ليس لدينا وقت

You’ll mostly hear this in spoken dialects, especially Egyptian. The structure is simple: ما (not) + عندنا (we have) + ش (the negation suffix). That little ش at the end is like the "not" in "don't." You can place it at the beginning of a sentence to set a tone of urgency. For example, ماعندناش وقت للكلام ده (We don't have time for this talk). It’s rhythmic and gets the job done. If you're texting, it's a great way to nudge a friend who is taking forever to reply. You can use it as a standalone answer or as a prefix to a command.

This is your best friend in high-pressure situations. Use it at a restaurant if the waiter is taking too long and you have a movie to catch. Use it with your siblings when they are stalling before a family event. It’s also perfectly acceptable in a professional setting among colleagues when a deadline is looming. If you’re in a taxi and the driver is taking the "scenic route," a polite but firm ماعندناش وقت will usually get him to find a shortcut. It is also great for cutting off someone who is over-explaining a simple story.

Be careful with your tone! If you say it too sharply to an elder or a stranger, it can come off as "I'm too busy for you," which is a big no-no in Arab hospitality culture. Avoid using it during a first meeting or a formal dinner where the whole point is to take your time and build a relationship. Also, never use it when someone is sharing a personal problem or a sad story—it makes you look like you don't care about their feelings. In those moments, time should be the last thing on your mind.

There is a famous stereotype about "Arab time," where everything happens "Inshallah" (God willing) and people are rarely on time. However, in major urban hubs like Cairo, Casablanca, or Amman, life moves at a breakneck pace. ماعندناش وقت reflects this modern reality. It’s the language of the commuter, the entrepreneur, and the busy parent. It shows a culture that values efficiency just as much as it values social connection. It’s the sound of a city that never sleeps and always has somewhere to be.

Depending on where you are, the phrase might change slightly. In the Levant (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan), you might hear ما عنا وقت (Ma 'anna waqt) without the ش. In the Gulf, people might say ما عندنا وقت (Ma 'indana waqt). If you want to sound even more urgent, you can say مافيش وقت (Mafeesh waqt), which means "There is no time." It’s slightly more dramatic and works well in movies or when the situation is truly dire. You might also hear الوقت بيجري (Time is running) if you want to be more descriptive.