Adverbs in Egyptian Arabic
An adverb modifies a verb (or an adjective or adverb) and answers questions like how, when, where, why, and to what degree something was done. Here is a list of some common adverbs; all usually come after the expression they're modifying, except for حوالي, which usually comes before the modified expression.
Adverbs of time |
Adverbs of place |
| today | النهارده (in-nahaarda) |
| yesterday | امبارح (imbaariH) |
| tomorrow | بكرة (bukra) |
| now | دلوقت (dilwa'ti) |
| later | بعدين (ba3dein) |
| a long time ago | زمان (zamaan) |
| recently/soon | قريب ('ariib/'orayyib) |
| always | دايما (dayman) |
| never | أبدا (abadan) |
| early | بدري (badri) |
| late | وخري (waxri) |
| | متأخر (mit'axxar) |
| finally | أخيرا (axiiran) |
| usually | عادة (3aadatan) |
| usually, for the most part | غالبا (ġaaliban) |
| sometimes | أحيانا (aHyaanan) |
| | ساعات (sa3aat) |
|
| here | هنا (hina) |
| there | هناك (hinaak) |
| outside | برا (barra) |
| inside | جوه (guwwa) |
| up, upstairs | فوق (foo') |
| down, downstairs | تحت (taHt) |
| in front of | قدام ('uddaam) |
| behind | ورا (wara) |
|
Adverbs indicating degree |
| very | قوي ('awi) |
| الفيلم ده عجبني قوي (il-film da 3agibni 'awi) - I liked that movie a lot. |
| دي صورة حلوة قوي (di Suura Helwa 'awi) - This is a really nice picture. |
| very/at all | خالص (xaaliS) |
| هو مش عارف حاجة خالص (howwa miš 3aaref Haaga xaaliS) - He doesn't know a thing. |
| البلد دي خربانة خالص (il-balad di xarbaana xaaliS) - This country is totally messed up. |
| very | جدا (giddan) |
| كلامك جميل جدا (kalaamak gamiil giddan) - What you're saying is really good. |
| a lot; often | كتير (kitiir) |
| الخبر ده قلقني كتير (il-xabar da 'ala'ni kitiir) - This news really worried me. |
| totally | موت (moot) * This is very slangy. |
| الأغاني دي جامدة موت (il-aġaani di gamda moot) - These songs are really cool. |
| more, in addition | كمان (kamaan) |
| استنى كمان شوية (istanna kamaan šwayya) - Wait a little more. |
| nearly | تقريبا (ta'riiban) |
| فضلنا تقريبا نص ساعة (fiDilna ta'riiban noSS saa3a) - We had almost half an hour left. |
| خلص رمضان تقريبا (xiliS ramaDaan ta'riiban) - Ramadan is almost over. |
| nearly | حوالي (Hawaali) * Usually comes before the expression being modified. |
| أنا بقالي حوالي ساعة مستنية كده (ana ba'aali Hawaali saa3a mistanniyya kida) - I've been waiting like this for about an hour. |
| a little | شوية (šwayya) |
| الممثل ده لازم يختار أدواره أحسن شوية (il-mumassil da laazim tixtaar adwaaru aHsan šwayya) - That actor should pick his roles a bit better. |
|
Adverbs of manner |
| like this, in this way | كده (kida) |
| مش عارفة بتعاملني كده ليه (miš 3arfa bit3aamilni kida leih) - I don't know why you're treating me like this. |
| in this way/manner | بالشكل ده (biš-šakle da) |
| ازاي تستجري تكلمني بالشكل ده؟ (izzaayy tistigri tkallemni biš-šakle da?) - How do you dare talk to me like that? |
| quickly | بسرعة (bi-sur3a) |
| كنت ماشي في الشارع بسرعة عشان ألحق أوصل (kunte maaši fiš-šaari3 bis-sur3a 3ašaan alHa' awSal) - I was walking down the street fast so I could make it on time. |
| quickly, in a short time | قوام ('awaam) |
| يللا نبدأ عشان نخلص قوام (yalla nibda' 3ašaan nixallaS 'awaam) - Come on, let's get started so we can finish quickly. |
| slowly | بشويش (bišweiš) |
| بشويش شوية، مستعجل على ايه؟ (bišweiš šiwayya, mista3gil 3ala eih?) - [Go] slowly, what are you in a hurry for? |
| right away, immediately | حالا (Haalan) |
| أنا عاوزة الرد حالا! (ana 3awza r-rudd Haalan!) - I want the answer right away! |
| presently, at this time | حاليا (Haaliyyan) |
| أنا حاليا مقيمة في ألمانيا (ana Haaliyyan muqiima fi almanya) - Right now I'm living in Germany. |
| together | سوا (sawa) |
| كلنا في الهوا سوا (kullina fil-hawa sawa) - We're all in the same boat (lit. "We are in the air together"). |
| alone, by oneself | لوحد (li-waHd- + pronoun suffix) |
| بفضل أسكن لوحدي (bafaDDal askun li-waHdi) - I prefer to live by myself. |
| straight ahead; right away; continuously; forever | على طول (3ala Tuul) |
| امشى على طول لحد ماتلاقي الجامع على شمالك (imši 3ala Tuul li-Hadde matlaa'i g-gaami3 3ala šmaalak) - Go straight until you find the mosque on your left. |
| دقيقة وجاي على طول (di'ii'a wa-gayy 3ala Tuul) - Just a minute, I'm coming right away. |
| انت واحشني على طول (inta waHešni 3ala Tuul) - I miss you all the time. |
| انا مسافرة قطر بعد الفرح على طول (ana msafra qaTar ba3d il-faraH 3ala Tuul) - I'm going to Qatar right after the wedding. |
| هو مش هيفضل يكسب على طول (howwa miš hayifDal yiksib 3ala Tuul) - He won't keep winning forever. |
| deliberately, on purpose | عمدا (3amdan) |
| بتفكر إني عملت كده عمدا؟ (bitfakkar inni 3amelte kida 3amdan?) - Do you think I did that deliberately? |
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