Basic Nouns

1. موية

   Mōya

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water. With the article it is "الموية"

   Grammar Note

   A different form from Egyptian "مية". Standard "ماء" is not used in speech

2. اكل

   Akil

   Food

   Usage

   Refers to food and meals in general. Also "الاكل"

   Grammar Note

   A noun built on the same stem as the verb "eat"

3. قروش

   Gurūsh

   Money

   Usage

   Means cash and money in general. Amounts use the unit "جنيه" (pound)

   Grammar Note

   "ق" is pronounced "g". It is a plural form meaning "money", not the Egyptian "فلوس"

4. حمام

   Ḥammām

   Toilet

   Usage

   Means the toilet or the bathroom. To ask: "وين الحمام؟"

   Grammar Note

   Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "حمام" also means "pigeon". A separate word only for the toilet is rarely used

5. دوا

   Dawa

   Medicine

   Usage

   Medicine in general. At a pharmacy you say "الدوا"

   Grammar Note

   Vowels in the romanization are estimated. The spoken form of standard "دواء", without the final hamza

6. عفش

   ʿAfsh

   Luggage

   Usage

   Travel luggage in general. Used at airports or in cars to talk about bags

   Grammar Note

   Vowels in the romanization are estimated. It can also mean furniture. A single bag is "شنطة"

7. مفتاح

   Muftāḥ

   Key

   Usage

   Used to ask for a room key and the like

   Grammar Note

   Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated

8. تذكرة

   Tazkara

   Ticket

   Usage

   A bus or admission ticket. Two tickets is "تذكرتين"

   Grammar Note

   Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. In speech "ذ" is pronounced "z"

9. جواز سفر

   Jawāz safar

   Passport

   Usage

   Asked for on entry and at hotels. It is often shortened to "جواز"

   Grammar Note

   Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated

10. تلفون

    Talafōn

    Mobile phone

    Usage

    Means a phone in general. Add context such as "تلفوني" (my phone)

    Grammar Note

    Loanword; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. It is also used for landlines, so add context for a mobile

11. محطة

    Maḥaṭṭa

    Station

    Usage

    Means a bus stop or station. To ask: "وين المحطة؟"

    Grammar Note

    Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated

12. مستشفى

    Mustashfa

    Hospital

    Usage

    The place to go when ill or injured. To ask the way: "وين المستشفى؟"

    Grammar Note

    Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated

13. شرطة

    Shurṭa

    Police

    Usage

    Who to go to after a theft or accident. In speech "بوليس" is also said

    Grammar Note

    Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated

14. دكان

    Dukkān

    Shop

    Usage

    Means a small shop. Used when asking where to buy things

    Grammar Note

    Thinly attested word; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "محل" mostly means "place", so "دكان" is used for a shop

15. اوضة

    Ōḍa

    Room

    Usage

    A hotel or house room. Standard "غرفة" is not used in speech

    Grammar Note

    Vowels in the romanization are estimated. A word of Turkish origin

16. طريق

    Ṭarīg

    Road

    Usage

    Means a road or way. To ask the way: "الطريق لـ ..."

    Grammar Note

    Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "ق" is pronounced "g". A big street is also called "شارع"

17. اهل

    Ahl

    Family

    Usage

    Means family and relatives. "اهلي" is "my family"

    Grammar Note

    Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "اسرة" and "عائلة" are closer to standard Arabic

18. اسم

    Ism

    Name

    Usage

    To give your name: "اسمي ..." (my name is ...)

    Grammar Note

    Add "-ي" for "my name" and "-ك" for "your name"

19. راس

    Rās

    Head

    Usage

    For a headache say "عندي وجع في راسي"

    Grammar Note

    In speech the hamza is dropped and it is written "راس"

20. عين

    ʿĒn

    Eye

    Usage

    Used to describe eye trouble. The plural is "عيون"

    Grammar Note

    Vowels in the romanization are estimated. The same word as in standard Arabic; it also means a spring

21. اسنان

    Asnān

    Teeth

    Usage

    Used to talk about tooth pain. A molar is "ضرس"

    Grammar Note

    Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated. It is a plural form for teeth in general. One tooth is "سن"

22. حلق

    Ḥalg

    Throat

    Usage

    Used to describe a sore throat ("عندي وجع في حلقي")

    Grammar Note

    Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "ق" is pronounced "g". The same spelling also means "to shave"

23. بطن

    Baṭn

    Stomach, belly

    Usage

    Used to describe stomach pain ("عندي وجع في بطني")

    Grammar Note

    Vowels in the romanization are estimated. "بطني" means "my belly"

24. ضهر

    Ḍahar

    Back

    Usage

    Used to describe back pain. It also means the back side of an object

    Grammar Note

    Vowels in the romanization are estimated. The spelling follows the spoken sound of standard "ظهر"

25. ايد

    Īd

    Hand

    Usage

    Used for hand injury or pain. Standard "يد" is not used in speech

    Grammar Note

    Vowels in the romanization are estimated. The "ي" is long. It covers the hand and often the arm too

26. صدر

    Ṣadr

    Chest

    Usage

    Used to describe chest pain ("عندي وجع في صدري")

    Grammar Note

    Vowels in the romanization are estimated. The same word as in standard Arabic

27. فندق

    Fundug

    Hotel

    Usage

    A place to stay. "Where is the hotel?" is "وين الفندق؟"

    Grammar Note

    Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated

28. مطار

    Maṭār

    Airport

    Usage

    Used when going to the airport. In a taxi: "المطار لو سمحت"

    Grammar Note

    Same form as Modern Standard Arabic; native review recommended. Vowels in the romanization are estimated

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