Wonderful Egyptian Words Which Are Derived from Italian

In this blog post, we talk about 10 Egyptian Arabic words. These words came from Italian and Egyptians integrated them into the Egyptian dialect of Cairo. Before 1952, Italian Egyptians, formed the second-largest expatriate community in Egypt after the Greeks, where the former lived in big Egyptian cities like Cairo and Alexandria. Because of this, it was easy for Egyptians to adopt many words that are originally Italian and use them with ease in their dialect. The music of the Italian language fascinated Egyptians. Gradually, many Italian words became an integral part of the Egyptian dialect. Till now, we use these words consistently in our daily communication in Cairo

1. Falso فالصو

Have you ever heard this word in Egyptian movies? I will make it easier for you.

If you watched crime scenes, especially theft, chances are you will find this word more often.

‘El-mogawharaat Falso’, the police officer will say as he finds out that the jewelry (El-mogawharat) present in the shop is not authentic.

The word Falso means in English: Not authentic
Originally, this word came from the correspondent Italian Falso, meaning wrong.

2. Alesta أليسطا

This word has been used extensively in Egypt throughout the 20th century. It means ‘All is good’ and is usually very common in rural areas.

This word came from the the Italian phrase: alla lesta, meaning all is good

3. Fatura فاتورة

If you buy something you get the invoice. The invoice in Egyptian Arabic is called Fatura and it comes from the Italian word Fatura

The word Fatura is a very popular word that you will find in many Egyptian movies and in daily life situations in Egypt. Therefore, whenever you hear this word in Egypt you now know its meaning.

4. Belyatcho بلياتشو

I can’t ignore this word. Not only kids, but also adults love the Belyatcho or the clown and laugh of his facial expressions and body movements. This word is still of wide use today in the Egyptian dialect, as its MSA counterpart, Moharrej, is nearly unused in the spoken Arabic.

This word came directly from the Italian Pagliacci meaning a clown

5. Estabena إستابينا

If you watched many Egyptian movies I am sure that you came across this word at one point or another.

The word Estabena or agreed is very popular in the old Egyptian movies, especially in the 50s and 60s. This word is less used today than before. However, it is a very common dialect word and it is useful that you know it.

This word came from the Italian sta bene with the same meaning.

6. Rochetta روشتا

The doctor writes us a medical prescription or a rochetta so that we can get the prescribed medicine from the pharmacy.

rochetta is a term that came from the Italian rechetta meaning ‘medical prescription’. This word is used until now in Egypt and is very popular.

7. Tasa طاسة

I remember this word every time I watch a movie of ‘Ismail Yassine’ the super Egyptian comedian star (1912 – 1972).

The term means a theater/a dancing club, and this type of entertainment was very popular in Egypt, especially during the first half of the 20th century.

8. Teatro تياترو

I remember this word every time I watch a movie of ‘Ismail Yassine’ the super Egyptian comedian star (1912 – 1972).

The term means a theater/a dancing club, and this type of entertainment was very popular in Egypt, especially during the first half of the 20th century.

9. Robabekia روبابيكيا

In my childhood, I vividly remember this guy who used to come every morning with his carriage and shout:

‘ROBABEKIAAAAAA’

This job was very well-known in Egypt presumably till the 90s. People shout from the streets asking for old- and/or unused items or scrap from homes. They buy them and sell them afterwards as scrap.

Robabekia is the word coming from roba vecchia meaning scrap or unused items.

10. Torta تورتة

Torta comes from Torta in Italian, meaning a cake. In Egyptian dialect, we distinguish between cake and decorated cake.

The English word cake means keeka in Egyptian Arabic. However, if we are talking about a birthday cake, i.e. decorated cake, the used term will be torta instead.

These are not all the words of course. There are many other words adopted from Italian like:

Ballo meaning a party

Gonnella meaning a skirt

Mobilia meaning furniture

Vaza meaning vase

 

 

Now that you know these Egyptian Arabic words from the Italian language, can you identify them within movies? Also, do you know other words that we use from Italian or from other languages? 

If you need more daily phrases, check my 100 Daily Phrases Guides 

Write to me in the comments and do not forget to watch my related Youtube video below

 

With love,

Hamid