Glossary

Arabic singular and plural noun forms are separated by a comma.

afrangi European-style, Westernized

agnabi foreign (non-Arab), usually refers to white Europeans or North Americans

babbur portable kerosene stove

baladi adj. relating to traditional urban practices

dallala, dallalat woman petty trader

daya midwife

fallahi adj. relating to the village or villagers

fallahin villagers, peasants

fatiha the first chapter of the Qur'an

fino refined white rolls

ful a popular dish made with beans

gallabiya a loose, long shirtlike garment, the common dress of traditional Egyptians

gam'iya, gam'iyat literally "association"; often refers to a savings club or rotating credit association to which each member contributes a fixed sum at regular intervals and from which each member will receive the collected kitty once during the term of the club; also a cooperative store that sells subsidized goods

ghalbanin defeated or hopeless

girgir watercress

hadith a saying traced back to the Prophet Muhammad

hakim a traditionally trained health practitioner

halal legitimate and permitted according to Islamic laws

hamdullah "Thanks to God," a frequently used expression indicating gratitude or resignation

haya sha'biya popular (traditional) neighborhood

infitah Egypt's liberal economic policy introduced in 1974

khal maternal uncle

khala maternal aunt

khalti my mother's sister

kushari a dish of cooked rice and lentils

magmu'a study group, private lessons given to a group of students

mahr an amount of cash or tangible property pledged to be paid by the groom to the bride

malik king

muakhkhara second and last payment of bride wealth

muhaggaba, muhaggabat a woman who wears an Islamic scarf

mulukhiya a popular dish made with mallow, a green leafy vegetable

muqaddama first payment of mahr

muwazzafa, muwazzafat female government employee, usually white-collar

naqqash painter

nasib destiny; fate; literally "share" or "portion"

sa'idi Upper Egyptian, from the Upper Nile River area in the south of Egypt

sha'b the people, the nation

sha'bi grassroots or popular

shari'a Islamic law based on the Qur'an, sayings of the Prophet, consensus of the community, and local custom

sitt al-bayt, sittat al-bayt homemaker; literally "lady of the house"

suq market

ta'a obedience

tahur act of purification; circumcision

tam'iya a popular dish made with beans

tamsiliya soap opera

tamwin grocery store

ulad kalb dog's children, an insult

'ulama religious scholars

wagib duty

yawm al-ghasil wash day

zagheh-neshin shantytown