Arabic phrases for tourists in Cairo: Learning even 10-15 basic Arabic phrases transforms how Cairenes respond to you. While most tourist-area Egyptians speak English, attempting Arabic shows respect, builds rapport, and opens doors to authentic experiences. Essential phrases include greetings (“salaam”/”marhaba”), thanks (“shukran”), “yes/no” (“aywa/la”), prices (“bikam?”), directions (“fein?”), numbers, and the all-important “I don’t understand” (“ma fhemtish”). This guide covers the most useful Arabic phrases for Cairo tourism, with phonetic spelling and English translations.
Fifty-odd Arabic phrases for tourists in Cairo, grouped by the situation you will actually need them in and checked for 2026, with our guide to everyday Cairo etiquette, our notes on Egyptian social customs, and our answers to common visitor questions filling in the context around the words.
Essential Greetings
| English | Arabic (Romanized) |
|---|---|
| Hello | Marhaba |
| Peace be upon you (formal) | As-salamu alaykum |
| And peace upon you (response) | Wa alaykum as-salam |
| Good morning | Sabah el-kheir |
| Good morning (response) | Sabah el-noor |
| Good evening | Masaa el-kheir |
| Goodbye | Ma’a salama |
| Welcome | Ahlan wa sahlan |
| Welcome (response) | Ahlan beek |
| How are you? (to man) | Izayak? |
| How are you? (to woman) | Izayek? |
| I’m fine, thanks | Kwayyis, shukran |
As-salamu alaykum offered before you ask a price tends to change the price that follows, something worth testing in the alleys of the medieval bazaar.
Politeness Essentials
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Please | Min fadlak (m) / fadlek (f) |
| Thank you | Shukran |
| Thank you very much | Shukran gazeelan |
| You’re welcome | Afwan / Al afw |
| Sorry / Excuse me | Afwan |
| Yes | Aywa / Na’am |
| No | La |
| Maybe | Yimkin |
| God willing | Inshallah |
| Praise God | Alhamdulillah |
Shopping and Bargaining
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| How much? | Bikam? / Bikam dah? |
| Too expensive | Ghali awi |
| I’ll pay X pounds | Hadfa3 X gineeh |
| Final price? | Akher sa’er? |
| Discount? | Tahfid? |
| OK / Deal | Tamam / Mashy |
| I want this | Ana ayez/ayza dah |
| I don’t want | Mish ayez |
| Let me think | Hafakkar |
| I’ll come back | Hargaa |
Bikam and ghali awi will only carry you so far without a fuller strategy for market haggling behind them.
Directions and Transport
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Where is…? | Fein…? |
| Right | Yameen |
| Left | Shemal |
| Straight | Doghri |
| Stop | Wa’af |
| Here | Hena |
| There | Henak |
| Faster | Asra3 |
| Slower | Bishweesh |
| Hotel | Funduq |
| Airport | Matar |
| Pyramids | Ahram / Haram |
| Museum | Mathaf |
| Bathroom | Tawalit / Hammam |
Doghri, yameen and wa’af are the three words that make a taxi ride work, alongside everything in our guide to what to know before hailing one.
Restaurants and Food
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| I’m hungry | Ana ga3an / ga3ana |
| Menu | Menu / Qa’ima |
| Water | Maya |
| Bottled water | Maya ma3daniyya |
| Coffee | Ahwa |
| Tea | Shay |
| Bread | Aish |
| Meat | Lahma |
| Chicken | Farkha |
| Fish | Samak |
| Vegetarian | Nabati |
| Delicious | Lazeez |
| Bill, please | El hesab, min fadlak |
Numbers
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Wahid |
| 2 | Itnein |
| 3 | Talata |
| 4 | Arba3a |
| 5 | Khamsa |
| 10 | 3ashra |
| 20 | 3ishreen |
| 50 | Khamseen |
| 100 | Miyya |
| 1000 | Alf |
Numbers earn their keep fastest at bus stops, where routes are called out rather than displayed, so read this list beside our explainer on how Cairo’s public buses work.
