بطني بتوجعني

You use this phrase just like you would in English. Place it at the start of a conversation to explain why you look pale. Or use it to decline a second helping of food. You can add ktir at the end to say it hurts 'a lot.' If you are talking to a doctor, this is the first thing you say. If you are texting a friend to cancel plans, this works perfectly. It is a very versatile 'ouch' phrase.

Use it at a restaurant if the spicy food was too much. Use it at home when you have been snacking all day. It is great for kids and adults alike. Use it in a meeting if you need a quick excuse to step out. It is also common when you are feeling nervous. Sometimes we say our stomach hurts when we are actually just anxious. It is a very human expression.

Do not use this for deep emotional heartbreak. For that, you would use words related to the heart (qalbi). Do not use it if you have a headache or backache. Those require different body parts like rasi or dahri. Avoid using it in a very formal speech unless you are literally sick. It is a bit too personal for a public address. Also, do not use it to describe someone else's pain without changing the grammar.

Food is the heart of Arabic culture. Because we love to host and feed guests, stomach issues are common topics! There is a cultural expectation to eat a lot at gatherings. Saying batni betwaj’ani is sometimes the only way to stop a persistent host. It is a polite 'white flag' in the battle of the dinner table. It is also often followed by suggestions for mint tea or anise (yansoon).

In Modern Standard Arabic, you might hear alam fi al-ma'ida. But in daily life, batni is king. In some Gulf dialects, you might hear batni t’awirni. In Egypt, they might say batni betouja’ni with a slightly different 'j' sound. If the pain is sharp, you might add mighis to mean cramps. No matter where you go, the root word batn will get you help.