أريد استعارة كتاب

You start with عايز if you are male. Use عايزة (ayeza) if you are female. Then add the verb. You can follow it with the specific title of the book. Or just say كتاب (kitab) for 'a book'. It is a very flexible structure. You can swap 'book' for other items too. But for books, this is the standard way to ask.

Use it at a friend's house when you see their collection. Use it at a public library in Egypt. Use it when talking to a classmate about a textbook. It works well in person or over text. If you are at a university, this is the perfect phrase for the librarian. It shows you are serious but approachable.

Do not use this at a bookstore. If you are at a shop, you want to buy, not borrow. In that case, use عايز أشتري (ayez ashtari). Also, avoid using it with strangers on the street. It implies a level of trust. You are asking to take their property home, after all! Don't use it for money either; there is a different verb for that.

In Middle Eastern culture, sharing knowledge is highly valued. Books are often seen as treasures. Borrowing a book is a sign of intellectual respect. However, there is a funny cultural trope about 'book thieves'. These are friends who borrow books and never return them. If you use this phrase, expect a joke about when you'll bring it back. Returning a book in good condition is a major trust-builder.

You might hear ممكن أستعير (momken asta'eer) which means 'Can I borrow?'. This is slightly more polite. In some regions, people use أستلف (astilef) instead of أستعير. Both are understood. أستعير feels a bit more specific to literature and formal items. أستلف is used for everything from a pen to a lawnmower.