In the Arabic language “My name is” is simply said using one word: “Ismy.” Pronounced Iss-me, the word primarily comes from the word “Issm” (name) and when said by a person, he or she adds the “y” at the end to identify that they are intending their name.

Below, the word “Name” is written in Arabic on the left with a demonstration of writing the word on the right.

Write the word "Name" in Arabic text

"Name" in Arabic

Here is the word “Ismy,” which means “My names is” in Arabic. Learn how to write it by following the numbers.

How to write "My name is" in Arabic form

"My name is" in Arabic

Click here to learn and listen to more Arabic words and phrases.

“Insha-Allah”, pronounced In-shaa-ull-luh, is an Arabic phrase used to say “If Allah wills”. “Insha”, meaning if he wills, and Allah, is the name of God in Arabic. Although there are other words that can be used instead of “Insha” that also have the same meaning, Insha-Allah is the most common, and generally used among Egyptians and Muslims worldwide.

Insha'Allah written in Arabic

Religiously speaking, this phrase is used to show that Allah wills of what and which anybody wants or desires. After all, Muslims believe that everything is written (Maktoub) and that Allah is the All-knowing, as such it is only by Allah’s authority that whatever people want will only happen if it is written down and within his plan.

Go ahead. Follow the red lines in order from 1-18 to write Insha’Allah in Arabic.

How to write Insha'Allah

Shukran pronounced Shook-run, is the Arabic word for Thank you. When people want to show more appreciation they say Shukran Jazilan. Jazilan, pronounced Jaz-ee-lan, means “very much”.

Here is a written text of Shukran in Arabic form:

Shukran written in Arabic

Now a written text of Shukran Jazilan. Follow the lines to write the words properly.

Thank you very much in Arabic form

Stay tuned for our next lesson!

As many of you may know, Egypt’s native language is Arabic. Arabic is indeed a difficult language to learn. From now on there will be Arabic lessons that teach the basics of the Egyptian community. We will first start by learning the Arabic greeting.

How to Greet Egyptians in Arabic - As-salamu Alaykum

As-salamu Alaykum means peace be upon you or peace be unto you. As-salam meaning peace and Alaykum meaning upon you. It is said just as it is spelled and by breaking it down as so: Assa-la-mu-alay-kum . Just as hello, hi, and bye, As-salamu Alaykum is said upon greeting and parting someone. It is a greeting known by Muslims all around the world. In Egypt, Muslims and Christians greet each other by saying As-salamu Alaykum.

It is so peaceful how Muslims and Egyptians in general greet one another by saying As-salamu Alaykum. In Islamic belief, it all began when Prophet Adam, the first human being to be created by Allah (God), was introduced to the Angels. Allah taught Adam to greet the Angels by saying As-salamu Alaykum.

Figure 1. As-salamu Alaykum written in Arabic text

Figure 2 shows you how to write As salamu Alaykum in steps. Follow the arrows in numerical order and try to write it as seen below.

Figure 2. How to write As salamu Alaykum in Arabic language

As shown in Figure 3, there is a longer version of the greeting: As salamu alaykum wa rahmat Allah wa barakat (pronounced As salamu Alaykum wa rah-ma-tullahy wa bara-katuh). This phrase means, “May peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.”

“Wa”: meaning “And”

“Rahama”: meaning “Mercy”

“Baraka”: meaning “Blessing”

Figure 3. As salamu Alaykum wa rah-ma-tullahy wa bara-katuh written in Arabic text

Of course there are variations in different accents from Arab countries in the Middle East. But in the end the greeting is the same as it is in the Arabic language.

There will be more lessons coming soon. In the meantime have a look at the link below which gives traveling tips to tourists coming to Egypt.

http://www.touregypt.net/travtip.htm

As-salamu Alaykum!

About the Nile River

Did you know that Egypt has the longest river in the world? Yes, the Nile River!

Many people ask the question, “Where is the Nile river?” However, the answer to that question comes in more than one piece. It runs for approximately 6,650 km (4,130 miles) long as it passes through nine countries where the river starts to flow from mountains in Southern Africa. The Nile River makes its way up North to its tenth (and final) country, Egypt where it eventually reaches the Mediterranean Sea. Yes, the Nile River flows from the South to the North. The longest part of the Nile River exists across Egypt.

