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How to say "How are you?" in Egyptian Arabic
In Cairo you will hear izzayyak? dozens of times a day. It means "How are you?" and it is the first thing Egyptians say after hello. Textbooks often teach kayfa ḥaluk, which is formal Arabic; in the street it sounds like a news reader. Say izzayyak instead.
Asking "How are you?"
| Arabic | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| إزيك؟ | Izzayyak? | How are you? (to a man) |
| إزيك؟ | Izzayyik? | How are you? (to a woman) |
It is written the same way, but the ending changes: -ak when you talk to a man, -ik when you talk to a woman. Egyptian Arabic does this with many words (see talking to a man or a woman).
How to answer
| Arabic | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| الحمد لله | Il-ḥamdu lillah | I'm fine, thank God |
| تمام | Tamam | Great / fine |
| كويس | Kwayyis | Good (a man says this) |
Il-ḥamdu lillah is the answer you will hear most. Egyptians use it whether they are religious or not; it simply means "all good". Tamam is the quick, friendly version.
A tiny conversation
| Arabic | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| أهلاً! | Ahlan! | Hello! |
| إزيك؟ | Izzayyak? | How are you? |
| الحمد لله. وإنت؟ | Il-ḥamdu lillah. W-inta? | Fine, thank God. And you? |
| تمام! | Tamam! | Great! |
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