(Egyptian Arabic) ‫اللغه المصريه الحديثه‬

Welcome (ahlan wa sahlan) ً‫أهالً و سهال‬

(is salām 'alaykum) ‫ألسّالم عليكم‬

rsp - (wa 'alaykum is salām) ‫وعليكم السّالم‬
Hello (General greeting) (ahlan wa sahlan) ً‫أهالً و سهال‬
rsp - (ahlan beek) ‫أهالً بيك‬
inf - (ahlan) ً‫أهال‬

m - (izayyak) ‫إزيّك؟‬ ّ
ّ
f - (izayyik) ‫إزيّك؟‬
pl - (izayyuku) ‫إزيّك؟‬ ّ
How are you?
m - ('aamil ey?) ‫عامل إيه؟‬
f - ('amla ey?) ‫عامل إيه؟‬
pl - ('amleen ey?) ‫عامل إيه؟‬

‫ وأنت؟‬.‫ الحمد هلل‬،‫كويّس‬

m - (kwayyis, al hamdulillah. wa inta)
Reply to 'How are you?'
‫ وأنت؟‬.‫ الحمد هلل‬،‫كويّس‬
f - (kwayyisa, al hamdulillah. wa inti)

Long-time no see

m - (Ismak ey?) ‫إسمك إيه؟‬

What's your name?
f - (Ismik ey?) ‫إسمك إيه؟‬

My name is ... (ismee ...) ...‫اسمي‬

m - (Inta minayn?) ‫إنت منين؟‬

Where are you from?
f - (Inti minayn?) ‫إنت منين؟‬

I'm from ... (ana min ...) ... ‫أنا من‬

(fursa sa'ida) ‫فرصة سعيدة‬

Pleased to meet you
response - (ana al'asad) ‫أنا األسعد‬

Good morning (ṣabā il kẖayr) ‫صباح الخير‬

(Morning greeting) response - (ṣabā in noor) ‫صباح النّور‬

Good afternoon (misa' il khayr) ‫مساء الخير‬

(Afternoon greeting) response - (misa' in noor) ‫مساء النّور‬

Good evening (misa' il khayr) ‫مساء الخير‬

(Evening greeting) response - (misa' in noor) ‫مساء النّور‬

(tiṣbaḥ 'ala khayr) ‫تصبح على خير‬

Good night
response - (winta min ahla) ‫وأنت من أهله‬
Goodbye (ma'is salāma) ‫مع السّالمة‬
(Parting phrases) (bai) ‫باي‬

Good luck! (hazz sa'eed) !‫حظ سعيد‬

Cheers! Good Health!

good health - (fee saḥitkum) !‫في صحتكم‬
(Toasts used when drinking)

Have a nice day (youm sa'eed) ‫يوم سعيد‬

!‫بالهنا و الشفاء‬
(bil hana wish shifa'!)
Bon appetit / ‫هللا يهنّيك‬
Have a nice meal rsp m - (allah yihanneek)
‫هللا يهنّيك‬
rsp mf - (allah yihanneeki)

!‫تروح و تيجي بالسّالمة‬

(tirooh wa tigi bis salaama!)
Bon voyage / ‫هللا يسلّمك‬
Have a good journey rsp m - (allah yisallimak)
‫هللا يسلّمك‬
rsp f - (allah yisallimik)

m - (ana faahim) ‫أنا فاهم‬

I understand
f - (ana fahma) ‫أنا فاهمة‬

‫ال أفهم‬
(lā afaham)
‫أنا مش فاهم‬
I don't understand
m - (ana miš faahim)
‫أنا مش فاهمة‬
f - (ana miš fahma)

I don't know (ma'arafsh) ‫معرفش‬

ّ ‫ممكن تتكلّم‬
‫بالراحة‬
Please speak more slowly
(mumkin titkallim bilrrāha)

‫ممكن تقول ثاني؟‬

m - (mumkin ti'ool taani?)
Please say that again
‫ممكن تقولي ثاني؟‬
f - (mumkin ti'oolee taani?)