The Nile Cruise

When you are on a Nile cruise, it’s all about the view. Streaming the Nile River is one of the most delightful experiences one can enjoy in Egypt. I have been on one myself, twice. You can book a cruise for 3-7 nights. These cruises usually sail from Cairo to Aswan, Luxor to Aswan, and from Aswan to Luxor leaving tourists to visit numerous Ancient Egyptian Temples.

Nile cruises are very similar to ordinary land-based hotels. There are restaurants, swimming pools, fitness rooms, gifts shops, and small libraries. The picture below shows the Nile River from inside a restaurant which is one floor above sea level.

Restaurant view of the Nile river -Photo courtesy of: Mohammad

Here is another view from the upper deck on the cruise. As you can see, for a February, the weather is quite moderate in a peaceful setting.

Nile river Cruise deck view -Photo courtesy of: Mohammad

If you have been on a Nile Cruise before please share your experience by leaving a comment below. If you haven’t you can check out Tour Egypt’s Nile Cruise packages and make it an unforgettable memory to share with friends and family.

To learn more about the Nile river, visit us at: http://www.touregypt.net/egypt-info/magazine-mag05012001-magf4a.htm

As many of you know, Egypt is an Islamic country. Yet Christmas is celebrated every year by its large Coptic Christian population who have been living there for thousands of years. Unlike Catholic Christians, Orthodox Christians in Egypt celebrate Christmas on January 7th.

Why is this so? Well, in many countries around the world Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th to remember the Birth of Jesus Christ as stated in the Bible. You see, there are two main calendars that Christians follow: the Julian and the Gregorian. The Julian calendar was established throughout Julius Caesar’s reign in 45 BC. The Gregorian was then introduced by Pope Gregory XIII and applied at around 1582. The Gregorian is mostly used as the civil calendar in countries that oblige to it, such as the western nations. Although the Gregorian calendar is mostly accepted around the world today, the majority of Orthodox Churches still use the Julian calendar.

Orthodox Christians take up a high percentage of Christianity in the Egyptian population. Like Eid (the Muslim holiday) and October 6th (what is equivalent to 4th of July in the US), Christmas is normally treated as a public holiday for all Egyptians, Christians and Muslims alike.

The Celebration

Photograph: Khaled Elfiqi. Egypt's Coptic pope celebrates Christmas with call for unity - Guardian.co.uk (http://bit.ly/christmasinEgypt)

On Christmas Eve, Christians head out to their Churches wearing new and clean clothes. Closing on to midnight, Church bells start to ring signifying the end of the service. Christian families then go home and enjoy a nice meal of ‘Fattah,’ a famous Egyptian food recipe that contains rice, meat, bread, and garlic.

On Christmas morning, Christians visit families and loved ones. A special treat known as ‘Kaik’ is taken with them to greet others with. Kaik is more generally known as the German baked Christmas treat, Lebkuchen.

Photo: Jennifer McGavin "Almond Lebkuchen Cookies" - About.com German Food (http://bit.ly/LebkuchenCookies)

Learn more about Christmas in Egypt:

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/christmas.htm

Learn more about Christianity and it’s history in Egypt:

http://www.touregypt.net/chiste0.htm

http://www.touregypt.net/chiste1.htm

http://www.touregypt.net/magazine/christianityinegypt.htm

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/copticchristians.htm

Learn more about Egyptian Food Recipes:

http://www.touregypt.net/recipes/

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/food.htm

Part of Ramadan is enjoying iftar with family and friends.  If that doesn’t happen at home, then the next best thing is to go out for iftar.  In Ramadan, most places have what is called a kheyma, or tent, where iftar is served.  Now, these don’t look like tents, but even when they do, try to picture the kind of “tent” you would see at an outdoor wedding or event, covering the seating area in case of rain – not the type you spend the night camping in.

These tents often serve iftar and sohour, usually staying open from iftar time until the fajr prayers.  This year that means staying open from around 6:30 PM to around to 3 AM the next day.  While they are all basically the same, there is a high sense of competition between them, each with their own sponsors.  The thing is, though, like I said, they’re basically the same…same overall set up (comfy couches and cushions), same Middle Eastern music playing, same tv shows broadcast on various screens, and even the same basic food items provided for the meals.  What I think really sets them apart, though, is the decor and the view.

One place with a great view is the Le Capitol tent at the Novotel Zamalek.  Located on the island of Zamalek in the Nile River, the Novotel is a nice hotel that is only about 7 stories tall, overlooking the Nile and a beautiful garden.  The decor is blues, white, and silvers, and overlooks Cairo for miles and miles.  The service is great, and the atmosphere and weather are wonderful this many floors high above Cairo.

