Slang from Middle East

You are welcome; excuse me.

Taxi fare; also often used to mean a shared taxi or minibus.

Food; eating (general term, but widely used informally).

Elegant; smart in appearance.

Yes; certainly.

Crisis; difficulty; dilemma.

Watch out; beware (North African).

Dull; slow-witted; ignorant.

Calamity; misfortune; trouble (often for a difficult person or situation).

I messed it up; I screwed it up (Levantine).

Local; traditional; refers to neighborhoods or items that are truly local and non-Western.

To block someone online (from the English "block").

To cause trouble; to annoy (Gulf Arabic).

Money (specifically dirhams, but used generally in UAE/Gulf).

To study (standard, but central to academic life).

Dizzy; lightheaded (can imply being slightly drunk).

Enemy (Persian loanword, used in some Arabic dialects).

To be free from studies/exams; to finish (informal).

Empty; free (e.g., "I am free/available").

Small change (money); to break a large bill.

Deep-fried balls or patties made from ground chickpeas or fava beans, a common street food.

Artist (male/female) or singer (standard term, widely used in pop culture discussions).

A very fashionable person (from English).

Chaos; disorder; mess.

Deep-fried balls or patties made from ground chickpeas or fava beans.

Money (very common in Egyptian, Moroccan, and other dialects).

To follow someone on social media (from the English "follow").

Money (another common variant, often used across dialects).

Stupid; foolish.

Intense love; passion (more profound than just liking).

To cut someone off in traffic; aggressive driving.

Naive; inexperienced; foolish (often Gulf).

Flirting; sweet talk; charming talk.

My darling; my love (masculine). Used for friends, family, or partners.

My love; darling (masculine/feminine - widely used for romantic partners, friends, family).

Love of my heart; a term of profound endearment.

My darling; my love (feminine).

Praise be to God; Thank God.

A small neighborhood, quarter, or alleyway (often implies an old or local area).

Someone who travels illegally by sea (smuggler or migrant, North African/Levantine).

Donkey; used to call someone stupid or ignorant (very common).

A hit song or popular media (direct loanword).

My life; darling (a strong expression of value for a partner).

Exam; test (standard, but commonly used).

God willing; hopefully.

Deep, passionate love; adoration.

Body; physique (used when discussing fitness and build).

Dog; used as a severe insult (implies low status or bad character).

Also; again; more.

Stylish; dressed up elegantly (common in Gulf Arabic).

Cute; adorable (literally "chick," typically for a child or young person).

Enough; finished; stop.

Tent (Can be used humorously to describe a very basic or temporary dwelling).

How are you? (masculine).

How are you? (feminine).

No.

Clothing; attire (general term, but can be used informally).

A "like" on a social media post (from the English "like").

Heavily intoxicated; "knocked out" from drinking.

Food place; restaurant (informal).

A social gathering or sitting (often used for informal music or poetry sessions).

City center; downtown (the commercial or administrative heart of a city).

Good evening.

Money (common in Levantine Arabic - Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine).

God has willed it; expresses appreciation or admiration.

A trip; a journey; an errand (short or medium distance).

Drunk; "gone" (informal, especially in Egyptian Arabic).

Good-looking; attractive (literally "adjusted" or "in order," used for people).

Feeling good, handsome, or looking great.

No problem.

A "like" on social media (the more formal Arabic term).

Brain; mind. Can be used for intelligence (e.g., "mafi mokh" - no brain/stupid).

Feeling happy or in a good mood.

Stressed, depressed, or suffocated by worry (literally "choked").

A competition or match.

I dont understand (masculine, Egyptian).

I dont understand (feminine, Egyptian).

Problem; issue (standard, but very common in slang contexts).

A training camp or intensive sports session.

Club; gym; fitness center (standard, but central to the fitness scene).

To pass (an exam or course).

Money (more formal, but understood and sometimes used informally).

Cooling of my eyes; a term indicating the person is a source of joy and comfort.

To fail (an exam or course).

On-again, off-again relationship (literally "going and coming").

Sport; exercise; physical activity.

My soul; deeply affectionate term used for one's closest loved one.

Good morning (response, literally "morning of jasmine").

Headache (often used informally for a source of stress or trouble).

Travel; journey (long distance).

Idiot; foolish; reckless person.

Right? (seeking confirmation, informal, Levantine).

Boyfriend/girlfriend (informal, "companion" or "friend").

Two healths (said before/after a meal, similar to "bon appétit").

Drunk; intoxicated (standard and widely used across dialects).

Peace be upon you (a common greeting).

A sandwich (widely used loanword, common for fast food/takeaway).

Car (standard, but widely used informally).

Youth; guys; young people (plural of shab).

To network; to connect with people online (from the word for "net").

Hard work; toil (often referring to effort in studies).

A derogatory term for a promiscuous woman; slut (offensive).

A popular Middle Eastern dish of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, served in a wrap or plate.

Chic; stylish or elegant (from French "chic").

Apartment; flat.

Thank you.

Slowly; little by little.

Tired; exhausted (often Egyptian).

A salad made from finely chopped parsley, with tomatoes, mint, onion, bulgur, and seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and sweet pepper.

Cooked food; home cooking (implies a proper meal, not necessarily takeaway).

Musical ecstasy or enchantment; a state of joy induced by music.

Cool; awesome (Gulf slang).

Completely drunk; wasted (common in some Gulf/Levantine dialects).

Tired; exhausted; unwell or sick.

And upon you be peace (response to greeting).

Boy; guy (Egyptian slang).

Dog-face; very offensive, implies ugliness and bad character.

By God; I swear to God (used for emphasis or swearing).

Wow; expressing amazement or admiration for a performance or celebrity (loanword).

Dirty; mess (often for people or behaviour).

Oh my brother (addressing a male friend).

Meaning; like; so; it means.

Lets go; come on; hurry up.

Oh my sister (addressing a female friend).

Maybe; perhaps.

Great; excellent (literally "like jasmine," Egyptian).

Rubbish; terrible; disgusting (literally "tar").