‫ممكن تكتبه؟‬
m - (mumkin tiktibuh?)
Please write it down
‫ممكن تكتبيه؟‬
f - (mumkin tiktibeeh?)
 ‫بتتكلّم عربي‬
m - (bititkallim 'arabi?)
Do you speak Arabic?
‫بتتكلّمي عربي‬
f - (bititkallimee 'arabi?)

Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?')

How do you say ... in Arabic? ّ

(izzay a' ool ...?) ‫؟‬... ‫إزاي أقول‬

m - ('an iznak) !‫عن إذنك‬

Excuse me f - ('an iznik) !‫عن إزنك‬
pl - ('an izniku) !‫عن إزنك‬

How much is this? (bikam da?) ‫بكم ده؟‬

m - (aasif) !‫آسف‬
Sorry
f - (aasifa) !‫آسف‬

Please (low samaht) ‫لو سمحت‬

(shukrān) ‫ﺷكراﹰ‬
Thank you (mut shakkrān) ‫متش ّكرين‬
(shukrān gazēlan) ً‫ﺷكراﹰ جزيال‬

Reply to thank you ('afwan) ً ‫عفوا‬

Where's the toilet / bathroom? (el-ḥammām fain?) ‫الحمام فين؟‬

‫الرجل المحترم هايدفع كل حاجة‬

This gentleman will pay for everything
(el-ragel el-mohtaram haidfa'a koll haga)

‫المرأة المحترم هايدفع كل حاجة‬

This lady will pay for everything
(el-amar'a hatedfaa koll haga)

‫تحب ترقص معايا ؟‬

m - (teheb tor'oos ma'aya?)
Would you like to dance with me?
‫تحبي ترقصي معايا ؟‬
f - (tehebbi ter'osi ma'aya ?)

>m - (ana baħibbak) ‫ٲنَا بحِ بَّك‬

I love you
>f - (ana baħibbik) ‫ٲنَا بَحِ ِبّك‬

Leave me alone! (sebnie lwahdie!) !‫سيبني لوحدي‬

Help! (ilHaʿni!) !‫الحقني‬

Fire! (Hareeʿ!) !‫حريق‬

Stop! (uʿaf!) !‫أقف‬

!‫إتّصل بالبوليس‬
Call the police!
(itaṣṣal bil bulees)

‫كل سنة و إنت طيّب‬

>m (kull sana wa inta tayyib)
‫كل سنة و إنت طيّب‬
>f (kull sana wa inti tayyiba)
Birthday greetings
‫و إنت طيّب‬
rsp >m - (wa inta tayyib)
‫و إنت طيّب‬
rsp >f (wa inti tayyiba)

My hovercraft is full of eels

Why this phrase?

ً ‫لغة وحدة بس ماتكفيش ابدا‬

One language is never enough
(lo3'a wa7da bass matkafeesh abdan)

Welcome; hello: ‫( وسهال أهال‬ahlan wa sahlan)

Response: ‫( بيك أهال‬ahlan bīk)
You can say ‫ وسهال أهال‬when welcoming someone (ex. to your country or home). And you can also
say ‫ اهال‬to mean just "hello."

Welcome; hello: ‫( مرحبا‬marHaban)

Response: ‫( بيك مرحبا‬marHaban bīk)
‫ مرحبا‬can be used in much the same way as ‫وسهال أهال‬, and it has a more colloquial pronunciation of
"marHaba." One colloquial response is ‫( مرحبتي‬marHabtein - lit. two welcomes). ‫ مرحبا‬is not really
used in Egypt outside of tourist signs and so forth, but in other places like the Gulf and Levant, it's
used frequently to say hello.

Hello: ‫( عليكم السالم‬as-salāmu 3aleikum) - lit. Peace be upon you

Response: ‫( السالم وعليكم‬w3aleikum as-salām)
A common greeting used by Muslims. You can also add ‫( وبركاته هللا ورحمة‬waraHmatu llāhi wabarakātu
- and God's mercy and blessings) to the end.

Good morning: ‫( الخي صباح‬SabāH al-xeir)

Response: ‫( النور صباح‬SabāH an-nūr)
There are more colloquial variants on ‫الخي صباح‬/‫ النور‬that you can use, like ‫( القشطة صباح‬SabāH il-'išTa
- lit. morning of cream), ‫( الفل صباح‬SabāH il-full - lit. morning of jasmine), and ‫( الورد صباح‬SabāH il-ward
- lit. morning of rose). They're a little "baladi" (i.e. used more by the rural and lower classes), but you
can still use them to add some color to your speech.

