How to say "I'm busy" in Levantine Arabic
أَنَا مَشْغُول
ana mashghoul
- Without tashkeel
- انا مشغول
- Franco / chat alphabet
- ana mash8oul
- Literally
- I busy
When to use it
Used in everyday situations to indicate that you are currently occupied or have a lot of work. It is standard across all Levantine dialects and is appropriate for both formal and casual contexts. The adjective must agree with the gender of the speaker.
Other ways to say it
female speaker
أنا مشغولة
ana mashghouleh
I'm busy
Used when the speaker is a woman.
plural speaker
نحنا مشغولين
ne7na mashghouleen
We are busy
Used when speaking on behalf of a group.
emphasized
أنا كتير مشغول
ana kteer mashghoul
I'm very busy
Used by a male speaker to emphasize that he is extremely busy.
common alternative
عندي شغل
3endi sheghel
I have work
A very common way to excuse yourself by stating you have tasks to do.
How people reply
يعطيك العافية
ye3teek el 3afyeh
May God give you health (Good job / Keep at it)
خد راحتك
khod ra7tak
Take your time / No rush
ولا يهمك
wala yehemmak
Don't worry about it
In a sentence
آسف، ما فيني إحكي هلأ، أنا مشغول.
aasef, ma feeni e7ki hala2, ana mashghoul.
Sorry, I can't talk right now, I'm busy.
أنا كتير مشغول اليوم، خلينا نلتقي بكرا.
ana kteer mashghoul el yom, khalleena nelta2i bukra.
I'm very busy today, let's meet tomorrow.
هي ما إجت عالحفلة لأنها مشغولة.
hiyyeh ma ejat 3al 7afleh la2enha mashghouleh.
She didn't come to the party because she's busy.