Language/Egyptian-arabic/Grammar/Negation
Hi Egyptian Arabic learners! ๐
In this lesson, we will focus on negation in Egyptian Arabic. We will go over the basic rules and provide examples to help you better understand how to negate sentences. As always, we will also include cultural information and interesting facts about the language. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to add them in the comments section below. Don't forget to check out the Polyglot Club website to find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Basics of Negation
In Egyptian Arabic, negation is usually formed by adding a specific word before the verb. This word is "mesh" (written in Arabic as "ู ุด"). It is similar to the English word "not". For example:
- Egyptian Arabic: ุฃูุง ู ูุง ููุงู ูุชูุด.
- Phonetic pronunciation: Ana ma namtsh.
- English translation: I did not sleep.
As you can see, "mesh" comes before the verb "namt" (which means "slept"). Here are some more examples:
| Egyptian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ู ูุง ุจูุฑูุฏูุด | ma bardash | It's not cold. |
| ู ูุดูููุชูุด | mashaytsh | I didn't walk. |
| ู ูุง ุจูุฏูููุด | ma biddish | I don't want to. |
| ู ูุง ุญูุจููุด ููููุฌูู | ma habshe yingun | He doesn't want to sing. |
Notice that "ma" and "mesh" can be used interchangeably, but "ma" is often used in the context of negating an adjective or a noun. For example, "ma bardash" means "not cold", while "mesh bardash" means "did not become cold". Also, if the verb starts with a vowel, the "a" in "ma" is omitted, and only the consonant sound is pronounced (e.g. "ma biddish" instead of "ma abiddish").
Negation in present tense
To negate the present tense in Egyptian Arabic, add "mesh" before the present tense verb. For example:
- Egyptian Arabic: ุฃูููุง ู ูุง ุจูุฑูุชูุงุญูุด ููููุฏูุฑูุณ.
- Phonetic pronunciation: Ana ma berta'ash lil-dars.
- English translation: I am not comfortable with the lesson.
Notice that the present tense verb "berta'ash" (which means "am comfortable") became negative when "mesh" was added before it.
Here is another example:
- Person 1: ุฅุฒูุงููููุ (izayak? - How are you?)
- Person 2: ุฃูููุง ู ูุง ุจูุชููููููู ูุด ุงููููุบูุฉ ุงูุนูุฑูุจููููุฉ. (Ana ma betkallimsh el-lughat el-'arabiyya. - I don't speak Arabic)
Notice that in this example, "ma" was used instead of "mesh". This is because "ma" can be used to negate an action or a verb, while "mesh" is used mostly to negate a state or a fact.
Negation in past tense
To negate the past tense in Egyptian Arabic, add "mesh" before the past tense verb. For example:
- Egyptian Arabic: ู ูุง ุฑูุญูุชู ุงูุฃุณูุจููุน ุงููููู ููุงุช.
- Phonetic pronunciation: Ma raht el-osbu' elly fat.
- English translation: I didn't go last week.
Here is another example:
- Person 1: ุดูุฑูุจูุชู ุดูุงูุ (Sharibt shay? - Did you drink tea?)
- Person 2: ู ูุง ุดูุฑูุจูุชูุด ุดูุงู. (Ma sharibtsh shay. - I didn't drink tea.)
Notice that the verb "sharibt" (which means "drank") became negative when "mesh" was added before it.
Negation in future tense
To negate the future tense in Egyptian Arabic, use the word "hayefdal" (written in Arabic as "ูููุถู") instead of the future tense verb. For example:
- Egyptian Arabic: ู ูุง ููููููุถููู ู ูููุชููุญู.
- Phonetic pronunciation: Ma hayifdal maftooh.
- English translation: It won't remain open.
Here is another example:
- Person 1: ุญูุชูุดูุชูุฑููู ุฅูููู ุบูุฏูุงุ (Hatchtrii eh gada? - What are you going to buy tomorrow?)
- Person 2: ู ูุง ููุดูุชูุฑูููุด ุญูุงุฌูุฉ. (Ma hashtriihsh haga. - I'm not going to buy anything.)
Notice that "hayefdal" is used to negate the future tense in this example. Also, "haga" means "thing" or "anything".
Dialogue
- Person 1: ุจูุชูุญูุจูุณููููู ู ูุดูุงููู ุงูุนูู ูู ุงููููู ู ูุง ุจูุชูููุญูููุด.
- Phonetic pronunciation: Bat7abseenni moshakel el-'amal elly ma bintehalsh.
- English translation: Work problems are stressing me out because they never get resolved.
- Person 2: ููุงุฒูู ู ุชูุณูุชููููู ููุชูุฃูุฎูุฏู ููููุณูุง. ู ููููู ูุง ุชูุฑูุฌูุนู ุชูุดูููู ุฅุฒูุงูู.
- Phonetic pronunciation: Lazem testanna wa ta'khod nfsa. Mennamma tarje3 teshouf izay.
- English translation: You need to wait and take a breather. When you come back, you'll see how things are.
Cultural Insight
Egyptian Arabic is spoken by an estimated 68 million people worldwide. It is the most widely spoken Arabic dialect and is heavily influenced by the Coptic language, which was spoken in Egypt before the Arab invasions.
Egyptians are known to be quite humorous and lighthearted, and language plays a large role in Egyptian humor. This includes puns, wordplay, and jokes that often revolve around dialectical expressions that have multiple interpretations or meanings.
Summary
Negation in Egyptian Arabic is usually formed by adding "ma" or "mesh" before the verb. "Ma" is used to negate an action or a verb, while "mesh" is used to negate a state or a fact. The word "hayefdal" is used instead of the future tense verb to indicate negation in the future tense. By following these basic rules, you can begin to negate sentences in Egyptian Arabic.
Additional Resources
- Egyptian Arabic on Wikipedia
- Arabic grammar on Wikipedia
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