.
With Egypt Tours by Locals I walk guests through real stands. By the fourth stop you’ll use these words with ease—and enjoy the friendly rhythm of the market.
Wondering how safe it is to travel to Egypt? Here’s what you should know.
| Phrase | Use | Quick tip |
| Beekam? | Open bargaining | Smile, then offer a counterprice |
| Shokran + hand | Polite refusal | Hand over heart signals genuine thanks |
| Ana 3ayiz/3ayiza | Ordering food | Match gender of the speaker |
| Maya? | Buying bottled water | Avoid tap water; ask for sealed bottles |
Numbers and money talk: fast wins for markets and taxi drivers
Mastering a few digits will save time and cut confusion when you haggle or flag a ride. Learn 0–10 and you cover most price talk on day one.
- 0–10 list: sifr (0), waa7ed (1), itneen (2), talata (3), arba‘a (4), khamsa (5), setta (6), sab‘a (7), tamanya (8), tes‘a (9), ‘ashra (10). These numbers handle roughly 90% of fares and purchases.
- You’ll see Arabic numerals in shops—note ٧ = 7 and ٨ = 8. Prices still read left-to-right, so the flow feels familiar.
- In a taxi, ask Beekam? then counter with a short number: “waa7ed?” or “itneen?” Keep the words/phrases minimal and firm.
- At stalls, point and say “itneen” to bundle two items. Show your fingers and the vendor will match the count fast.
- When the street is loud, say each number clearly, use a nod, and add hand signals. The extra sound and gesture seal the deal.
- Sab‘a (7) has a slight ‘ayn catch—don’t sweat perfect pronunciation. A confident try beats silence every time.
- Confirm change out loud—”khamsa… itneen… ‘ashra”—and show bills as you count. If you need a pause, ask “7amam, losama7t?” then return fresh.
- With Egypt Tours by Locals I quiz guests on numbers in real settings. After a few reps they count and bargain instinctively on any trip egypt.
| Use | Quick example | Tip |
| Taxi fare | “Beekam? Itneen?” | Ask then counter with a low, clear number |
| Bundle purchase | “Itnen keda?” | Point at items and show two fingers |
| Confirm change | “Khamsa… itneen… ‘ashra” | Say amounts while handing notes |
Sound it out: quick pronunciation guide for tricky Egyptian Arabic
Let’s make tricky sounds simple so your quick phrases land clearly. I stick to tiny drills you can do before breakfast or between sites.
- 7 = ح — a firm, breathy h. Try it in Saba7 el kheir and 7amam, two words you’ll say every morning.
- 3 = ع — a deep, throaty catch. Practice Ana 3ayiz/3ayiza slowly, then speed up until it feels natural.
- Kh = خ — a soft, back-of-throat friction. The kh in el kheir is gentle; aim for air and friction, not growl.
- Glottal stop (hamza) — a quick clip that ends or starts a vowel. A small pause makes the sound crisp, like in the spoken “no.”
- Gender endings — a man says “3ayiz,” a woman says “3ayiza.” Match locals and you’ll get warmer replies.
- Stress matters less than clarity. Short, steady syllables beat a perfect accent every time.
- Use numbers (sab‘a, tes‘a, ‘ashra) to drill consonants while you walk—count aloud to breakfast.
- If you blank, add a gesture—pointing for a bathroom or water bottle closes the gap faster than hesitation.
- Record one line on your phone, play it back, tweak one sound—progress happens in minutes.
- With Egypt Tours by Locals, I give two-minute drills in the van that make these Arabic words stick on day one.
| Sound | Practice tip | Example |
| 7 (ح) | Exhale firmly, not harshly | Saba7 el kheir / 7amam |
| 3 (ع) | Drop throat closure, slow, then speed | Ana 3ayiz / 3ayiza |
| Kh (خ) | Make soft friction at the back | El kheir |
MSA vs Egyptian Arabic: why the dialect you speak matters on the street
On the street, the way you speak matters more than the exact words you know. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) rules the news, speeches, and formal signs. It sounds clean and correct—but it rarely shows up in casual chats.
Masri (the local dialect) is shorter, friendlier, and full of sound patterns that locals use every day. You’ll hear it in cafés, taxis, and market stalls. If you want quick buys, clear directions, or a bathroom pointed out, Masri lands faster.
- MSA appears in announcements and formal writing; Masri drives spoken life in the country.
- Across the Middle East, Masri is widely understood thanks to the media—useful if your route jumps cities.
- Numbers, times, greetings, and simple Arabic phrases work best in the dialect when you speak with locals.
English helps in tourism, but lead with a dialect hello and you’ll flip the vibe. I coach quick Masri swaps with Egypt Tours by Locals so your lines feel natural, and we practice confirming times, fares, and the location of the bathroom in real moments.
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| Use | MSA | Masri |
| News/signs | Common | Rare |
| Street chat | Stiff | Natural, friendly |
| Cross-country clarity | Formal | Widely understood via media |
Conclusion
Start your next tour day with two friendly phrases and feel the city shift toward you. Say As‑Salam w elykom and Beekam? and you’ll navigate a market morning, a taxi, or a cafe with ease.
Keep a tiny card of numbers, a bathroom word, and a polite close like shokran. These words phrases beat a long study plan—use them in the morning and by midday they’re part of your trip.
Down by the Red Sea, at the pyramids, or crossing a busy street in Luxor, the same lines open doors with people. I’m your guide at Egypt Tours by Locals—on tour we’ll role‑play and try these lines in the wild so they stick for the rest of your trip. Good morning—Saba7 el kheir—and enjoy the country.
