How to say “I'm sick” in Egyptian Arabic
In Cairo you say ana 3ayyan (أنا عيان). Tap play to hear it, then slow it down.
Read it your way:
- ana 3ayyan / ana 3ayyanaأنا عيان / أنا عيانةI'm ill (said by a man / by a woman)
Stronger than “ana ta3ban” (I'm tired, a bit unwell). Say 3ayyan when you really are sick, and expect plenty of home remedies in reply.
When to use it
Ana 3ayyan (a man) or ana 3ayyana (a woman) means you're really ill. For “a bit under the weather”, Egyptians say “ana ta3ban shewaya”. Expect “salamtak” (get well soon) in reply.
Learn it with
malak? / malek?
مالك؟ / مالِك؟What's wrong? (to a man / to a woman)
khadt dor bard
خدت دور بردI've caught a cold (lit. I took a round of cold)
3andi sokhoneya
عندي سخونيةI have a fever
men emta?
من إمتى؟Since when?
Say it out loud in a 6-minute lesson
“ana 3ayyan” is in Unit 8, Pharmacy & doctor: “I'm not well”. Start free with Units 1–2, then unlock every unit with Pro. Practise with Egyptian audio, pronunciation feedback and an AI partner that talks like a Cairene.