In most shops in Sharm you can manage quite well without speaking Arabic, the goods are on display and many of the sellers speak English.
But maybe you want to learn the language anyway, or you come in a situation where you have to ask about something while no English speaking staff is around. The following small “Kitchen Shopping English-Arabic Guide” will be helpful for you.
It is difficult to translate Arabic pronunciation with Latin letters, nevertheless you should manage to come close to the correct word.
| Artichoke | kharshouf |
| Aubergines | beetingaan |
| Beans | fassolia |
| Broccoli | broccoli |
| Cabbage, red/white | kromb, ahmar/abijad |
| carrots | gazar |
| Cauliflower | aarnabeet |
| Champignons | mushroom |
| Cucumbers | khiaar |
| Fennel | shamar |
| Garlic | tohm |
| Ginger | ganzabil |
| Leek | kuraat |
| Okras/Lady Fingers | bamiaa |
| Onions | bassall |
| Peas | beesella |
| Peppers, green | fil-fil, rumi or baladi |
| Peppers, red/yellow | fil-fil, achmar/asfar |
| Potatoes | paataates |
| Beetroot | bangaar |
| Spinach | saabanekh |
| Spring Onions | basall akhdar |
| Sweet Potatoes | paataata |
| Tomatoes | tamatim |
| Zucchini | cossa |
| Apples | tuffaah |
| Apricots | mish-mish |
| Bananas | moz |
| Coconut | goz el hind |
| Dates | baa-lah |
| Grapes | inab |
| Grapefruit | grabe |
| Lemon | laamoon |
| Mandarins | yousseffy |
| Mangos | manga |
| Oranges | borto-aan |
| Peaches | khokh |
| Pears | kummetra |
| Pineapple | ananas |
| Plums | bar-uh’a |
| Strawberries | farawla |
| Water melon | baa-tikh |
| Iceberg lettuce | cambodcha |
| Roman lettuce | khass |
| Ruccola | ghargir |
| young leek (can replace chives) | kuraat baladi |
| Coriander | kussbaara |
| Dill | shabatt |
| Parsley | ba’adounis |
| Meat | lahm |
| Beef | ba-A-ra or kandouz |
| Veal | Bet-tel-lo |
| Lamb | Dha-nee |
| Pork | khan-zier |
| Liver/Kidneys | kib-da/Kalawi |
| Ground meat | lahm mafrum-ma |
| Bones | Aad-mm |
| Filet steak | filletto |
| Roastbeef, pot roast | terebianco |
| Beef for Stroganoff (ground) | chamberi |
| White fat (for minced meat) | din |
| Ham | jambon |
| Roast | roasto |
| aluminum foil | silver |
| anchovies | anshooga |
| Beans, dried | foul |
| Coffee (Mocca) | aa-hwa |
| Dish washing liquid | briel |
| Eggs | beid |
| Flour | da-i-h |
| Juice | aasier |
| Kitchen paper | warret matbakh |
| Lentils | aatz |
| Milk | labban |
| Oil | zeht |
| Olive oil | zeht zaijtoun |
| Pasta | macarona |
| Rice | ros |
| Salt | mal-h’ |
| Soap | saboon |
| Sugar | succar |
| Sweet Corn/Mais | doura helwa |
| Tea | tchay |
| Toilet paper | warret toiwlet |
| Tuna | tuna |
| Vinegar | khal |
| Butter | zebda |
| Cheese: | geb’na – |
| Cheddar | – chedda |
| Edam | – faalamanc |
| Feta | – fetta |
| Gouda | – gouda |
| Turkish-,hard cheese | – roumy |
| white cheese | – beda |
| Cream | ‘eshta |
| Mixed Pickles | torshy |
| Olives, black/green | zaytoon, iswijd, akhdar |
| Chicken: | ferakh |
| whole, | farkha |
| breast filets, | soudour farakh |
| drums, wings, | wirak, agnija’ha |
| heart & stomach | awaaneis |
| Spinach | saabanekh |
| Beans, green | fasolija |
| Peas | beesella |
| Filo pastry | goulash |
| spices | tawaabil, buharaat |
| ground … | … maTHuun |
| whole … | …SiHiH |
| Anis | yansun |
| black cumin/ conrockle | habbit al-baraka |
| Capers | abu khangar |
| Caraway | karawya |
| Cardamom | hab’bahan |
| Cayenne | shaTTa |
| Chard | salq |
| Chili powder | filfil aHmar amrikaani |
| Cinnamon | <'erfa |
| Cloves | ‘urunfil |
| Cumin | kammun |
| Curry powder | kaari |
| Hot chili powder | shatta |
| Laurel | laury |
| Nutmeg | guzt il-tib |
| Oregano | za’tar |
| Paprika | paprika, filfil ruumi |
| Pepper | filfil |
| Pepper, black, white | filfil iswid , abjiad |
| Rosemary | HaSa libaan |
| Safflower | ‘uSfur |
| Salt | mal-h’ |
| Sesame | simsim |
| Spice Mix | bukharaat |
| Sumac | summa’ |
| Fish | pl.samak, sgl. samaka |
| Sardines | sar-DEEN |
| Bream | samak Morgan |
| Tuna | tuna |
| Blue Fish | miass |
| Sole | samek Moo-sa |
| Shrimps | gam-ba-ree |
| Crab | ka-boor-ya |
| Clams | gan-dor-lio |
| Lobster | estaguzza |
| Mullet | boor-ee |
| Nile perch | ishr byad (fresh water fish |
| Mediterranean fish | Bar-boni |