أصور بكاميرتي
usawwir bi-kamirti
I photograph with my camera
Literally: Photographing with the camera of mine
In 15 Seconds
- Used to say you are taking photos with your own camera.
- Features the classic Egyptian possession word 'beta'a'.
- Perfect for casual outings, hobbies, and social media talk.
Meaning
This phrase is a straightforward way to say you are taking photos using your own camera. It is a common, everyday expression used in Egyptian Arabic to describe a hobby or a specific action in the moment.
Key Examples
3 of 6Showing off a new camera to a friend
أنا بصور بالكاميرا بتاعتي الجديدة النهاردة.
I am photographing with my new camera today.
Explaining why you aren't in the group photo
معلش، أنا بصور بالكاميرا بتاعتي.
Sorry, I am taking pictures with my camera.
In a photography workshop
أنا دايماً بصور بالكاميرا بتاعتي في الشارع.
I always photograph with my camera in the street.
Cultural Background
Egyptian Arabic is famous for using the word 'beta' (بتاع) to show possession, which differs from the more formal suffix method. Photography is a major social activity in Egypt, especially during 'Fusha' (outings) along the Nile or in historic districts like Al-Muizz Street.
The 'B' Prefix
The 'b' in `بصور` indicates you are doing it right now or you do it regularly. It's the hallmark of Egyptian present tense!
Possession Secret
In Egypt, `بتاع` (beta'a) is like a Swiss Army knife. Use it for anything you own. It makes you sound 10x more like a local.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to say you are taking photos with your own camera.
- Features the classic Egyptian possession word 'beta'a'.
- Perfect for casual outings, hobbies, and social media talk.
What It Means
This phrase is as simple as it gets. بصور (basawwar) means 'I am photographing' or 'I take pictures'. بالكاميرا (bel-kamera) means 'with the camera'. بتاعتي (beta'ti) is the Egyptian way of saying 'mine'. Put it together and you are telling someone you're capturing memories. It is practical and very common in Cairo's streets.
How To Use It
You use this when you want to distinguish your gear. Maybe everyone is using phones, but you have a DSLR. You use the prefix 'bi-' on the verb to show it is a continuous or habitual action. It is a great conversation starter for hobbyists. You can also swap بتاعتي for بتاعتك to ask someone if they are using their own camera. It is a modular phrase that fits many sentences.
When To Use It
Use it when you are out with friends at a park. It is perfect for a tourist site like the Pyramids. If someone asks what you are doing, this is your go-to answer. Use it when posting a photo on Instagram to credit yourself. It works well when you are explaining your process to a fellow photographer. It is a friendly, active phrase.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this in a high-end professional contract. In very formal Modern Standard Arabic, you would use different grammar. Avoid it if you are just 'filming' a long video; usually, بصور فيديو is clearer. Don't use it if you are borrowing someone else's camera. That would be awkward and technically a lie! Keep it for your own equipment.
Cultural Background
Egyptians love documentation and social media. Photography is a huge part of weddings and outings. The word بتاعتي is the 'secret sauce' of Egyptian Arabic. It makes the language sound warm and local. Using it shows you are moving past textbook Arabic. It reflects the vibrant, visual culture of modern Egypt.
Common Variations
You might hear بصور بالموبايل for phone photography. Some people say بصور بكاميرتي which is a bit more compact. In other dialects, they might use حقتي instead of بتاعتي. But in Egypt, بتاعتي is king. You can also add سيلفي (selfie) if you are feeling modern. It is a flexible template for any device.
Usage Notes
This phrase is quintessentially Egyptian due to the use of `بتاعتي`. It is perfect for A2 learners because it uses a standard verb structure and common loanwords like 'camera'.
The 'B' Prefix
The 'b' in `بصور` indicates you are doing it right now or you do it regularly. It's the hallmark of Egyptian present tense!
Possession Secret
In Egypt, `بتاع` (beta'a) is like a Swiss Army knife. Use it for anything you own. It makes you sound 10x more like a local.
Gender Matters
Since `كاميرا` is feminine, we use `بتاعتي` (feminine). If you were talking about your phone (`موبايل`), you'd say `بتاعي` (masculine).
Examples
6أنا بصور بالكاميرا بتاعتي الجديدة النهاردة.
I am photographing with my new camera today.
Adding 'el-gedida' (the new) shows pride in the gear.
معلش، أنا بصور بالكاميرا بتاعتي.
Sorry, I am taking pictures with my camera.
A polite way to explain your role as the photographer.
أنا دايماً بصور بالكاميرا بتاعتي في الشارع.
I always photograph with my camera in the street.
Shows a habitual action or hobby.
الصورة دي حلوة عشان بصور بالكاميرا بتاعتي!
This photo is good because I'm using my camera!
A bit of playful bragging about the quality.
لا يا حبيبي، أنا بصور بالكاميرا بتاعتي بس!
No my dear, I only photograph with my own camera!
Setting boundaries with a touch of humor.
بصور بالكاميرا بتاعتي عشان اللحظة دي مش هتتعوض.
I'm photographing with my camera because this moment is irreplaceable.
Expressing the value of the memory.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence to say 'I photograph with my camera'.
أنا ___ بالكاميرا بتاعتي.
`بصور` is the verb for photographing/filming.
Choose the correct word for 'mine' in Egyptian Arabic.
بصور بالكاميرا ___.
`بتاعتي` indicates feminine possession (camera is feminine).
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Scale
Very street-level
بصور بالبتاع ده
Friends and family
بصور بالكاميرا بتاعتي
Standard Arabic
أصور بكاميرتي
Where to use this phrase
At a Wedding
Capturing the bride
Tourism
At the Sphinx
Social Media
Posting a story
With Friends
In a park
Practice Bank
2 exercisesأنا ___ بالكاميرا بتاعتي.
`بصور` is the verb for photographing/filming.
بصور بالكاميرا ___.
`بتاعتي` indicates feminine possession (camera is feminine).
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt comes from the root 's-w-r' and means to take a picture or film a video. In this context, it's 'I am taking a picture'.
Yes, because Egyptian media is so popular, most Arabs will understand بتاعتي, though they might use different words locally.
Technically yes, but it's more natural to say بصور بالموبايل بتاعي if you're specifically using a phone.
Just change the prefix! It becomes بيصور بالكاميرا بتاعته (Biy-sawwar bel-kamera beta'toh).
No, it's strictly informal/dialect. In a formal speech, you would use بكاميرتي (bi-kamirati).
The verb بصور works for both! If you want to be specific, you can say بصور فيديو (basawwar video).
The بـ (bi) acts like the English word 'with' or 'by means of'.
Yes, when talking to colleagues on set, this level of language is perfectly normal and expected.
You could say مش بصور (mish basawwar) meaning 'I am not photographing'.
It's a loanword used globally in Arabic. Interestingly, the word 'Camera' actually comes from the Arabic word قمرة (qamra), meaning a dark room!
Related Phrases
صورة حلوة
ممكن تصوري؟
سيلفي سريع
فلاش الكاميرا
