How We Learn Languages
Everything we’ve learned from learning eight languages. Updated after our 2019 Egyptian Arabic challenge.
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Are you making these common language learning mistakes?
Find out some common language-learning mistakes to avoid falling into, from people who’ve fallen into (and climbed out of) dozens before.
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Egyptian Arabic Place Names and Monument Names: A Comprehensive List
All the words you need to talk about the sites and monuments in Egypt using Egyptian Arabic.
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40 Basic Egyptian Arabic Phrases to Sound Local
Colloquial everyday useful survival phrases in Egyptian Arabic guaranteed to earn you respect.
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Reading a Local Egyptian Arabic Food Menu 80-20 style
Unlock delicious cheap local food by learning to read an Egyptian local menu in Arabic, 80-20 style.
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Learn Languages Faster with Books, not Apps
We like learning languages with books, not apps. (Except Anki.)
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Written Egyptian Arabic in the Wild — Three Places to See It
Egyptian Arabic definitely exists in written form, even if it’s not standardized. Just look at menus, text messages and Facebook for an idea.
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Where to Stay in Cairo: Best Neighborhoods for Living (2026)
Our firsthand guide to the best Cairo neighborhoods for a longer stay, including Dokki, Zamalek, Maadi, Downtown, Mohandessin, Heliopolis and New Cairo — and who each area suits.
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Best Egyptian Arabic Books for Self-Study (2026)
The Egyptian Arabic books we’d buy for self-study in 2026: a structured beginner course, practical vocabulary, a detailed verb reference, and native-speaker audio.
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Tips for Using Online Language Tutors
Tips we’ve learned from using online language tutors for over 500 lessons total for a variety of langauges.