Good evening: ‫( الخي مساء‬masā' al-xeir)

Response: ‫( النور مساء‬masā' an-nūr)
You can also say ‫القشطة مساء‬, ‫الفل مساء‬, and ‫ الورد مساء‬here too.
How are you?: ‫( حالك؟ كيف‬keif Hālak)
Response: ‫( هلل الحمد بخي‬bexeir al-Hamdulillāh) - Fine, thank God
‫ حالك كيف‬can be said in a colloquial context, especially in the Levant. In Egypt, however, the
commonly used expression for "How are you?" is ‫( ازيك‬izzayyak). You can also say, ‫( االحوال؟ ازي‬izzayy
il-aHwaal?), "How are things?" or ‫( الصحة؟ ازي‬izzayy iS-SiHHa), "How's [your] health?" A common
colloquial response would be ‫( هلل الحمد كويس‬kwayyis al-Hamdulillāh), "Good, thank God," or just "al-
Hamdulillāh" on its own.

How are things going?: ‫( أخبار؟ ايه‬eih axbār); ‫( ايه؟ أخبارك‬axbārak eih); ‫عامل‬/‫( ايه؟ ة‬3amil/3amla eih)
These expressions are kind of like "What's up?" as it's used in the U.S.; you don't really proceed to
explain what's going on in your life — and don't say ‫أخبار مافيش‬, mafīš axbār, "No news," like I did
once; people will laugh at you! If you want to say "Nothing new," you can say ‫ جديد ال‬la gedīd. People
usually just say something like "al-Hamdulillāh" or ‫( كويس‬kwayyis, "Good") or ‫( تمام كلو‬kullu tamām,
"Everything's fine").

Nice to meet you: ‫( سعيدة فرصة‬furSa sa3īda) - lit. Happy chance

Response: ‫( األسعد أنا‬ana l-as3ad) - lit. I am happier

Good night: ‫( خي عىل تصبح‬tiSbaH 3ala xeir) - lit. Wake up healthy

Response: ‫( أهله من وانت‬winta min ahlo)

Goodbye: ‫( السالمة مع‬ma3a s-salāma) - said to the person leaving; lit. Go in peace
Response: ‫( يسلمك هللا‬allāh ysallimak) - said by the person leaving; lit. May God protect you
Often when people are leaving they just say "salām" or "as-salāmu 3aleikum" and those remaining
say "ma3a s-salāma."

Used when s.o. leaves on a trip:

Bon voyage: ‫( سعيدة رحلة‬reHla sa3īda)
‫( بالسالمة يجيبك ربنا‬rabbina ygībak bis-salāma) - lit. May God bring you safely
‫( بالسالمة يوصلك ربنا‬rabbina yiwaSSalak bis-salāma) - lit. May God deliver you safely
‫( بالسالمة وتيج تروح‬tirūH witīgī bis-salāma) - lit. Go and come safely
Response: ‫( يسلمك هللا‬allāh ysallimak)

Used to welcome s.o. arriving from a trip or greet s.o. who has just recovered from an illness:
‫( عالسالمة هلل حمد‬Hamdilla 3as-salāma) - lit. Thank God for (your) safety
Response: ‫( يسلمك هللا‬allāh ysallimak)

Welcome to Egypt: ‫( مرص ّنورت‬nawwart maSr) - lit. You have lit up Egypt
Response: ‫( كفاية نورك ده‬da nūrak kifāya), lit. Your light is enough - or ‫منورة مرص‬ ّ ‫( بيك‬maSr menawwara
ّ ‫( بأهلها‬menawwara bi-ahlaha), lit. It is lit up by its people
bīk), lit. Egypt is lit up by you - or ‫منورة‬
You can also say "Menawwara" on its own to welcome someone anywhere.

