In 15 Sekunden
- The standard Egyptian way to say 'I don't like'.
- Uses the classic 'Ma...sh' negation sandwich around the verb.
- Perfect for food, hobbies, and casual daily preferences.
Bedeutung
This is the most common way to say 'I don't like' in Egyptian Arabic. It is your go-to phrase for expressing a lack of interest or a personal preference against something.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Ordering at a restaurant
مابحبش البصل في الساندوتش.
I don't like onions in the sandwich.
Talking about hobbies
مابحبش الكورة، بحب التنس أكتر.
I don't like football; I like tennis more.
In a professional but relaxed meeting
مابحبش أضيع وقت في اجتماعات طويلة.
I don't like wasting time in long meetings.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Egypt, people often use 'Ma-bahibbish' but will soften it with 'Ma-lish fih' (I don't have a share in it/it's not my thing) to sound less direct. In Lebanon and Syria, 'Ma bhibb' is often followed by 'ktir' (a lot) even if you don't like it at all, just to be polite. In the Gulf, honesty about food is common among family, but with guests, you would rarely say 'la uhibb' about something served to you. In Morocco and Algeria, the negation 'Ma...sh' is also used, but the verb might sound like 'Ma-nhabbsh.'
Softening the Blow
Always add 'shukran' (thank you) or 'asif' (sorry) when using 'la uhibb' to decline an offer.
Don't over-negate
In Arabic, you don't need 'any' (like 'I don't like any apples'). Just 'la uhibb al-tuffah' is enough.
In 15 Sekunden
- The standard Egyptian way to say 'I don't like'.
- Uses the classic 'Ma...sh' negation sandwich around the verb.
- Perfect for food, hobbies, and casual daily preferences.
What It Means
مابحبش is the bread and butter of expressing dislike in Egypt. It comes from the verb حب (to love or like). In the Egyptian dialect, we wrap verbs in a 'negation sandwich.' We put ما at the start and ش at the end. It is simple, direct, and incredibly common. You will hear it dozens of times a day in Cairo.
How To Use It
Using it is very straightforward. You just say مابحبش followed by the thing you dislike. If you want to say 'I don't like coffee,' you say مابحبش القهوة. You don't need extra helping verbs. It works for objects, activities, and even general concepts. Just remember to keep the ش sound crisp at the end.
When To Use It
Use this when you are being honest about your tastes. It is perfect at a restaurant when the waiter asks about an ingredient. It is great when friends suggest a movie genre you hate. You can also use it when texting to explain why you are skipping an event. It feels natural and authentic in any casual conversation.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using this in extremely formal settings, like a legal proceeding or a classical academic lecture. In those cases, use the Modern Standard Arabic لا أحب. Also, be careful using it with people's names. Saying مابحبش فلان (I don't like so-and-so) is quite blunt. It might sound a bit harsh unless you are with very close friends.
Cultural Background
The 'Ma...sh' negation is a hallmark of the Egyptian identity. It likely has roots in ancient Coptic structures that merged with Arabic. Egyptians are generally very expressive people. While they are polite, they are also very clear about what they enjoy. This phrase captures that blend of directness and everyday charm.
Common Variations
You can change the ending to fit who is talking. مابنحبش means 'we don't like.' If you are talking about a specific item, you might say مابحبوش for 'I don't like it' (masculine). For a feminine item, use مابحبهاش. Adding خالص (khales) at the end makes it 'I don't like it at all.'
Nutzungshinweise
This is a strictly dialectal (Ammiya) expression. Use it in daily life, with friends, and in most social situations in Egypt, but switch to Modern Standard Arabic for formal writing.
Softening the Blow
Always add 'shukran' (thank you) or 'asif' (sorry) when using 'la uhibb' to decline an offer.
Don't over-negate
In Arabic, you don't need 'any' (like 'I don't like any apples'). Just 'la uhibb al-tuffah' is enough.
The 'An' Connection
Master the pattern 'la uhibb + an + verb' to sound much more fluent and move from A2 to B1.
Indirectness
If you're a guest, try 'ana shab'an' (I am full) instead of 'la uhibb' if you don't like the food.
Beispiele
6مابحبش البصل في الساندوتش.
I don't like onions in the sandwich.
A very common way to customize your food order.
مابحبش الكورة، بحب التنس أكتر.
I don't like football; I like tennis more.
Useful for steering a conversation toward your actual interests.
مابحبش أضيع وقت في اجتماعات طويلة.
I don't like wasting time in long meetings.
Direct but acceptable if the office culture is informal.
مابحبش المكان ده، زحمة قوي.
I don't like that place; it is too crowded.
Common shorthand for explaining why you want to go elsewhere.
مابحبش أصحى بدري يوم الجمعة!
I don't like waking up early on Friday!
Friday is the weekend in Egypt, so this is very relatable.
مابحبش حد يتدخل في خصوصياتي.
I don't like anyone interfering in my private life.
A stronger way to set a personal boundary.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'I don't like' in Modern Standard Arabic.
____ أن أستيقظ مبكراً.
'La uhibb' is the correct present tense negation for 'I'.
Which sentence correctly says 'I don't like the city'?
Choose the correct translation:
The verb 'uhibb' takes a direct object without a preposition.
Complete the dialogue with a polite refusal.
Host: هل تريد المزيد من السكر؟ You: ____، لا أحب السكر كثيراً.
'Shukran' (Thank you) is used to politely decline before stating a preference.
Match the phrase to the correct register.
Match 'مابحبش' to its register:
The 'ma...sh' construction is characteristic of Egyptian and other dialects.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formal vs. Informal
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgaben____ أن أستيقظ مبكراً.
'La uhibb' is the correct present tense negation for 'I'.
Choose the correct translation:
The verb 'uhibb' takes a direct object without a preposition.
Host: هل تريد المزيد من السكر؟ You: ____، لا أحب السكر كثيراً.
'Shukran' (Thank you) is used to politely decline before stating a preference.
Match 'مابحبش' to its register:
The 'ma...sh' construction is characteristic of Egyptian and other dialects.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, but it sounds very cold. It's better to say 'we don't get along' or 'I don't know him well.'
'La uhibb' is formal/Standard Arabic. 'Ma bahibbish' is Egyptian dialect.
In Arabic, 'uhibb' covers both 'like' and 'love.' Context tells you the intensity.
Add 'abadan' (أبداً) at the end: 'La uhibbuhu abadan.'
In Standard Arabic, use 'la.' In many dialects, use 'ma.'
Yes, it's the most common way to talk about hobbies you don't enjoy.
That is the indicative mood marker for present tense verbs in formal Arabic.
It is neutral. To make it polite, add 'shukran' or 'ma'a al-asaf' (with regret).
The root is H-B-B (ح ب ب), which also gives us 'habibi' (my love).
Yes, if discussing a task or environment, but use 'la uhabbidh' (I don't favor) for a more professional tone.
Verwandte Redewendungen
أكره
contrastI hate
لا أريد
similarI don't want
لا يعجبني
synonymIt doesn't please me
لست مهتماً
builds onI am not interested
لا أطيق
specialized formI can't stand
