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.
Unlock delicious cheap local food by learning to read an Egyptian local menu in Arabic, 80-20 style.
What do you say when the government asks you “What’s your religion”? (This is an archive of our letter of 2 Feb 2019.)
Is Egypt safe for visitors? Is Cairo safe for women? This is our on-the-ground viewpoint, supported by research.
Egyptian Arabic definitely exists in written form, even if it’s not standardized. Just look at menus, text messages and Facebook for an idea.
Cairo transportation – Motorcycle, Microbus, Tuk Tuk and the Metro.
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.
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.
What living in Cairo is really like, based on our time there: cash and payments, transport, internet, housing, noise, food, social life, and the practical details that surprise newcomers.
Free Egyptian Arabic resources that still work in 2026: Language Transfer, a free university textbook, Lisaan Masry, Lingualism audio and lessons, Cleo Lingo, and Desert Sky.
Why learn an arabic dialect vs MSA, and why learn Egyptian Arabic vs other dialects of Arabic.