How to say "I don't understand" in Egyptian Arabic
أَنَا مِش فَاهِم
ana mish fahem
- Without tashkeel
- أنا مش فاهم
- Franco / chat alphabet
- ana msh fahem
- Literally
- I not understanding
When to use it
This is the standard, everyday way to say I don't understand in Egyptian Arabic. It uses the active participle instead of a present tense verb, literally translating to I am not understanding. It is perfectly acceptable in both casual and formal situations across Cairo.
Other ways to say it
female speaker
أَنَا مِش فَاهْمَة
ana mish fahma
I don't understand
This is the mandatory feminine form used when the speaker is a woman.
past tense
أَنَا مَا فْهِمْتِش
ana ma fhemtish
I didn't understand
Use this conjugated verb form to say you didn't understand something that was just said.
emphatic
أَنَا مِش فَاهِم حَاجَة
ana mish fahem 7aga
I don't understand anything
Use this when you are completely confused or lost in a conversation.
group
إِحْنَا مِش فَاهْمِين
e7na mish fahmin
We don't understand
Used when speaking on behalf of a group of people.
How people reply
هَفَهِّمَك
hafahhemak
I will explain it to you.
إِيه اللِّي مِش وَاضِح؟
eh elly mish wade7?
What isn't clear?
هَقُولَّك تَانِي
ha2ollak tany
I will tell you again.
In a sentence
أَنَا مِش فَاهِم أَنْتَ قَصْدَك إِيه.
ana mish fahem enta 2asdak eh.
I don't understand what you mean.
مُمْكِن تِعِيد تَانِي؟ أَنَا مِش فَاهِم.
momken te3id tany? ana mish fahem.
Can you repeat that? I don't understand.
بِصَرَاحَة، أَنَا مِش فَاهْمَة الدَّرْس دَه خَالِص.
besara7a, ana mish fahma el dars da khales.
Honestly, I don't understand this lesson at all.