كم دقيقة مشياً؟

Using this is as easy as pointing. You can say the name of your destination first, then follow it with kam daqiqa mashi?. For example, al-bank, kam daqiqa mashi?. You don't need complex grammar here. The word kam (how many) always takes a singular noun like daqiqa (minute) after it. It’s a plug-and-play sentence for any traveler or local.

Use it when you are at a hotel asking for the nearest cafe. Use it when you are with friends and trying to decide on a lunch spot. It is perfect for those 'is it worth it?' moments. If someone says 'two minutes,' you walk. If they say 'thirty minutes,' you call an Uber. It’s also great for checking if your GPS is lying to you.

Don't use this if you are clearly planning to drive. If you are sitting in a car, ask kam daqiqa bis-sayyara? instead. Also, avoid using it in the middle of a desert or a highway. People might think you are joking or very brave. In the peak of a 45°C (113°F) summer day in Dubai, asking this might get you a concerned look—nobody walks in that heat!

In many Arab cities like Cairo, Amman, or Beirut, walking is a social experience. You pass vendors, smell fresh bread, and hear the city's pulse. However, 'time' can be a bit flexible. If a local tells you it is khams daqayiq (five minutes), they might actually mean ten. It’s a friendly estimation, not a scientific measurement. Walking distances are often underestimated to be helpful and encouraging.

In Egypt, you might hear mashi ad-eih? which means 'how much walking?' In the Levant (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan), you might hear adeish baddak mashi? meaning 'how much walking do you need?' Despite these regional flavors, kam daqiqa mashi? is understood everywhere. It is the 'Standard' version that bridges the gap between dialects.