Learn how to express your needs and ask for something politely in an Egyptian café. This online lesson is based on vocabulary and structures that can be found in the Beginning Learner’s Egyptian Arabic Dictionary.
- “I want…” In Egyptian Arabic, the word for “I want” changes based on your own gender.
- عايِز (`āyiz) — Use this if you are a man.
- عايْزة (`áyza) — Use this if you are a woman.
- Essential Vocabulary
- قهْوَة (ʔáhwa) — Coffee
- مايّة (máyya) — Water
- Being Polite: “Please” To be polite, use the phrase for “please,” which changes based on the gender of the person you are speaking to.
- مِن فضْلك (min fáɖlak) — Use this when speaking to a man.
- مِن فضْلِك (min fáɖlik) — Use this when speaking to a woman.
Putting it all together:
عايْزة قهْوَة مِن فضْلك.
(`áyza ʔáhwa min fáɖlak.)
“I want coffee, please.” (said by a woman to a waiter)
Source: The Beginning Learner’s Egyptian Arabic Dictionary
Beginning Learner’s Egyptian Arabic Dictionary
An alphabetical Egyptian Arabic eBook dictionary featuring over 1,400 words and phrases, with example sentences and phonemic transcription to support beginning learners.
I think this is a great mini lesson. As a former school teacher I find the format very user friendly. The lesson builds on itself logically and the content is instantly applicable. Nice job!
This would be much better with audio. We can’t practice without hearing how it should sound.
Better with audio
I agree with the audio. Also what do you do when they ask how many sugars or milk you want. Language lessons always are short of listening and responses.
I echo the comment about needing audio to practise the pronunciation.
Also, in the learning I have done so far, I have been taught that “mumkin” ممكن (literal translation, “possible”, i.e. “is it possible to have…”) is the more polite way to ask for something instead of عايْزة . So wouldn’t ممكن قهْوَة مِن فضْلك (mumkin ʔáhwa min fáɖlak) be better?