Most of those who live or have lived in Egypt know what bee2a means but for those who don’t, bee2a is an Arabic word that, literally translated, means “environment.” In terms of slang, however, the word carries an entirely different meaning – a meaning that helps to shed light upon social classism in Egypt. As part of the colloquial jargon and slang heard everywhere in Egypt, the word bee2a is used to describe anything that is perceived to be lacking in good taste, vulgar or ostentatious. Seems like a normal word, doesn’t it? It isn’t. The word has evolved from trying to describe a lack of taste, to describing the taste of the lower social classes. It has gotten to the point that some people describe certain dishes, as in types of actual food, as bee2a because they’re a poor man’s feast or because they are lacking in terms of luxury. It doesn’t stop at the food, though. The term bee2a is used first and foremost to describe material possessions; driving an inexpensive or second-hand car can be described as bee2a, wearing cheaper brands of clothes can be described as bee2a, listening to certain types…
How One Word Reflects a Class Split in Egypt’s Social Dynamics
November 7, 2016