Le Capitol entrance (via Cairoscene)

The food was also ok, though not that impressive to be honest, serving typically Egyptian/Middle Eastern food.  There was a salad bar with 6 or so options, but really only enough for two scoops of each item in each tub, and two options for soups that were quite delicious (Lentil and Orzo were the options).  For the main course, there were quite a few options that were basically the same: a few different forms of rice (regular, fatta, mombar, stuffed vine leaves, stuffed peppers), two options of vegetables (both were cooked the same way – traditional Egyptian with tomato sauce), and one serving dish of meat and potatoes.  That was basically it – a handful of items that were mostly repeats of the same items.  There was no chicken dish either, for those who want protein without eating meat.

On to the dessert.  The dessert buffet consisted of 2 small platters of Oriental Pastries, 1 small platter of fresh fruit, a small bowl of fruit salad, and one small container of the traditional dessert called Om Ali.  That was it.  I’m sure things were being refilled, but overall the options were few and the buffet looked a bit poor.

However, the food that was there was DELICIOUS.  Everything tasted great, and I don’t think I had to put salt on a single item.  The usual drinks could be ordered, and shisha was also available in a large variety of flavors.

Overall the experience was nice, especially because our company was nice.  However, the price is a bit steep at LE 200 per person; in fact, it’s steeper than most other nice tents.

I’d recommend the place, if you’re willing to spend a bit extra for the atmosphere and the great view of Cairo and the Nile all lit up at night.  Otherwise, there are plenty of other options for a good iftar that’s not so painful on your wallet.

Ramadan is upon us and the whole Middle East is celebrating.  In fact, odds are that no matter where you live, you’ll probably know someone who is fasting. Most people, however, don’t know much about this holy month.  Here are a few pieces of info to give you a basic idea about the month and its significance.

Ramadan in Egypt (courtesy of Albawaba)

Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic lunar calendar.  Because this calendar is based on the moon,there is no set solar date, with Ramadan moving back 10 – 11 days every year.  This means that some years Ramadan will be in the summer, and some will be in the winter.  Ramadan is considered a holy month because Muslims believe that it is the month when the Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohamed by God.  There are also specific instructions in the Quran mentioning to Muslims to fast during the holy month.

As a result, Muslims who are able to do so fast from dawn to sunset, abstainig from food, drink, sexual intercourse, and smoking, often also refraining from behavior that is against the teaching of Islam, such as swearing and dressing inappropriately.  Muslisms who are exempt from fasting are the young (before puberty), permanently ill people who are physically unable to fast, those taking medication, pregnant or nursing women, menstruating women, and those traveling.  These people may either make up the days throughout the next year, or pay the equivalent to feeding someone else as compensation.

Fasting is meant to purify the mind, body, and soul.  Muslims gain self control, an increased attachment and awareness of family and the important things in life, and compassion for those who are less fortunate.  Physically, fasting also helps lower blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, and obesity.  While Muslims don’t fast specifically for these health benefits, they are considered as an added bonus.

At the end of each day, Muslims gather together to have a meal called Iftar (breakfast), which usually begind with breaking the fast with a date and a glass of milk, praying, then continuing with the full meal.  Muslims can now eat until dawn of the next day.  In fact, many also enjoy a pre-dawn meal/snack called sohour, which helps give energy for the day.

So that’s a brief explanation of what Ramadan is, so that you understand a bit more if you happen to be visiting a Muslim country during this month.

Have you had any experiences with Ramadan before?

The top five is narrowed down and my choice for the top spot was difficult

5. Easy to make friends (male friends)

Next to the warm and friendly characters of the people themselves, it amazed me that in also in the long run the Egyptian people keep being your friend. In the first month I was being criticized if I didn’t call back or did not ask them how they had been? This lessened a little now because my friends know I can find my way and this is more in balance. But I have friends now with whom I go to play basketball, meet in the café or play some playstation if we have nothing to do.
My dream before I came here was of course to be together with an Arabian Princess…. Well, I can keep that in my dreams for now.

