Egyptian Arabic Grammar

Which one?

This section explains how to specify which of several things we are interested in, or talking about.

Definite article

To talk about a particular man, we say 'the man' in English. In arabic, we attach il- ا ِلـ to the front of the noun.

the man is reading his book
iil-raagil biyiqraac kitaab-uh

See articles for more information.


Indefinite article

If we don't want to refer to any man in particular, we say 'a man' in English. There is no equivalent of a in arabic, you just use the noun on its own.

I want a dog
aacnaa Aaayiz kalb

If you want to make it clear that you are talking about just one, you can use the word waaHid- one. When used for emphasis like this, you place it after the noun.

I want (just) one dog

aacnaa Aaayiz kalb waaHid

You also use it with nationalities to indicate that you are talking about a person, rather than (for example) the language.

an English man (or woman)
waaHid iingilyzy
waaHdao iingilyziyao

Adjectives

In both English an Egyptian, you can use an adjective to specify which one you are interested in: you simply put the - il- ا ِلـ in front of the adjective. Note that, in Egyptian, the noun still retains its il- ا ِلـ prefix.

English Egyptian
describeI want a red ballAaayiz koora hamra
عا َيـِز كور َة حـَمر َة
specifyI want the red ballAaayiz ilkoora ilhamra
عا َيـِز ا ِلكور َة ا ِلحـَمر َة
specifyI have read the big book'ara't ilkitab ilkibeer
قـَرا َءت ا ِلكـِتـَب ا ِلكـِبير

Demonstrative adjectives

One particular type of adjective is a demonstrative adjective. These are almost the same as the demonstrative pronouns.

this man

iil-raagil dah

The demonstrative adjectives are:

English Arabic
this (man) ilraagil dah
ا ِلرا َجـِل د َه
this (thing, m)ilkitaab dah
ا ِلكـِتا َب د َه
this (thing, f)ilhaga dah
ا ِلهـَجـَة د َه
this (woman)ilsitt di
ا ِلسـِتّ دي
these (men)ilragaala dool
ا ِلر َجا َلا َ دول
these (men) nearerilragaala di
ا ِلر َجا َلا َ دي
these (women)ilsittaat dool
ا ِلسـِتّا َت دول
these (things,m)ilkutoob di
ا ِلكـُتوب دي
these (things,f)ilhagaat di
ا ِلهـَجا َت دي
over there (m) 'ahw
أهو
over there [f]'ahi
أهي
over there (pl)'ahoom
أهوم

Comparatives

You can use a comparative in the same was as an adjective to specify which one you mean:

EnglishEgyptian
mohammed is the tallest student muhammad 'aTwal Taalib
مـُحـَمّـَد أطو َل طا َلـِب
he is the youngest boy huwwa 'aSGar walad
هـُوّ َ أصغـَر و َلـَد
the tallest student is 1m90 ilTaalib il'aTwal Toolooh mitr 1 wa 90 santi
ا ِلطا َلـِب ا ِلأطو َل طولوه مـِتر ١ و َ ٩٠ سـَنتي
the most expensive drink is 20 pounds ilmashrab il'aGla 20 gineeh
ا ِلمـَشر َب ا ِلأغلى ٢٠ جـِنيه
this is the prettiest dress in the shop dih 'ahla fustaan fi ilmahal
د ِه أحلى فـُستا َن في ا ِلمـَحـَل
it was the best day in my life kaan 'ahsan yoom fi hayaati
كا َن أحسـَن يوم في حـَيا َتي

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