{"id":4,"date":"2013-06-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-06-04T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/prischew\/how-to-talk-to-egyptians\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T08:14:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T08:14:50","slug":"how-to-talk-to-egyptians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/prischew\/how-to-talk-to-egyptians\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Talk to Egyptians | Empower"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Talk to Egyptians<\/h2>\n

If you have never talked to Egyptian people, you may find some of their social behaviours different to yours. For example, a conversation may swing drastically from an inaudible whisper to a shouting match between the two parties. As well, communicating parties may be so near to each other that they are almost touching. This is because the concept of personal space is quite different in Egypt.<\/p>\n

So then, how do you communicate with Egyptians? Here are tips on how to go about it.<\/p>\n

Do not be alarmed by sudden swings in conversation<\/h3>\n

In Egypt, people may sometimes communicate in very low tones, to the point where they may be almost inaudible. But the next moment, the very same conversation might erupt into a shouting match between the parties involved. Such drastic changes in conversation may occur between two males who know each other well, but can also happen between complete strangers.<\/p>\n

When this happens to a conversation that you are involved in, do not be alarmed and start wondering what you have done or said wrong \u2013 understand that this is perfectly normal in Egypt.<\/p>\n

Use gestures when you are talking<\/h3>\n

The Egyptian people make use of gestures heavily in their conversations, because they see communications as a sensory experience that makes use of all five senses, not just the verbal aspect. As a result, they often gesticulate when they are talking, such as nodding their head or pointing to a physical object to stress their point. Trying to adopt this practice too would definitely make the locals feel as though you are making an effort to assimilate into their culture.<\/p>\n

But do make yourself familiar with the physical gestures that you are using, because you may unconsciously offend someone in Egypt without realising it. For example, raising your hand and making a circle with the thumb and index finger symbolises \u201cokay\u201d in the United States and Australia \u2013 but this is a very rude gesture in Egypt \u2013 so never do this. Instead, use the \u201cthumbs up\u201d gesture to signify \u201cokay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Get accustomed to close proximity when talking<\/h3>\n

In many other cultures, such as the United States or Britain, there is a minimum distance of proximity that are observed when two people are talking. But in Egypt, people get very close to each other during a conversation, even though they may be complete strangers. For example, Westerners opt for a personal space of about 46 cm (18 inches) while Egyptians stand about 23 to 25 cm (9 to 10 inches) apart, when talking. So this is something that you will have to adjust to, in Egypt.<\/p>\n

Be careful when you are smiling<\/h3>\n

While the Egyptian people are generally a friendly community, do be careful about smiling at them on the streets. It is acceptable to smile as a friendly gesture to an acquaintance or a business client, though.<\/p>\n

Never direct your smile at an Egyptian woman you don\u2019t know, especially if you are a man, because this can be seen as a lack of respect and can compromise a woman\u2019s reputation.<\/p>\n

Try to get used to intense eye gazing<\/h3>\n

Some cultures do not gaze intently at a person\u2019s eyes when one party is talking to another. So you might find it uncomfortable talking to an Egyptian. To the locals, looking intently at someone\u2019s eyes may reveal something about that person\u2019s character. So this is something that you would most likely have to get used to in Egypt.<\/p>\n

Be wary of physical touch<\/h3>\n

While the Egyptian people are usually physically close to each other when talking, be careful about making physical touch, such as kissing, especially between people of the opposite gender. If you have come from a culture where the people use kissing as a form of greeting, try to refrain from doing so in Egypt \u2013 because such behaviours are not socially acceptable. Shaking hands is permissible though.<\/p>\n

Common Phrases<\/h3>\n

The Egyptian people use Arabic to communicate. Here are some common Arabic words and phrases to help you survive your stay there.<\/p>\n