Food & Drinks

1. القايمة لو سمحت

   Il-gāyma law samaḥt

   The menu, please

   Usage

   Asks for the menu after sitting down. "قايمة" means a list

   Grammar Note

   Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "ق" is pronounced "g". "ال" is read as written before it

2. الحساب لو سمحت

   Il-ḥisāb law samaḥt

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Asks for the bill after a meal. "الحساب" means the account or the count

   Grammar Note

   Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. Standard "فاتورة" is not much used in speech

3. موية لو سمحت

   Mōya law samaḥt

   Water, please

   Usage

   Asks for water during a meal. Cold water is "موية باردة"

   Grammar Note

   Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. Adding "لو سمحت" after an item is enough to order it

4. ممكن كباية قهوة؟

   Mumkin kubbāya gahwa?

   Could I have a cup of coffee, please?

   Usage

   Orders coffee at a restaurant or tea stall. For tea say "كباية شاي"

   Grammar Note

   Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "ق" is pronounced "g". "ممكن" makes the request polite

5. بدون شطة لو سمحت

   Bidūn shaṭṭa law samaḥt

   Without hot sauce, please

   Usage

   Said when ordering if you cannot take hot seasoning

   Grammar Note

   Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "شطة" means chili or a hot condiment

6. الاكل دا حلو شديد

   Il-akil da ḥilu shadīd

   This food is very good

   Usage

   Praises a meal

   Grammar Note

   Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. The demonstrative "دا" follows the noun. "حلو" means both "sweet" and "tasty"

7. أنا جعان

   Ana jaʿān

   I am hungry

   Usage

   Says you are hungry. A woman says "جعانة"

   Grammar Note

   Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended. The adjective "جعان" changes by gender (feminine جعانة, plural جعانين)

8. عيش

   ʿĒsh

   Bread

   Usage

   Bread in general. In this dialect "عيش" means bread

   Grammar Note

   Vowels in the romanization are estimated. In standard Arabic the word means "life". It also means bread in Egypt

9. حلو

   Ḥilu

   Sweet

   Usage

   Describes a sweet taste. Used when asked about sugar in tea

   Grammar Note

   Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "حلو" also means "tasty" or "lovely". For a feminine noun use "حلوة"

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