How to say “I want” in Egyptian Arabic
In Cairo you say ana 3ayez (أنا عايز...). Tap play to hear it, then slow it down.
Read it your way:
- ana 3ayez... / ana 3ayza...أنا عايز... / أنا عايزة...I want... (said by a man / by a woman)
Direct is normal in Egypt. "Ana 3ayez" isn't rude, especially with "law sama7t".
When to use it
Ana 3ayez (men) or ana 3ayza (women) plus the thing is how everyone orders food in Cairo. It isn't rude; add “law sama7t” to make it extra polite.
Learn it with
wa7ed koshary
واحد كشريOne koshary
kebeer walla soghayar?
كبير ولا صغير؟Large or small?
hena walla take away?
هنا ولا تيك أواي؟For here or takeaway?
men gheir basal
من غير بصلWithout onions
Say it out loud in a 6-minute lesson
“ana 3ayez” is in Unit 2, Koshary shop: “Ordering basics”. That unit is free. Practise with Egyptian audio, pronunciation feedback and an AI partner that talks like a Cairene.