Understand the pattern
Start with el-menu law sama7t when addressing a male server. A male customer can order with ana 3ayez…; a female customer uses ana 3ayza…. Men gheir means “without”, so men gheir la7ma requests no meat. It does not establish every ingredient or how a dish was prepared. For an allergy, get explicit confirmation from staff instead of relying on this phrase or an automatic translation. At the end, el-7esab law sama7t asks for the bill. Say the short request clearly and allow time for a reply.
Examples to use
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| Masri Latin | Arabic script | Meaning | Usage note |
|---|---|---|---|
| el-menu law sama7t | المنيو لو سمحت | the menu, please | — |
| 3andoko eh? | عندكو إيه؟ | what do you have? | — |
| ana 3ayez... | أنا عايز... | I would like... (man) | — |
| men gheir la7ma | من غير لحمة | without meat | — |
| maya law sama7t | مية لو سمحت | water, please | — |
| helw awi | حلو أوي | very good / delicious | — |
| el-7esab law sama7t | الحساب لو سمحت | the bill, please | — |
Try it yourself
You are a woman ordering water: complete “ana ___ maya”. Which phrase asks for no meat? Which word asks for the bill rather than the menu?
Answer and explanation
Ana 3ayza maya (أنا عايزة مية). Men gheir la7ma (من غير لحمة) means without meat. El-7esab (الحساب) is the bill; el-menu (المنيو) is the menu.
Sources and editorial note
Further reading on this topic. These external references use their own transcription conventions; they are not an endorsement or a review of this guide.