Expressing Dislike in Egyptian Arabic

Egyptian culture is widely known for its colorful expression of emotions and opinions. When Egyptians are happy, their joy can echo through the streets. On the flip side, dislike in Egyptian Arabic can be expressed with unmatched creativity and sometimes a bit of volume! Egyptians rarely hold back when they’re displeased, often turning their disapproval into a full-blown show. Let’s dive into how they masterfully convey dislike in Egyptian Arabic.

Different ways to express dislike in Egyptian Arabic

There are two facets to this topic: the polite side and the explicit one. First, we’ll focus on courteous phrases 😇—perfect for a variety of situations. Then, we’ll shed light on the cruder side 😈, so you can recognize less formal expressions if you hear them in the streets. Understanding these nuances of dislike in Egyptian Arabic will make your grasp of the language and culture even richer.

Egyptian noises of dislike

One of the simplest ways to express dislike in Egyptian Arabic is through distinctive noises. These sounds are often standalone but can also precede more elaborate expressions. They’re particularly effective for capturing someone’s attention when irritation strikes.

تؤ تؤ تؤ
Check this video out to hear this sound.
It’s used widely when you see something you don’t like or when you see someone, your kid for example, doing something wrong.
The more you repeat the angrier you are with what’s happening.

With Playaling’s real-world videos, you’ll not only learn common everyday phrases but also sounds and their meanings.

Watch full video

يوووه or يييييي
When you’ve had enough or can’t take it anymore, you let this out. The longer you stretch the syllables, the more impactful it is.

In this real-world video, this Egyptian woman explains the meanings of common sounds in Egypt.

Watch full video

أوففف
A sign of irritation. Don’t use it with elders or in formal situations, but it’s okay to let it out when you’re annoyed. It’s also handy on a hot day to express exhaustion. 😵‍💫

This clip is from a video featuring words in Egyptian Arabic and MSA.

Watch full video

هحححح
If you simply take a deep breath and exhale this way people will understand that you had enough.

Mothers’ prayers

In Egypt, mothers may sometimes raise their voice when reciting prayers or when saying الله أكبر to desperately try to communicate with their family to make them do something before they end their prayers. We may not know what they mean, but they’re definitely not happy! It’s also relatively common for kids to ask for permission while their parents are praying knowing they can’t reply and silence is the sign of approval, but mothers can retaliate by raising their voice while praying in an act of extreme disapproval. Check this funny video to see how it works.

Polite anger

Egyptians have countless ways to express dislike in Egyptian Arabic politely. These phrases are suitable for public spaces without drawing too much attention:

يا دي النّيلة
What a drag!
This one is quite fascinating and has deep historical roots. نيلة means ‘indigo.’ It’s believed that women, particularly in villages, would dye their faces, or even slap their faces with indigo masks when something profoundly sad occurred, like the loss of a loved one. The dye was potent, hence the expression is now used to describe how strongly entrenched you can be in a situation.

An Egyptian man expresses his frustration using the phrase يا دِي النِّيلة.

Watch full video

أَهو دا اللي كان ناقص
That’s the icing on the cake!

When everything has been going wrong, it can only get worse at this point.

قابل يا عم
This one is pretty funny. It’s when you are already at your limit and things just keep piling. You say it to someone next to you with the meaning of ‘’ look man, do you see what I am seeing ?’’

أهلاََ
This one, in its truest sense, means ‘welcome.’ However, it’s often used ironically to welcome bad news. The longer you stretch out the last syllable, the more emphasis and humor it carries. Not the أ part but rather the ً or ن. Think of it like أهلنننننن (ahlannnnn)

بس بس
Just stop!
No it’s not like pspsps for cats. It means enough and is also used when you have had enough.

يا ربّيييي or يا الله
O.M.G/ Jesus christ
Here, we’re not exactly talking about a genuine prayer—or are we? It’s like you’ve reached your limit with human interactions, so you turn to a higher power for assistance.

كدا كتير والله
Enough is enough.

The last straw

While polite phrases are useful, explicit expressions reveal the more fiery side of dislike in Egyptian Arabic. These are best reserved for close friends or casual settings:

إيه القرف دا
What is this bullshit!
A fairly common way to react to an annoying situation or receiving bad news.

أنا على آخري
I have had it!

خخخخخ
Yes, we know. It doesn’t make any sense. Nonetheless, you might hear this sound quite often depending on the area you visit in Egypt. It’s considered inappropriate in every conceivable context ⚠️, but it’s still used when feeling angry, surprised, or even when joking around with friends. You take a deep breath depending on the effect you want to achieve, then you mimic the sound a pig would make 🐷. It’s called شخرة or a snort. You might be surprised when you hear it the first time, we know this girl was!
https://youtube.com/shorts/B1oQgdHODRc?si=6Kphmhc5EdbVBVOJ

أنا اتبضنت
This is breaking my balls!
A phrase used more by guys, obviously.
It’s used when something/someone is annoying or harassing you persistently.
You can also call the cause of that pain بضان , but just don’t blame us if it gets you in trouble. 😅

Across cultures, people often rely on sounds rather than words to communicate emotions. This is especially true in Egyptian Arabic, where efficiency is key. Whether through a sharp sigh, a humorous phrase, or an ironic tone, expressing dislike in Egyptian Arabic is an art form.

If you’re interested in diving deeper into Egyptian Arabic, check out our guide on How Do You Say Hello in Egyptian Arabic? A Cultural and Linguistic Guide to explore the nuances of greetings, or discover Ten Ways to Say “How Are You?” in Egyptian Arabic to expand your conversational skills.

Oh, and by the way…

If learning Egyptian Arabic at your own pace, with fun, real-world videos sounds like your style, then Playaling could be exactly what you’re looking for!

With Playaling, you’ll dive into Arabic just as it’s spoken in Egypt. Our diverse range of videos has it all—from everyday conversations and cultural moments to music videos, TV and movie clips, influencer content, news broadcasts, and inspiring talks.

Our interactive captions let you tap any word for instant translations, context, and audio. So, real Egyptian content becomes accessible with just a click. Miss something? No problem—rewind and listen as often as you need, or hover over subtitles for quick definitions.