You honor us with your visit: ‫( عزيزة خطوة‬xaTwa 3azīza) - lit. dear step
Response: ‫( شكرا‬šukran) or ‫( يخليك هللا‬allāh yxallīk)

Get well soon: ‫( سالمتك‬salāmtak) or ‫( يشفيك هللا‬allāh yišfīk) - lit. "May God heal you"
Response: ‫( يسلمك هللا‬allāh ysallimak) - this is the response to ‫سالمتك‬. However, ‫ يشفيك هللا‬has no set
response; you can just say ‫(شكرا‬šukran)

Please: ‫( فضلك من‬min faDlak)

Please: ‫( سمحت لو‬law samaHt) - can also be used to get a waiter's attention, for example
Please, go ahead: ‫( اتفضل‬itfaDDal) - an invitation to sit, enter a room, take something, etc.

Thank you: ‫( شكرا‬šukran) or a stronger variant,

A thousand thanks: ‫( شكر ألف‬alf šukr)
Another way to say "Thank you" is ‫( متشكر‬mutašakkir), which also has a feminine
variant ‫( متشكرة‬mutašakkira) and plural variant ‫( متشكرين‬mutašakkrīn). ‫( مرس‬mersi) is another
colloquial alternative. To say "Thank you very much," you can say ‫( جزيال شكرا‬šukran gazīlan) or ‫متشكر‬
‫( قوي‬mutašakkir 'awi).

Also, when someone compliments you or something you did, you can tell them, ‫هللا \ مرس\شكرا‬
‫( يخليك‬šukran/mersi/allāh yxallīk), followed by ‫( ذوقك من ده‬da min zoo'ak), lit. "That's from your
taste." This is used much like the English "Thank you, you're too kind."

Thank you: ‫( خيك كي‬kattar xeirak) - lit. May God increase your good fortune
Response: ‫( سابق خيك‬xeirak saabi') - lit. Your goodness preceded mine

Thank you: ‫( ايدك تسلم‬teslam iidak) - lit. (May God) bless your hand
Response: ‫( وايدك‬wa-iidak) - lit. And your hand
Used to thank a cook for a great meal, or more generally to thank someone for a present.

You're welcome: ‫( عفوا‬3afwan)

Other ways to say "You're welcome": ‫( العفو‬il-3afw) or ‫( ايه عىل العفو‬il-3afw 3ala eih, "It was nothing").

Sorry: ‫( آسف‬āsif)
Another way to say "Sorry" is ‫( متآسف‬mut'asif), which follows the same pattern of variants as ‫متشكر‬.

Pardon me: ‫( مؤآخذة ال‬la mo'axza)

Excuse me: ‫ اذنك بعد‬or ‫( اذنك عن‬ba3d iznak or 3an iznak)

Used to express admiration or praise: ‫( هللا شاء ما‬ma ša' allāh) - lit. God has willed it.
This might be used when someone shows you a picture of their kids or grandkids; when someone
introduces you to their kids; if someone shows you something great they just bought; when you
enter someone's home for the first time and admire its decor; or if you want to compliment
someone's beautiful appearance. It's like saying, "Wow, how beautiful!"

Used to refer to events taking place in the future: ‫( هللا شاء إن‬in ša' allāh) - lit. if God wills
This is used a lot, anytime you talk about something taking place in the future. "See you tonight in
ša' allāh." "I'll do it tomorrow in ša' allāh." "Can you finish the report by Thursday?" "In ša' allāh."
And so on.

Used when you see s.o. with a new haircut, or if s.o. has just taken a bath or shower:
‫( نعيما‬na3īman)
Response: ‫( عليك ينعم هللا‬allāh yin3am 3aleik)
Greeting to a Muslim who has just finished praying: ‫( حرما‬Haraman)
Response: ‫( جمعا‬gama3an)

Bon appetit: ‫( والشفا بالهنا‬bil-hana wiš-šifa) - lit. with pleasure and health
ّ
Response: ‫( يهنيك هللا‬allāh yihannīk)

Said by a guest to the host at the end of a meal: ‫ دايما‬or ‫( عامر دايما‬dayman or dayman 3āmir) - lit. May
you always prosper
Response: ‫( حياتك دامت‬dāmit Hayātak) - lit. May your life last long

When someone sneezes:

The sneezer says: ‫( هلل الحمد‬il-Hamdu lillāh) - lit. Praise to God
Someone else: ‫( يرحمكم هللا‬yarHamkum llāh) - lit. May God have mercy on you (pl.)
The sneezer: )‫( يرحمنا ويرحمكم (ويغفر لنا ولكم‬yarHamna wa-yarHamkum [wa-yaġfir lana wa-lakum]) - lit.
May He have mercy on us and you (and forgive us and you)
This is what Muslims in Egypt say when someone sneeezes. The ‫ ولكم لنا ويغفر‬part is an optional
addition that some people say.