4. There are no traffic rules

I like this! Yes, I almost love it! Traffic is crazy, that should be know by now about Egypt. But going from A to B on hi-speed, passing right and left and stop where you want can actually be efficient. You have to think less but look more that is the condition. Cars are a little bumped and scratched, but okay, when I see some cars I wouldn’t mind this either. At least, I am also not the target group to buy a new BMW. (unfortunately)

3. Beautiful places in such a big country
I am talking mainly about panorama views (Mokkatam), nature sights, and historic monuments. It is a big country, ranked 30^th concerned with land area. Tourism is important and it showed me why: there is a diverse range of different activities, landscapes, flora and fauna and it can be labelled as exotic. Desert foxes, panoramas over the Nile or the Desert and of course the snorkelling in the Red Sea (do not forget about the Suez Canal Bridge!)

2. Live is 24/7

Food, clothes or going to the gym. I can do it all on 3 AM or 3 PM. No problem. The big mall is closed, but the local shop will be open to sell some Zamalek T-shirts. The gatekeeper of the gym will be sleeping, but he will sleep on the couch in the entrance hall. Delivery is 24/7 but you can still walk at 3 AM to most fastfood restaurants.

One of the nicest things of Egypt (not spefically Egypt though) is that they will wait until you are finished. There is a playstation café close to my home, if I want to stay to 5 in the morning I am pretty sure they will wait for me till I will go satisfied back to home.

1. Beautiful culture

Culture is a very broad aspect; it can refer to music, dancing, art, religion and customs in dealing with each other. The main aspects of culture I appreciate in Egypt are the customs when getting together with a girl. Loyalty is important and most girls will not go with a guy before they (or their family) know(s) him. Furthermore I think Islam is a beautiful religion with Sunna’s that sounds like singing, the girls and men walking in gowns (galabeja’s). Not to mention that Egyptian girls know how to dance! Most belly dancers are foreign, but the girls do know how to move.

Any other top aspects I forgot to mention? Let me know in the comments or tell me on Twitter @MartenMike 

So I feel like I am a quite a while in Egypt now (since Jan. 2012) and I want to make up the balance between the things that I favour and not. Of course, mentioning the bad aspects on subjects is always easier; so let me start with the good things:

Count down with me from 10 to 1.

10. Clap my hand, I am joking

In my first week I was astonished. It seemed like everyone was joking in this country: from the café to the bakery to the office. Everybody likes to joke and the best part: when you make a joke, clap my hand! Walking in to a café you can almost predict that the guys are telling stories with a sheesha or domino’s every time a new joke is made, hands are clapped. Actually I have to admit that it feels comforting because you both laugh and you give a confirmation of that. I never really did this, so sometimes when I make a joke and I put my hand out for a clap it is a nice to get clapped

9. Mosques are everywhere

What you can say about churches, temples or most religious buildings. One thing is for sure: religion gets an important place in life. In the Muslim world not different, minarets tower above other buildings and from inside some are really wide, open and beautifully decorated. Cairo and Alexandria until now do have the most beautiful mosques I have seen and in the smaller cities the mosques are also smaller.

For instance on Salah Salem Road in Cairo are several mosques which are modern, different and worth a visit. Wait for my special about Mosques in Cairo! (by end June)

8. Everybody knows you in the neighbourhood

Since day 1 I have been known in the neighbourhood.  We are (together with my roommates) the only non-Arabic people in the block. Together with my partner in crime I visit the café, bakery and food shop. When coming alone they ask me where I left the Spaniard. They mix the names up every now and then, but that is fine for me.

People do talk in the streets, you tell the news or you pass by for the news. Since some of my friends became a couple, they started to ask me if they were married. Unfortunately not, but they were almost faster then me in noticing this!

7. Cheap food and cost of living

To get around from a living in Egypt is not that difficult. Many people make not more then $ 100-200, – a month. So living from a Western Scholarship is considered royal. Of course, I do not know the right ‘Egyptian’ ways to live cheaply, but it is very good possible for an individual to come by with this money. Breakfast costs less then 1$,- and dinner is less then 1€,-  (if you buy in the right places)
Renting and even buying a house is compared to European standards quite okay.  For 1 Million Pound or a little over $120.000, – men can have a nice house or apartment.

6. The Weather

My country knows rain, clouds, a cool summer and a mild winter (mild refers to not more then -5 degrees Celcius). Egypt is hot, dry, skyblue and hot! In the cities I can be too pressing with congestion and temperature at the same time. The wind can ensure for cooling and especially in the evenings (or starting after 4 PM) the temperature starts to be pleasant. Winter in Egypt differs throughout the country (as does the climate of course), winters in the South are very pleasant but Cairo and more North can become cold with the feeling that you need a real coat. In general, I like to walk to work with the Sun welcoming me with warmth and light.

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