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Twelve Arabic phrases that change how you are treated

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Anorya Team · 18 févr. 2026 · 1 min read

Nobody expects you to speak Arabic, which is exactly why a few words go a long way.

Egyptians deal with visitors who speak nothing but English or French all day, every day. Three words of Arabic is a small effort with a wildly disproportionate return.

Twelve Arabic phrases that change how you are treated

The essentials: shukran (SHOOK-ran) is thank you. Aiwa is yes, la' is no. Min fadlak to a man, min fadlik to a woman, is please. Ma'alesh covers "never mind", "sorry" and "don't worry about it", and Egyptians use it constantly.

The socially useful ones: izzayak / izzayik is "how are you", answered with kwayyis, al-hamdulillah — "fine, thanks be to God". Ana mish aayiz, "I don't want", is the polite firm no you will need in any bazaar. Bekam? is "how much?". And khalas — "enough, finished, done" — ends a negotiation more effectively than any amount of English.

Twelve Arabic phrases that change how you are treatedTwelve Arabic phrases that change how you are treated

Two courtesies worth the effort: as-salaamu alaykum on entering a small shop, and alf shukr, "a thousand thanks", when someone has genuinely gone out of their way.

Two courtesies worth the effort: as-salaamu alaykum on entering a small shop, and alf shukr, "a thousand thanks", when someone has genuinely gone out of their way. The second one reliably produces a smile.

Twelve Arabic phrases that change how you are treated
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