"Very gladly" responses to requests:

‫( رسور بكل‬bikull sirūr) - lit. with all pleasure
‫( رخيص والطلب غال‬ghāli wiT-Talab rixīS) - lit. [You are] precious, and the request is cheap. That is,
you're so dear that anything you ask for seems cheap.
‫( والراس العي عىل‬3al-3ein wir-rās) - lit. on the eye and head
‫( دي وعين دي عين من‬min 3eini di w3eini di) - lit. from this eye and this eye
The last two are pretty "baladi," but still good to know.
ّ
Say hello to (s.o.) for me; give them my regards: ‫( عـ ل سلم‬sallimli 3a...)
Response: ‫( يسلمك هللا‬allāh ysallimak)

Good luck: ‫( يوفقك ربنا‬rabbena ywaffa'ak) - lit. May God make you succeed
‫( هللا شاء إن بالتوفيق‬bit-tawfī' in ša' allāh)
The standard way to say "Good luck" is ‫( سعيد حظ‬HaZZ sa3īd).

Happy birthday: ‫( سعيد ميالد عيد‬3īd mīlād sa3īd)

This is how you would say "Happy birthday" literally, but people actually just use their local variant
of ‫( بخي وأنتم عام كل‬see below).

Used for birthdays and all kinds of holidays: ‫( طيب وانت سنة كل‬kulle sana winta Tayyib) - lit. May you
(and your family) be well every year.
Response: ‫( طيب وانت‬winta Tayyib)
This is the Egyptian variant of the standard ‫( بخي وأنتم عام كل‬kull 3ām wa-antum bexeir). For
someone's birthday, you might say ‫ وعقبال طيب وانت سنة كل‬١٠٠ ‫( هللا شاء ان سنة‬kulle sana winta Tayyib
wa-3o'bāl mīt sana in ša' allāh) — "Happy birthday, and many more."

Happy Ramadan: ‫( كريم رمضان‬ramaDān karīm)

Response: ‫( أكرم هللا‬allāhu akram)
This is the greeting used for Ramadan in Egypt, but ‫( مبارك رمضان‬ramaDān mubārak) is often used in
other areas.
Happy Eid: ‫( مبارك عيد‬3īd mubārak)
Response: ‫( فيك يبارك هللا‬allāh yibārik fīk)
This is the greeting used for the Muslim Eids (holidays/festivals): Eid al-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan,
and Eid al-Adha.

Congratulations: ‫( ميوك‬mabrūk) or a stronger variant,

A thousand congratulations: ‫( ميوك ألف‬alf mabrūk)
Response: ‫( فيك يبارك هللا‬allāh yibārik fīk)

Good job; well done: ‫( عليك برافو‬braavo 3aleik) or

ّ ‫( عليك‬allāh ynawwar 3aleik)
‫ينور هللا‬
ّ ‫عليك‬, you can say ‫وعليك (انت‬
Response: no set response; you can say ‫شكرا‬, or in response to ‫ينور هللا‬
)‫( كمان‬wa 3aleik [inta kaman])

I wish the same for you: ‫( عقبالك‬3o'bālak)

Response: no set response, but you could say ‫( يخليك هللا‬allāh yxallīk) - God keep you.
Can be used when someone congratulates you on any happy occassion (a wedding, new baby,
promotion, etc.) to wish them the same good fortune. However, you would want to be tactful when
using it; for example, if you'd just had a baby and a friend who couldn't have children congratulated
you, it would be better not to say "3o'bālik" to her.

Congratulations on an engagement
In addition to simply saying ‫ ميوك‬or ‫ميوك ألف‬, you can say the following to congratulate someone on
an engagement. Note that people often will say ‫ ميوك‬and pair it with one of the following:

‫( خي عىل لك يتمم\بخي يتمم ربنا‬rabbina ytammim bi-xeir/ytammimlak 3ala xeir)

"May God grant a successful conclusion (to the engagement)."

