If you learned Arabic from a book, you learned that yes is na3am. Say it in Cairo and people will think you've asked them to repeat themselves. Because that's what it means there.
Yes, the Egyptian way
is yes. It's the everyday one and it works everywhere.
- Yes, he's Karim.
- Yes, I'm Egyptian. Welcome!
ah is yeah. It's casual, and often it's the whole reply.
The trap
na3am? with a rising tone is yes? or pardon? It's what someone says when you call their name, or when they didn't catch what you said. If you answer a yes-or-no question with na3am, an Egyptian hears "sorry, what?" and asks the question again.
is no. Short and flat, with the stop at the end. There's no drama in it.
- No, I'm Dina, not Mona.
- Are you Indian? No, I'm Egyptian.
The Egyptian OK
maashi is OK, fine. It means walking, as in "that works, let's go with it". It's the yes you give to a price. You'll hear it close a haggle in any market.
7aaDer is will do. It's the polite yes to a request, what a waiter says when you order. It means I'm here and on it. If someone asks you a favour, 7aaDer is the warm answer.
is a yes with approval in it: great, perfect. ten pounds? tamaam. We cover it next to khalaaS in ma3lesh, khalaaS, tamaam.
Side by side
| They say | It means | When |
|---|---|---|
| 'aywa | yes | any question |
| ah | yeah | between friends |
| na3am? | yes? pardon? | someone called you, or you didn't hear |
| la' | no | any question |
| maashi | OK, fine | agreeing to a plan or price |
| 7aaDer | will do | replying to a request |
| tamaam | great, perfect | approving something |
Learn 'aywa and la' first. Keep na3am for when you didn't hear.