Egyptian Arabic slang quiz

Want to sound like a local? Let’s see if you know this essential Egyptian Arabic slang (not found in your textbook).

Ten words you’ll hear on the streets of Cairo, in Egyptian films and in every group chat. Each one comes in a real sentence. Pick what it means.

10 slang wordsbeginner to advancedabout 2 minutes

Heard on the street

Beginner1 of 10
يا عمya ʿamm

يا عم، إنت فين؟

What does it mean here? Tap an answer to start.

BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced
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Free pack

The Egyptian Arabic slang pack

22 words locals really say and textbooks leave out. Each card comes with audio, an example and when it’s safe to say.

  • 22 cards
  • Beginner to advanced

Free · no card

What’s inside

22 words

  • يا عمya ʿammMeaning hidden until you get the pack
  • جامدgāmidMeaning hidden until you get the pack
  • اشطةishṭaMeaning hidden until you get the pack
  • شيكshīkMeaning hidden until you get the pack
  • خلصانةkhalṣānaMeaning hidden until you get the pack
  • يا نهار أبيضya nahār abyaḍMeaning hidden until you get the pack
+ 12 more words locals useFree · no card

Egyptian Arabic slang quiz

The 10 slang words in this quiz

Here’s what each one means in Egypt, with the sentence it came in.

  1. يا عمya ʿamm

    Beginner

    Dude, mate

    يا عم، إنت فين؟Dude, where are you?

    With friends

  2. جامدgāmid

    Beginner

    Awesome (lit. solid)

    الفيلم ده جامد!This film is awesome!

    With friends

  3. اشطةishṭa

    Beginner

    Cool, sounds good

    هنتقابل الساعة تمانية؟ اشطة.We’re meeting at eight? Cool.

    With friends

  4. شيكshīk

    Intermediate

    Stylish, classy (from French chic)

    شقته شيك جدًا.His flat is really stylish.

    With friends

  5. خلصانةkhalṣāna

    Intermediate

    Sorted, a done deal

    متقلقش، خلصانة.Don’t worry, it’s sorted.

    With friends

  6. يا نهار أبيضya nahār abyaḍ

    Intermediate

    Oh no! (shock or dismay)

    يا نهار أبيض! نسيت المفاتيح.Oh no, I forgot the keys!

    Fine at work

  7. كبّر دماغكkabbar dimāghak

    Intermediate

    Don’t sweat it, let it go

    كبّر دماغك، مش مستاهلة.Don’t sweat it, it’s not worth it.

    With friends

  8. بيستعبطbiyistaʿbaṭ

    Advanced

    Playing dumb

    متصدقوش، ده بيستعبط.Don’t believe him, he’s playing dumb.

    With friends

  9. اتقمصitʾammaṣ

    Advanced

    To get huffy, take offence

    اتقمص عشان معزمتوش.He got huffy because I didn’t invite him.

    With friends

  10. هيصةhēṣa

    Advanced

    A loud, happy racket

    الفرح كان هيصة.The wedding was one big, noisy party.

    With friends

Questions

Is this slang still used?

Yes. Every word here is in everyday use, and each answer says where it’s safe: fine at work, with friends, or best avoided. A few sound younger than others, and the answer tells you which.

Why does the quiz show a sentence?

Slang changes meaning with context, so each word comes in a real sentence. Pick the translation that fits. The first three are common, the last three need more of an ear.

What do I get if I unlock the 12?

A free deck with all 22 words, added for you when you finish setting up: the 10 from the quiz (the ones you missed first, each with its example), then the 12 new ones. Every card has audio and comes back for review just before you’d forget it.

Why Egyptian and not standard Arabic?

Standard Arabic has no slang. People speak their own dialect, and Egyptian is the one most Arabic speakers understand, thanks to Egyptian films, TV and music.

Will people outside Egypt understand these?

Many will, especially gāmid and ya ʿamm. A few, like ishṭa and khalṣāna, sound very Egyptian, which is half the fun.

Egyptian Arabic slang quiz: 10 words Egyptians use | liivret