‫( الكبية الليلة\الفرح عقبال‬3o'bāl il-faraH/il-leila k-kibīra)

"May the wedding/the big night be soon." A Christian might say ‫( االكليل عقبال‬3o'bāl il-iklīl).

Congratulations on a wedding
Again, in addition to ‫ ميوك‬and ‫ميوك الف‬, you can say:

)‫( ربنا يسعدكو (ويهنيكو‬rabbina yis3idku [wa-yhannīku])

"May God make you (both) happy."

‫( البكاري عقبال‬3o'bāl il-bakāri)

"May you have your first-born soon."
‫( بالرفاة والبنين ان ﺷاء هللا‬bir-rafā' wal-banīn in ša' allāh)
"May you live in comfort and have children." ‫ رفاء‬is sometimes written as ‫رفاة‬. This is more of a
written expression than a spoken one.

‫( لكم يبارك ربنا‬rabbina ybārik lakum)

"May God bless you."

‫( خي ف بينكما وجمع عليكما وبارك لكما هللا بارك‬bāraka allāhu lakuma wa-bāraka 3aleikuma wa-jama3a
beinakuma fi xeir)
"May God bless you, surround you with blessings, and bring you both together in virtue and
prosperity." As it was first said by the prophet Muhammad, this expression is used by Muslims.

Congatulations and encouragement to a pregnant woman

In addition to ‫ ميوك‬and ‫ميوك الف‬, you can say:

)‫( ربنا يتمم لك\يكمل لك على خير (ويكرمك بوالدة سهلة‬rabbina ytammimlik/ykammillik 3ala xeir [wa-ykrimik bi-
wilāda sahla])
"May God grant a successful conclusion (to the pregnancy) (and favor you with an easy delivery)."

‫( القمر زي ببين\معاف سليم بطفل يرزقك ربنا‬rabbina yirzu'ik bi-Tifl salīm mu3āfi/bi-beibi zayy il-'amar)
"May God provide you with a strong, healthy child/a beautiful baby." The first option is more
standard, the second is more colloquial.

‫( صالحة ذرية يجعله رب يا‬ya rabb yig3alu zurriyya SāliHa)

"May God make it a good/worthy progeny." This is standard Arabic.

‫( سالمة بألف )والبين انن( يقومك ربنا‬rabbina y'awwamik [inti wel-beibi] bi'alf salāma)
"May God deliver you (and the baby) in safety."

‫( هللا شاء ان بالسالمة تقوم‬ti'ūmi bis-salāma in sha' allāh)

"May you recover safely, God willing."

‫( بالسالمة ينتعك ربنا‬rabbina yinta3ik bis-salāma)

"May God deliver you (through your delivery) safely."

‫( معاك ربنا‬rabbina ma3āki)

"May God be with you."
Congratulations on a new baby
In addition to ‫ ميوك‬and ‫ميوك الف‬, you can say:

‫( عزكو ف ييب‬yitrabba fi 3ezzoko)

"May [the baby] be brought up in your wealth." If the baby is a girl, then it would be ‫( تيب‬titrabba).

‫( لبعض يخليكو رب يا‬ya rabb yixallīku li-ba3D)

"May God keep you (safe) for each other."

‫( فيه لك ويبارك لك يخليه ربنا‬rabbina yxallīlak wa-ybāriklak fīh)

"God keep him (the baby) safe for you and bless you." If the baby is a girl, then you'd say ‫لك يخليها ربنا‬
‫( فيها لك ويبارك‬rabbina yxallihālak wa-ybāriklak fīha). Note that you can also say ‫ فيها\فيه لك يبارك ربنا‬on
its own.

ّ ‫( بيه‬rabbina yHfaZu wa-yfarraHak bīh)

‫ويفرحك يحفظه ربنا‬
"God protect him (the baby) and make you rejoice in him." If the baby is a girl, then you'd say ‫ربنا‬
ّ ‫( بيها‬rabbina yHfaZha wa-yfarraHak bīha).
‫ويفرحك يحفظها‬

)‫( ربنا يحفظه من كل سوء (ويجعله قرة عين والديه‬rabbina yiHfaZu min kull sū' [wa-yig3alu qurrit 3ein
wālideih])
"May God protect him from all evil (and make him his parents' delight)." This is more standard than
colloquial. If the baby is a girl, then it'd be )‫( ربنا يحفظها من كل سوء (ويجعلها قرة عين والديها‬rabbina yiHfaZha
min kull sū' [wa-yig3alha qurrit 3ein wālideiha]).

