Quirky Words in Egyptian Arabic That Don’t Mean What You Think!
In every language, we speak without really processing what we’re saying. It is automatic and second nature to us.
However, if we pause for a second and pay attention to some of the words in our language, we’ll notice how some words don’t actually make sense or sometimes even mean the opposite of what they are supposed to mean.
For a bit of fun, we are going to pluck out those absurd words from the Egyptian language and place them in the spotlight. Enjoy!
Barad
Okay, we’re sure many of you know this word. When any Egyptian says the word “barad,” they are referring to a water kettle. We find this word weird because “barad” actually means “cooler.”
In other Arab countries, when they say “barad,” they mean a fridge not a water kettle because, guess what, a fridge cools our food. Why on Earth do we refer to a water kettle, something that is supposed to heat water, as a barad, aka a cooler? If you know, let us know!
Roht Mashee
In Egypt, you’ll notice how in the language, opposites attract. Let us explain this in a better way. When an Egyptian says “roht,” it means that they went to a specific place. If they say “mashee,” it means they are leaving that place.
Now, weirdly enough, there is a word that puts the two together “roht mashee.” Does that mean they cancel each other out? Nope, instead, when you say “roht mashee,” it means “I ended up leaving.”
Omt Aaid
Here is another word combo that doesn’t make sense. When an Egyptian says “omt”, it means “I got up”. If they say “aaid”, it means “I am sitting down”. Guess what, in Egypt, the two are put together to make “omt said”, which means “I ended up sitting down”.
Khod El Bab Fe Eedak
In Egypt, you should not take everything that people say literally. That is definitely the case with one phrase that is said, and if taken literally, might mean you’ll need to roll your sleeves.
When someone says to you, “Khod el bab fe eedak”, they are telling you to “close the door”. However, if you translate its meaning, the phrase will be heard as “take the door with you in your hand”. We hope the next time you hear this phrase, you won’t activate your inner Tarzan!
Maa Kol Ehteramee
All languages have a touch of humor, and that is the case when it comes to the word combo of “maa kol ehteramee”. This is supposed to mean “with all my respect,” so you’d expect the person to be respecting the person they are talking to.
Yet, this word combo is usually said before you start screaming, yelling, or having an argument or disagreement with someone. So next time you hear it, get ready for some drama!
These are just a few of the words and phrases that puzzle us all, and we don’t think there will ever be an explanation for them. Yet, we still love using them and won’t stop using them.
