Arabic is the common and official language of around 23 countries, but the spoken dialect of each can vary considerably. Egyptian Arabic is the most widely understood of the Arab world due to the country’s vast film, television and music industry. However, most Egyptians speak at least one or two foreign languages, and in the Red Sea resorts they may speak up to four or five, due to the constant afflux of tourists. It is a kind idea though, and useful too, to learn at least a few words, as Arabic numerals and polite greetings. Hello (formal) = salama aleikum
Response to Hello = wa-aleikum salam
Good morning = sabah el kheir
Response to Good morning = sabah el noor
How are you? = Izzayek
Response to How are you = Qweis, el hamdulillah
Goodbye = ma’assalama Numerals
One = wahed
Two = etneen
Three = teleta
Four = arbaa
Five = hamsa
Six = setta
Seven = Sabaa
Eight = Tamanya
Nine = tessaa
Ten = ashara
Twenty = ashareen
Thirty = teleteen
Forty = arbaeen
Fifty = hamsin
Sixty = setteen
Seventy = sabaeen
Eighty = tamaneen
Ninety = tessaeen
One hundred = miyya |