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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