Language/Egyptian-arabic/Vocabulary/Animals
Hi Egyptian Arabic learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about animals in Egyptian Arabic. Animals are an essential part of our planet and have always been fascinating creatures to humans. You will also learn cultural information and interesting facts about each animal.
Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: Animal, Airport, Resources & Talking about Work.
Domestic Animals[edit | edit source]
Egypt has a rich culture of domestic animals. In ancient times, the Egyptians used cats to protect themselves from snakes and other dangerous animals. Today, many Egyptian households have cats as pets. Dogs are also popular pets in Egypt, and are often used as guards for homes and businesses.
| Egyptian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| قط | 'otat | cat |
| كلب | kelb | dog |
| حصان | hisaan | horse |
| جمل | gamal | camel |
| بقرة | ba'ra | cow |
- Person 1: أنا عندي قط بيضحك. (Ana andy 'otat bed-hak.) - "I have a funny cat."
- Person 2: أنا عندي كلب شرس. (Ana andy kelb sharas.) - "I have a fierce dog."
Wild Animals[edit | edit source]
Egypt is home to many beautiful and wild animals. Unfortunately, the population of some of these animals is in danger due to hunting and habitat loss. The African elephant, for example, used to roam wild in Egypt, but now its population is almost extinct.
| Egyptian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| فيل | feel | elephant |
| نمر | namir | tiger |
| زرافة | zaraafa | giraffe |
| غزال | ghazaal | deer |
| ثعلب | ta'lub | fox |
| ذئب | dhi'b | wolf |
| ثعبان | ta'baan | snake |
- Person 1: هل رأيت ذئبًا في الغابة؟ (Hal ra'it dhi'b an fil ghabya?) - "Have you seen a wolf in the forest?"
- Person 2: لا، لكني رأيت ثعلبًا. (La, laikinni ra'it ta'lub an.) - "No, but I've seen a fox."
Birds[edit | edit source]
Birds are a significant part of Egyptian culture, and many Egyptians keep birds in their homes. The national bird of Egypt is the Steppe Eagle. It is a symbol of strength and resilience, and its image appears on many important Egyptian documents and artifacts.
| Egyptian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| نسر | nasr | eagle |
| بطة | batta | duck |
| بجعة | baj'aa | swan |
| دجاجة | degaaga | chicken |
| حمامة | hamaama | dove |
- Person 1: لدي زوج من البط. (Ladayy zowj min al-batta.) - "I have a pair of ducks."
- Person 2: أعتقد أن النسر هو الطائر الوطني لمصر. (A'taqid 'ann al-nasr huwa al-ta'ir al-watani li-Misr.) - "I think the eagle is the national bird of Egypt."
Sea Creatures[edit | edit source]
Egypt has a vast coastal region on the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Many aquatic animals are found in these two seas, such as dolphins, sharks, and whales. The dugong, also known as the sea cow, is an aquatic mammal that lives in the Red Sea and is classified as vulnerable.
| Egyptian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| دلفين | dalffin | dolphin |
| سمكة | samaka | fish |
| سمك القرش | samak al-qarsh | shark |
| حوت | hwwt | whale |
| هدهد بحري | hudhud bahryy | seagull |
- Person 1: أحب السباحة مع الدلافين. (Uhibb al-sabaha ma' al-dalffin.) - "I love swimming with dolphins."
- Person 2: لا أستطيع القرب من سمك القرش. (La 'astatii' al-qurb min samak al-qarsh.) - "I can't get close to the sharks."
These are just a few of the many animals that are found in Egypt. If you want to learn more, join Polyglot Club and ask native speakers any questions you have! Don't forget to also check out our Vocabulary page to learn more words and phrases in Egyptian Arabic.
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Love
- Clothes
- Art
- How to Say Good Bye
- Means of Transport
- Body
- Asking Directions
- Family
- At the Store
- Idiomatic Expressions