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Egyptian Arabic
Lingualism

Key Egyptian Arabic Expression: معلِشّ ma3alíšš

معلِشّ is used to downplay a situation, whether to console, sympathize, or apologize. The word originally comes from the Modern Standard Arabic phrase ما عليه شيء, which literally means nothing against it.

Egyptian Arabic
Lingualism

Key Egyptian Arabic Expression: كِده kida

كِده is likely the most quintessentially Egyptian word there is. Not only is it very high frequency in everyday speech, but it is unique to the Egyptian Arabic dialect. كِده is related to the Modern Standard Arabic word هكذا like this but takes on a range of idiomatic meanings on its own and in phrases.

Levantine Arabic
Nadine

Expressions with the Eyes in Levantine Arabic

Nadine tells us about dozens of expressions and idioms in Levantine Arabic using the word eye(s) and other words related to seeing. Can you guess their meanings?

Arabic Misc.
Lingualism

Do Arabs Write in Their Dialects of Arabic?

Part 2 in the “Arabs Say…” series: Do you ever write in your dialect? In what situations? How do you know or decide how to spell words?

Arabic Misc.
Lingualism

Variations in Spoken Arabic within Countries

Part 1 in the “Arabs Say…” series: Does everyone in your country use the same dialect? Are there any differences in speaking styles between urban and rural areas, regions, social classes, religions, or generations?

Egyptian Arabic
Hesham

“Country” Cafés in Egypt

One thing you can’t miss in Egypt, it is the country cafés ilʔahāwi -lbáladi القهاوي البلدي. There is approximately over 100,000 country cafés in Egypt. It is something