Arabic is spoken by more than 400 million people, making it one of the five most spoken languages in the world.
While Arabs can communicate in standard Arabic easily, the fun starts when colloquial Arabic and regional dialects kick in. So a Yemeni, a Libyan, and a Syrian person for instance can sit down together and have a conversation without too many problems, but a few words here and there can lead to some serious and often hilarious misunderstandings.
My fellow Egyptians, here’s a list of words and names that you should know about before visiting any neighboring Arab country.
1. Don't freak out when you hear this song
The title means 'be a woman', not 'be a prostitute' as you may have assumed. If someone called you or your friend mara in Lebanon, Syria, Libya, or Tunisia, don't get mad, it's just a way to refer to women.
2. DO NOT say makwa in gulf countries
I once watched an interview with an Egyptian actor who recalled walking into a store in Kuwait looking for a makwa to iron his shirt, only to be taken aback by the look of shock on the salesman's face. Here is why:
In Egypt and other Arabic speaking countries, makwa is used to refer to an iron or hair straightener, but over there it means someone's behind! Ah wallahe!
3. Also don't say 'look' in Egyptian when you visit Tunisia
You would actually be asking that person to fart!
Bos, Egyptian for "hey, take a look at that", translates to "fart" in Tunisian.
4. Don't call your Saudi girlfriends 3eyal... even if they are!
In Saudi Arabia, 3eyal means 'boys' or 'young men,' while in Egypt it means 'childish.'
5. The Sudanese 'yes' is the cutest thing ever!
It'll sound like they are in pain, but Aay is just their way of saying 'yes.' Can it get any cuter? <3
6. 3eesh
When your neighbor from Bahrain says he is having '3eesh' for lunch, it means he's having rice.
Egyptians be like: you're only having bread for lunch?
7. Tuna with harissa sandwiches are actually a thing!
I can never get over the reaction of my Egyptian friends every time I say how much I miss the tonn belharissa sandwiches I used to have in Libya.
The misunderstanding is down to a local dessert called harissa, an extra sweet, rich semolina cake loaded with butter, which shares its name with a hot chili pepper paste used widely in Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, and Morocco.
8. Beleela does not come with milk outside Egypt, for good reason
"Baleela balbalooki" is what restaurant clerks shout to attract customers in Egypt. That call will instantly get the Egyptian in you salivating over that yummy wheat porridge with milk, sugar, and nuts.
But outside of Egypt, beleela is a spicy chickpea dish. I didn't know that until my Saudi classmate once told me about her favorite beleela recipe, and I was so confused when she said that it was a spicy treat!
9. The Lebanese word for 'step' is a very bad one for us
بيمشي فشخة لقدّام وفشختين لورا
In Egypt, that word is rated R.
10. If a Moroccan asks you if you're working, calm down
Khaddam in Egypt means 'servant,' but in Morocco it's just a way to describe a worker.
If a Moroccan person asks you if you're a khaddam somewhere, he or she will simply be asking if you're working there.
11. Simsar in Iraq is just 3eeb!
A simsar in Egypt is a broker.
A simsar in Iraq is a pimp!
12. Don't say you're mabsout in Iraq
Be careful, in Iraq it means that 'you were hit'.
13. Don't call your Moroccan friend sheikha!
In Egypt, like many other countries in the Arab world, we use the words sheikh and sheikha to say buddy or friend. We also use it to describe Muslim religious scholars, leaders of tribes, old people in general and highly esteemed folks. In Gulf countries they can also refer to princes and princesses.
But over in Morocco, sheikha is an insult. It's just as bad as mara is in Egypt. So keep that in mind before you think of addressing a Moroccan girl as sheikha!
14. And don't say 3afya too or Allah Ye3afeek!
عافية may mean health or well being in Arabic but our Moroccan brethren use it to describe fire. Allah ye3afeek can be a nice way to compliment someone in many Arab countries, but in Morocco it would be like saying "go burn in hell".
15. Mghashesh is not always about cheating!
In Tunisia مغشش means 'sad,' so if someone asks you why you're mghashesh, he is just asking why you're upset.
In other parts of the Arab world, mghashesh means 'cheated'.
16. And most important of all: "Nekhalas 3aleek" in Tunisia is not a death threat!
In Tunisia, nekhalas 3aleek just means 'pay you your money'.
Phew, that was close!