Meaning
To make a regular payment for housing.
Cultural Background
The 'Old Rent' (الإيجار القديم) is a major cultural and legal topic. Some people pay only a few pounds a month for huge apartments in Cairo due to laws from the 1950s. Rent is often paid annually or semi-annually rather than monthly. This requires significant saving. Due to economic instability, rent is now frequently demanded in 'fresh dollars' rather than the local currency. The word 'Al-Kira' is used almost exclusively instead of 'Al-Ijar'.
The Egyptian 'G'
If you are in Cairo, say 'e-gar' with a 'G' to sound like a local.
Receipts Matter
Always ask for a 'wasl' (receipt) after you 'tadfa' al-ijar'.
Meaning
To make a regular payment for housing.
The Egyptian 'G'
If you are in Cairo, say 'e-gar' with a 'G' to sound like a local.
Receipts Matter
Always ask for a 'wasl' (receipt) after you 'tadfa' al-ijar'.
Politeness
Add 'tafaddal' (here you go) when handing over the rent money.
Bargaining
In some places, you can negotiate the rent before signing, but once set, it's fixed.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb 'to pay' (present tense for 'I').
أنا ____ الإيجار كل شهر.
The prefix 'أ' is used for the first person singular (I) in the present tense.
Choose the correct word for 'Rent'.
يجب أن أدفع ____ اليوم.
'Al-ijar' is the specific word for rent.
Match the Arabic phrase to its English translation.
Match the following:
Matching tenses: Adfa' (Present), Dafa'tu (Past), Sa-adfa' (Future).
Complete the dialogue.
Landlord: متى ستدفع الإيجار؟ Tenant: ____
The question asks 'When will you pay?', so the answer should provide a time.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Housing Vocabulary
People
- • Landlord
- • Tenant
- • Broker
Money
- • Rent
- • Deposit
- • Commission
Practice Bank
4 exercisesأنا ____ الإيجار كل شهر.
The prefix 'أ' is used for the first person singular (I) in the present tense.
يجب أن أدفع ____ اليوم.
'Al-ijar' is the specific word for rent.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Matching tenses: Adfa' (Present), Dafa'tu (Past), Sa-adfa' (Future).
Landlord: متى ستدفع الإيجار؟ Tenant: ____
The question asks 'When will you pay?', so the answer should provide a time.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, you can say 'ijar sayyara' (car rental), but 'yadfa' al-ijar' usually implies housing unless context says otherwise.
The plural is 'ijarat' (إيجارات).
Yes, 'saddada' is more formal and means 'to settle' or 'to pay off'.
You say 'الإيجار مستحق' (al-ijar mustahaqq).
Use 'al-ijar' (the rent) when talking about your specific monthly payment.
You say 'أدفع الإيجار سنوياً' (sanawiyyan).
In many Arab countries, cash is still very common, though apps are rising.
It's called 'khulu' (خلو) and is an extra payment to secure a lease.
Yes, 'yadfa' al-dara'ib' (pay taxes).
لا أستطيع تحمل تكلفة الإيجار.
Related Phrases
عقد إيجار
builds onRental contract
صاحب البيت
similarLandlord
مستأجر
similarTenant
إيجار مفروش
specialized formFurnished rental
تأمين
similarSecurity deposit