‫( سالمتك عىل هلل حمد‬Hamdilla 3a-salamtik)

"Thank God for your safety." Said to the mother after a successful delivery.

Condolences
The following expressions can be used by both Muslims and Christians in Egypt. They are followed by
condolences used specifically by Muslims and Christians.

ّ
Be strong; keep your chin up: ‫( حيلك شد‬šidd Heilak) - lit. Pull your strength
Response: ‫( هللا عىل الشدة‬iš-šidda 3ala-llah)
This expression can be used as a condolence, or anytime someone is about to face a challenging
event, like a test or job interview.

May his/her spirit/memory remain in your life: ‫( حياتك ف البقية‬il-ba'iyya fi Hayātak)

Response: ‫( البقية حياتك‬Hayātak il-ba'iya)
Another condolence. Some say it's a reference to the rest of the deceased's lifespan, which was cut
short, being added to yours. On that basis, it could be viewed as sacriligeous; some would say that
everyone only lives their alloted lifespan, and God doesn't cut anyone's life shorter than it's meant
to be. See here, for example. So you may want to stick with other condolences such as ‫ حيلك شد‬if
you want to be really safe.

May God have mercy on him: ‫( يرحمه هللا‬allāh yirHamu)

This is usually paired with an additional condolence. For instance, one could say ‫فسيح ويسكنه يرحمه هللا‬
‫( جناته‬allāh yirHamu wa-yuskinu fasiiH jannātu), "May God have mercy on him and make him live in
His vastest paradise." This is standard rather than colloquial, and would be a Muslim condolence.

‫( االحزان آخر تكون رب يا\االحزان آخر يجعلها يربنا‬rabbina yig3alha ākhir il-aHzān/ya rabb tikūn ākhir il-
aHzān)
"May God make it the last of [your] sorrows/May it be the last of [your] sorrows." The first option is
more standard, the second is more colloquial.

)‫( ربنا يصبرك (على الفراق‬rabbina ySabbarak [3ala l-furā'])

"May God give you patience (to withstand the loss)."

Condolences used by Muslims:

Only God is eternal: ‫( هلل البقاء‬al-baqā' lillāh)

Response: ‫( باهلل ونعم‬wa-ne3ma billāh)
A condolence that's standard Arabic but also sometimes used in Egypt by Muslims.

‫( راجعون إليه وإنا هلل إنا‬inna lillāh wa'inna ileihi rāgi3ūn)

"We belong to God, and to Him we shall return." This is from the Qur'an (verse 156 of Al-Baqara).

Condolences used by Copts:

‫( روحه\نفسه ينيح ربنا‬rabbina ynayyaH nafsu/rūHu)

"May God give his soul rest." There are some variations on this expression; you can add:

)‫( فى فردوس (النعيم‬fi firdūs [in-na3īm]), "in paradise"

‫( القديسي احضان ف‬fi aHDān il-'addisīn), "in the arms of the saints"

‫( السموات ملكوت ف‬fi malakūt is-samawāt), "in the kingdom of heaven"

(‫( صلواته بركه يدينا و( روحه يقدس ربنا‬rabbina y'addas rūHu [wa-yiddīna barakit Salawātu])
"May God sanctify his soul (and give us the blessing of his prayers)."

)‫( ربنا يعزيك (ويعزي اسرتك‬rabbina yi3zīk [wa yi3zi usritak])

"May God give you [and your family] consolation."

Note: "In advance" (as in "thanks in advance," "congratulations in advance," or "happy birthday in
advance") is ‫( مقدما‬standard pronunciation "muqaddaman," colloquial pronunciation
"mu'addaman"). So you could say ‫مقدما شكرا‬, ‫مقدما ميوك‬, ‫مقدما طيب وانت سنة كل‬, etc.