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Hurghada: phrases for your first week

Say hello, say thank you and keep your footing when you don't understand the answer. A starter set for shops, taxis and neighbours.

In the tourist areas of Hurghada plenty of people speak English. Step away from the hotels and the seafront, though, and Masri comes in handy: Egyptian colloquial Arabic. It's spoken all over Egypt, Hurghada included.

Saying hello

In the morning it's saba7 el kheir, in the evening masa el kheir. "How are you?" is ezzayak to a man and ezzayek to a woman. The answer is el 7amdulillah, "thank God", even on a so-so day.

Polite words

• shokran — thank you
• 3afwan — you're welcome
• law sama7t — please, when asking for something
• ma3lesh — never mind, sorry

You'll hear ma3lesh every day: it's used both to apologise and to tell someone not to worry.

When you don't understand

These may be the most useful phrases of your first week. Egyptians are happy to repeat and slow down if you ask.

• ma fhemtesh, momken te3eed? — I didn't understand, could you repeat?
• 2oolha beshweesh — say it slowly
• ana lessa bat3allem 3arabi — I'm still learning Arabic

Saying goodbye

Ma3 el salama — goodbye. You'll hear the same back, or allah yesallemak.

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