How to say “Ramadan Kareem” in Egyptian Arabic
In Cairo you say ramadan kareem (رمضان كريم). Tap play to hear it, then slow it down.
Read it your way:
- ramadan kareemرمضان كريمHappy Ramadan (lit. Ramadan is generous)
The reply is “allahu akram”. Lanterns light up every street for the month.
When to use it
Ramadan kareem is how Egyptians, Muslim and Christian, greet each other all month. The usual reply is “allahu akram” (God is more generous). “Ramadan mobarak” is understood, but kareem is what you'll hear in Cairo.
Learn it with
kol sana we enta tayeb / kol sana we enti tayeba
كل سنة وانت طيب / كل سنة وانتي طيبةHappy holidays / happy birthday (lit. every year and you're well; to a man / to a woman)
- عيد سعيد
Happy Eid
3o2balak / 3o2balek
عقبالكMay you be next (at a wedding; to a man / to a woman)
el-fara7 emta?
الفرح امتى؟When's the wedding?
Say it out loud in a 6-minute lesson
“ramadan kareem” is in Unit 5, Family visit: “Holidays & occasions”. 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.