Learn Top Arabic Words Easily! Egypt Official Language

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Arabic language is a Semitic language, most closely related to Hebrew, Aramaic, Ugaritic and Phoenician. Arabic is spoken by almost 200 million people in more than twenty two countries, from Morrocco to Iraq, and as far south as Somalia and the Sudan. As the language of Quran, the Holy book of Islam, it is thought as a first language in Muslim states throughout the world. Arabic language originated in Saudi Arabia in pre-Islamic times, and spread rapidly across the Middle East.

Nearly the entire population of Egypt speaks Arabic. However, only well-educated people easily understand standard (classical) Arabic and this is which must be used for giving speeches or during the important events. Colloquial Egyptian (Masry) Arabic is by far the most widely spoken in the country and it is not much different from the starndard Arabic but it is much easier. Many Nubians also speak their ancestral language. Berber is spoken in a few settlements in the oases of the Western Desert. Coptic Christians use the Coptic language, descended from ancient Egyptian, for liturgical purposes, but it is not a language in daily use. English and French are common second languages among educated Egyptians.

The Arabic alphabet has 28 letters, all representing consonants, and is written from right to left. The shape of each letter depends on its position in a word—initial, medial, and final.  Arabic has only three vowels (“a”, “i”, “u”), each of which can be either short or long. Long vowels are pronounced for about twice as long as short vowels. 

Vowels are not written in Arabic script with letters, but with diacritical marks called Harakat (literally: “signs”) which are placed above or below the letters. These signs are not normally shown with the letters, except in the Quran (where they are required) and in students’ books, religious books, and grammar books in order to ensure that words are pronounced correctly. These signs are omitted in most written material except where they are necessary to resolve ambiguity. Therefore, if you intend to read Arabic, you must learn to recognize and pronounce words without counting upon them.

If you are a foreigner and you plan to travel to Egypt for a vacation, it will be preferred if you can first learn some of the most common words and this will definitely make a big difference to your holiday specially if you are visiting the country for the first time.

Most of foreigners think Arabic is a very hard language and it needs a long time to be learned. So they will get lazy and they will prefer to rely on the fact the Egyptians can speak in English. Therefore when the Egyptians find some foreigner who can speak even if few Arabic words, they will pay him/her more respect and they will be more careful in their own behaviors.

Here below is a list of the most common and easiest words in Arabic and to what each word indicates: -

1. Elsalam alekom (Hallo / Bye in English). This is the main greeting used by all Egyptians anytime during the day or night time even before going to bed. El Salam Alekom literally "Peace is upon you" and when you reply to the greeting you should say "Alekom elsalam".

2. Shockrun (Thank you in English), when you would like to thank somebody for doing something for you and "Awfan" is "You are welcome".

3. Yalla (Let's go in English). Yalla has different meanings and is not just about moving to somewhere else. It is widely used now is a way of motivation for example like "Vamos" in Spanish.

4. Habibi (My love in English). Unlike the western world, this word in Egypt is not used only among the lovers but even used among the close friends. Further more you can use it when you would like to call somebody and you don't know what's his/her name as a way of respect.

5. Mashi (Ok in English). When you a set a deal or a plan with somebody so you will need to use this word to get his/her approval.

6. Aiwa (Yes in English).

7. La (No in English). When this word will be combined with the word "Shockrun", we will be able to get the expression "No, Thank you".

8. Assef (Sorry in English).

9. Min fadlak (Please in English). It should be used every time after asking for a service or a favour as a way of courtesy.

10. Becam (How much in English). It is a way to get the best price when you are negotiating to buy something especially in Luxor and Aswan.

11. InshaAllah (God willing in English). Most of Egyptians prefer to end each sentence or speeech with InshaAllah as a way of bleesing.

12. Istanna (Wait! in English).

13. Sadiqi (My friend in English).

Here below is a detailed list for the easy Arabic words and their meanings in English: -