Egyptian Arabic Proverbs and Sayings - Part 1This collection of Arabic proverbs (most of them used in Egypt in various contexts) is taken from the excellent book "Apricots Tomorrow, compiled by Primrose Arander and Ashkhain Skipwith, and published by Stacey International-London (1997, ISBN 0905743571).

xiirha fi Giirha

Better Luck Next Time (literally, "A better one in another one")

illi bi-yiigii hinaak bi-yruuH hinaak

Easy come, easy go (literally, "What comes this way, goes this way")

Akl il-3inab Habba Habba

One step at a time (literally, "Grapes are eaten one by one")

3adam ig-gawaab gawaab

Silence speaks volumes (literally, "No answer is an answer")

Darab 3asfuureen bi-Hagar

To kill two birds with one stone (literally, "He struck two birds with one stone")

Hilm il-uTaT kullu firaan

To have a one track mind (literally, "The dream of cats is all mice")

akal il-gamal bi ma Hamal

To eat someone out of house and home (literally, "He ate the camel and all it carried")

riHlit il-alf miil tabda bixaTwa

From small beginnings come great things (literally, "The journey of a thousand miles starts with one step")

Tub ig-garra 3ala tumaha tiTla3 il-bint li-ummaha

Like mother, like daughter (literally, "Turn the pot upside down, the girl will still be like her mother")

Egyptian Arabic Proverbs and Sayings - Part 2This collection of Arabic proverbs (most of them used in Egypt in various contexts) is based on proverts taken from the book "Unload Your Own Donkey , compiled by Primrose Arander and Ashkhain Skipwith, and published by Stacey International-London (2002, ISBN 1900988364). We have modified a few to be more true to the way they are actually said in Egypt.

iza kaan fiih xiir ma kaans> ramaah iT-Teer

Theres no mileage in it (literally-If there were any good in it the bird would not have dropped it)

zay is-samn w-il-3asal

Love and marriage go together like horse and carriage from OUR TOWN (literally-Like butter and honey). Used to refer to any two things that "go together" well.

daab dobit il-malH

Melted into thin air ( literally-dissolved like salt)

biyiTla3 iD-Daww biduun SiyaaH id-diik

Time waits for no man (literally-Dawn breaks without the crowing of the cock)

Iysh ma Tabaxat ir-ra3na biyakul goozha il-a9ma

She gets away with murder (literally-Whatever the crazy wife cooks her blind husband will eat)

il-ibrii' il-malyaan ma yila'la's>

Steady as a rock a steady person ( literally-Water does not slosh in a full water jug)

fassal w-iHna nilbis

The ball is in your court ( literally-you cut and we will wear)

illi bi-yixliT Haalu ma3a in-nixaala bi-taklu id-dagaag

A man is judged by the company he keeps (literally-He who mixes himself with chicken feed will be eaten by the chickens)

man halla hizaamu baat

Actions speak louder than words (literally-He who unties his belt will stay the night)

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