How to say "yes and no" in Egyptian Arabic
أَيْوَة وَلَأ
aywa w la2
- Without tashkeel
- ايوة ولأ
- Franco / chat alphabet
- aywa w la2
- Literally
- yes and no
When to use it
Used to express ambivalence, mixed feelings, or a situation that is partially true and partially false. It functions exactly like its English equivalent. It is widely used in casual and semi-formal conversations in Cairo when a simple yes or no does not fully answer the question.
Other ways to say it
more casual
آه ولأ
aah w la2
yeah and no
Uses the more informal 'aah' instead of 'aywa' for yes.
alternative idiom
شوية كده وشوية كده
shwaya keda w shwaya keda
a little like this and a little like that
Used to describe mixed situations or feelings rather than giving a direct answer.
single word alternative
يعني
ya3ni
kind of / sort of
Often used as a non-committal answer instead of explicitly saying yes and no.
How people reply
إزاي يعني؟
ezzay ya3ni?
How so? / What do you mean?
يعني إيه؟
ya3ni eh?
Meaning what?
فهمني أكتر.
fahamni aktar.
Explain it to me more. (to a man)
In a sentence
حبيت الفيلم؟ أيوة ولأ، التمثيل كان حلو بس القصة مملة.
7abbet el film? aywa w la2, el tamseel kan 7elw bas el qessa momella.
Did you like the movie? Yes and no, the acting was good but the story was boring.
إنت مسافر بكرة؟ أيوة ولأ، لسه ماحجزتش التذكرة.
enta mesafer bokra? aywa w la2, lessa ma7ageztesh el tazkara.
Are you traveling tomorrow? Yes and no, I haven't booked the ticket yet.
الامتحان صعب؟ أيوة ولأ، على حسب مذاكرتك.
el emte7an sa3b? aywa w la2, 3ala 7asab mozakretak.
Is the exam hard? Yes and no, it depends on your studying.