Arabic is both the language of Government and everyday life in Egypt. Egyptian Arabic, that you will shortly begin learning with the 17 Minute Language Courses, is a distinct Arabic dialect. Egyptian Arabic is spoken by approximately 75 million people as a first language. The script used for Egyptian Arabic is the standard Arabic alphabet.
Over time the Arabic of Egypt has acquired words and phrases that distinguish it from Standard Arabic. For example many words from Turkish and French. The biggest foreign influence is increasingly English: Many words from English are to be found in Egyptian Arabic.
The grammar of Egyptian Arabic also has differences to Standard Arabic. For example in Egyptian Arabic the case endings are omitted. Standard Arabic distinguishes between definite and indefinite nouns. This distinction is omitted in Egyptian Arabic.
Today Egyptian Arabic is not recognised as a distinct language. For this reason anyone interested in the culture and language of Egypt should also study Standard Arabic.
Arabic belongs to the Semitic languages which in turn belong to the Afro-Asiatic group of languages. This group includes in addition to Standard Arabic and its dialects (Saudi Arabic, Iraqi, Moroccan Egyptian and Tunisian Arabic), Modern Hebrew, Aramaic and various Ethiopian languages. Arabic belongs to the Semitic languages which in turn belong to the Afro-Asiatic group of languages. Arabic is spoken mainly in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Egyptian Arabic is by far the most spoken dialect of Arabic.
Perhaps you would like to learn Egyptian Arabic now? We can help you. We have assembled some useful phrases for you: Learn your first phrases in Egyptian Arabic: (When you press the play button you will hear a native speaker pronouncing the words..)