Asking for Help
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Do you speak English? | Bititkalim Inglizi? |
| I don’t understand | Ma fhemtish |
| I don’t speak Arabic | Ma batikallimsh 3arabi |
| Help! | Sa3edni! |
| Doctor | Doktor |
| Hospital | Mostashfa |
| Police | Shorta |
| Tourist police | Shortat el-siyaha |
| Embassy | Sefara |
| I’m lost | Ana taht |
Useful Phrases
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| What’s your name? | Ismak ay? (m) / Ismik ay? (f) |
| My name is… | Ismi… |
| Where are you from? | Inta minein? (m) / Inti minein? (f) |
| I’m from… | Ana min… |
| I love Egypt | Ana bahib Masr |
| Beautiful | Gameel / Helw |
| It’s hot | El gaw harr |
| Cold | Bared |
| Today | El naharda |
| Tomorrow | Bukra |
| Yesterday | Embareh |
Photography
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Can I take a photo? | Mumkin sura? |
| Photo permitted? | Mumkin sura? |
| Photo with you? | Sura ma3ak? |
Tipping Vocabulary
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Tip | Baksheesh |
| Money | Filoos |
| Change | Fakka |
| Egyptian pounds | Gineeh masry |
Pronunciation Tips
- 3: Represents the Arabic letter “ayn” — a guttural sound made in throat
- Kh: Like Scottish “loch” — back of throat
- Gh: Throat sound like French “r”
- Q: Made from back of throat (often softened to glottal stop)
- Most letters: Sound like English equivalents
Cultural Phrases
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| God bless you | Allah yekhleek |
| God protect you | Allah yeharsek |
| May you live happily | 3ish bil hana |
| Congratulations | Mabrouk |
| Happy birthday | Eid milad sa3eed |
Apps for Learning Arabic
- Duolingo: Free Egyptian Arabic course
- Pimsleur: Audio-based learning
- Drops: Visual vocabulary
- Google Translate: Real-time translation
- Egyptian Arabic apps: Specific dialect
Arabic Phrases for Tourists Cairo FAQ
Do I need Arabic to visit Cairo?
No — English widely spoken in tourist areas. A few phrases enhance experience.
What’s the most important phrase?
“Shukran” (thank you) — universally appreciated.
How do I greet Egyptians?
“Marhaba” (hello) or “As-salamu alaykum” (formal Muslim greeting).
What’s “bikam”?
“How much?” — essential for souk shopping.
How do I bargain?
“Bikam?” (how much?) → “Ghali awi” (too expensive) → “Hadfa3 X” (I’ll pay X).
What’s the response to greeting?
“Wa alaykum as-salam” responds to “As-salamu alaykum”.
How do I say thank you very much?
“Shukran gazeelan” or “Shukran ktir”.
What’s “inshallah”?
“God willing” — used after future plans.
How do I say I don’t speak Arabic?
“Ma batikallimsh 3arabi” — though “Sorry, no Arabic” works.
What’s the police number?
122 for general police. Say “shorta” (police).
Is Egyptian Arabic different from Modern Standard Arabic?
Yes — Egyptian (Masry) is the dialect; Modern Standard is formal/written.
Do locals appreciate broken Arabic?
Absolutely — any attempt shows respect.
What’s the easiest phrase?
“Shukran” (thank you) — single word, universally understood.
How do I order tea?
“Shay min fadlak” (tea please).
Can I use English in restaurants?
Yes — most have English menus.
Pulling It Together
Learning Arabic phrases for tourists in Cairo isn’t necessary for tourist survival — English is widely spoken in tourist areas — but it’s transformative for cultural experience. Master 10-15 essential phrases (greetings, thank you, please, how much, where is, yes/no, numbers 1-10), and you’ll see Egyptians respond with warmth, smiles, and authentic interaction beyond the typical tourist transaction. Start with “shukran” (thank you), “marhaba” (hello), and “bikam” (how much) — these three phrases alone will earn appreciation. Then expand as you become comfortable.
Language opens doors fastest when you are on your own, so try these out alongside our guide to exploring Cairo unaccompanied. Then work out how long the city really needs and which months are comfortable for walking.