The main word for "if" in Egyptian is law. It covers both real conditions ("if it rains") and imagined ones ("if I were rich").
Real conditions: law + past
After law, use the past tense, even when you're talking about the future. The result usually uses the future.
- ูู ุฌุชุ ูููููุงlaw gat, ha2ulhaIf she comes, I'll tell her.
- ูู ุนูุฏู ููุชุ ุชุนุงููlaw 3andak wa2t, ta3aalaIf you have time, come over.
- ูู ู ุง ุฌุงุดุ ููู ููlaw ma gaash, kallimniIf he doesn't come, call me.
iza also means "if" and works the same way. It sounds a little more formal.
Imagined conditions: law + kunt
To talk about something unreal, or something that didn't happen, put kaan (was) in both halves.
- ูู ููุช ุฃุนุฑูุ ููุช ููุชููlaw kunt a3raf, kunt 2ultilakIf I had known, I would have told you.
- ูู ูุงู ู ุนุงูุง ูููุณุ ููุช ุงุดุชุฑูุชูุงlaw kaan ma3aaya filuus, kunt ishtarett-haIf I'd had money, I would have bought it.
kaan agrees with the person: kunt (I/you m), kunti (you f), kaan (he), kaanit (she), kunna (we), kuntu (you pl), kaanu (they).
Useful combinations
- ุญุชู ูู7atta laweven if
- ุฅูุง ููilla lawunless
- ูู ุณู ุญุชlaw sama7tplease, excuse me (literally "if you allow")