10 Made-Up Egyptian-Arabic Words You Have To Know

It’s almost like Egyptians love making up words or turning the definition of an existing word to mean something completely different. And somehow everyone catches on and knows the meaning, even if it’s the first they’ve heard of it.

Without further ado, here are the made-up or new meaning words that all Egyptians know

10. Fakes (فاكس)

Although it may read like (fake.s) but it’s pronounced (fak.es). It’s a completely made up word that means no. So if someone asks you if you want to go to this place for dinner, just saying fakes will do the trick.

9. Halaalo or Naffad (حلقله أو نفض)

While halaalo or naffad are real words and mean different things, (halaa: shave, naffad: dusting off) their made-up definition means to ditch or let go. Saying halaa means, this person ditched someone and saying naffad can imply the same or it means this person ignored what you said.

8. Gadet (جاضض)

Pronounced (gaw.det), this totally made-up word means someone who’s feeling annoyed and exhausted (but more so emotionally).

7. Hals (هلس)

This word is used a lot and although it’s made-up, everyone knows it means not true or false (like what this person is saying is total nonsense).

6. Golasha (جلاشة)

While Golash is a type of food, the meaning of golasha is completely different. It’s basically when someone gets into a fight and loses (physically or emotionally) then they got the golasha. It’s somewhat insulting.

5. Fel Shalahat (في الشلاحات)

A made-up word that means ‘this person’s mind isn’t with us’ and like they’re thinking of something else.

4. Mstakanyas (مستكنيص)

A totally 100% made-up word here that means ‘chilling.’ If you say this person is mstakanyas, it means they’re chilling.

3. Hatch (هتش)

Also, a very made-up word that means fake or implies this person is making something up. It’s used like this, ‘this person is saying a lot of hatch.’

2. Bankosh (بنكش)

The word bankosh literally means to rummage through things but in this case (the right definition in Egypt) it means to rummage through someone’s feelings. It’s like picking at someone to say something.

1. Haresh (هارش)

Although haresh means the act of scratching an itch, in Egypt it also means having knowledge. So if someone is haresh, it means they know something.