Arabic in English

I don't know where we're going yet, but I promise it'll be nice when we get there.

[arabicinenglish]

If your loved one is honey, don’t lick them all. إن كان حبيبك عسل ماتلحسوش كله

Egyptian expression; it’s used to ask someone to not abuse what they’re given. It’s most similar too if someone gives you a hand, don’t take their arm but it’s a much less violent (and cuter) way to put it.

“Look, I understand you’re down and out but your staying at my house and eating all my food and consuming all my substances is really breaking my back.”

“I overslept my stay and overstayed my welcome, I’m sorry.”

“Yeah I was happy to help but if your love is honey, don’t lick all of him.”

[arabicinenglish]

You who is covering Abla’s ass, cover yours first. يا مداوي طيز عابلة، داوي طيزك قبله

Egyptian expression; it’s kind of similar to the “if you live in a glass house” expression. Basically implying that if you have a vice or quite a few, don’t go pointing fingers at other people’s vices.

“You don’t have to smoke weed all the time.”

“You smoke 20 cigarettes a day, why don’t you cover your own ass before you cover Abla’s?”

[arabicinenglish]

You pluck her while she’s flying. تلقطها و هي طايرة

Egyptian expression; spotting something, or scratching something (تهرشها) means picking something up or understanding something. Spotting or scratching something while it’s flying means you can understand things quickly without too much ado or explanation.

“Do you want to turn the music up?”

“Yeah, how did you know?”

“I saw you put the phone down and look around for the volume dial.”

“I love that you catch her while she’s flying. I don’t need to even ask for shit.”

[arabicinenglish]

We are the ones who spray-painted the air. احنا اللي دهنّا الهوا دوكو

Egyptian expression; used when someone does the impossible or something really difficult.

“Wow, I can’t believe you convinced her. I tried so hard, and she wouldn’t budge.

“We’re the ones who spray-painted the air.”

[arabicinenglish]

We taught them to beg, they beat us to the doors. علمناهم الشحاتة سبقونا عالأبواب

Egyptian expression; it’s used when the student becomes better than the master. We use ‘the doors’ because beggars in Egypt usually go beg at the doors of the mosques, playing on the fact that people are walking in and out of a spiritual place.

“Hahaha man, she’s beating you and you just taught her the game last night!!”

“Yeah dude, you teach them to beg and they beat you to the doors.”

[arabicinenglish]

You have a demon in every dumpster. ليكي في كل خرابة عفريت

Egyptian expression; used when someone basically has a connection in every field.

“She wants to try becoming a dominatrix.”

“Ah I have a friend who goes to kink camps, he can help her out.”

“Wow, you really have a demon in every dumpster, huh?”

[arabicinenglish]

You don't take anything from the weak donkey but the strong fart. ماتخدش من الحمار الضعيف غير الجيص القوي

Egyptian expression; used when someone claims they'll do the things and underline and emphasize their capabilities but when it comes to actually doing something, they're just making noise.

"I thought you said you know how to make this happen."

"Yeah, I thought I could but the project is too big for me.

"But when I offered an aide, yousaid you've got this under control."

"I'm sorry."

"The only thing you get from a weak donkey is a strong fart, eh?"

[arabicinenglish]

You made my neck as big as a sesame seed. خليت رقبتي قد السمسمة

Egyptian expression; when you count on someone and they embarrass you in front of someone else. “I’m really sorry I ditched you and your mother.” “You really embarrassed me in front of my mother. We came a long way.” “I’m sorry I fell asleep.” “You made my neck as big as a sesame seed.”

[arabicinenglish]

We made syrup out of fermented fish. عملنا من الفسيخ شربات

Egyptian expression; used when you have something terrible and make something really good out of it. “I’m sorry for how messy my room was.” “Oh, I cleaned up, rearranged everything, and hung up curtains.” “Wow! It looks gorgeous, you made syrup out out of rotten fish.”

[arabicinenglish]

Our day isn’t passing. يومنا مش فايت

Egyptian expression; about a day where one meets one problem after another. “We went to the company and paid for he card but then we had to go somewhere else and get it recharged and they stole our money so we called the police and had to go back to the company and we eventually just lost.” “Aw that sucks.” “Yeah then we got home hoping it would work, and it turns out the phone is locked so it was all useless.” “Damn!” “Yup, and then my burn started to itch and I had to wash my clothes and really just wanted to disappear.” “Sounds like your day wasn’t passing.”

[arabicinenglish]

The men finished in the war. الرجالة خلصت في الحرب

Egyptian expression; used to say that chivalry is dead and therefore there aren't any men- we're left with the boys. "I asked him to help me move. Last time he said he'd help me, he showed up like 2 and a half hours late and I ended up packing and prepping everything myself and he just helped me with his car." "Did you confirm the time?" "Oh yeah, again and again. Last night he said he'd see me at 11:30, it's noon now and he JUST left - with traffic it's like another 2 hours at least." "I'm so sorry - yeah, the men finished in the war, eh?"

[arabicinenglish]

Know your friend and mark him. اعرف صاحبك و عَلِم عليه

Egyptian expression; basically means to know and differentiate between your real friends and your so-called friends. "I told him someone I loved just passed away and that I had a super difficult day today and that I don't have a lot of other friends since I'm new here and he really didn't care." "Well, you need new friends. Know your friend and mark him."

[arabicinenglish]

You're not owed an invitation. مالكش دعوة

Egyptian expression; used when you wanna tell someone that it's none of their business- like they're not welcome to chime in. "Soooo, how's it going with your new guy?" "I don't want to talk about it." "Why not?" "You're not owed an invitation."

[arabicinenglish]

Unscrew yourself from me. فكك مني

Egyptian expression; literally means "leave me alone." "I really want to talk about this." "Dude, I'm really not in the mood." "Please." "Unscrew yourself from me."

[arabicinenglish]

The shit-hobbyist, give him a spoon. كييف الخرة اديله معلقة

Egyptian expression; used when someone continuously shows behaviors of self-destruction. “Yeah, she called him and begged him to come back.” “But wasn’t he abusing her?” “Yeah, what you’re gonna do- gotta give the shit-hobbyist a spoon.”

[arabicinenglish]

Come here in my wind. تعالي هنا في ريحي

Egyptian expression; used to tell someone to come closer or come sit next you. "Why are you over there man? Come here in my wind."

[arabicinenglish]

Eating bread is bitter. أكل العيش مر

Egyptian expression; "eating bread" is he equivalent of making a living. When your work gets too exhausting, meaningless, unfulfilling, tedious or all of the above, you talk about how bitter it is to eat bread. "What's wrong? You look so tired." "Ah, I had so much work today." "I'm sorry, eating bread is bitter."