Many Egyptians speak more than one language, but nearly all of them are fluent in the language of humour. Jokes are a cultural staple in Egyptian society, providing an easy entry into conversation and even an outlet in times of crisis. Egyptian film, television, and theatre has been known to accurately reflect this aspect of Egyptian identity for all of living memory. Yet, out of the millions upon millions of jokes and one-liners in Egyptian media, some have transcended the context they were first spoken in and have become an integral part of the colloquial Egyptian vernacular. To millennials, for example, the 2000 film El-Nazer (The Headmaster) starring the late comedian Alaa Waley Eldin along with now comedy icons Ahmed Helmy and Mohamed Saad, represents the motherlode of afashat aflam (movie one-liners). But decades before, Egyptians were already quoting Madraset El-Moshaghebeen (The School of Mischief), Eshaaet Hobb (A Rumour of Love) and more. Here are a few of our audience’s favourite afashat aflam, both old and new – though, fair warning, some of the humour might not really translate. ‘Enti beteshrabi cappuccino?’ ‘You drink cappuccino?’ From the 2006 film Zarf…
‘Allah? Wana Mali ya Lembi?’ 12 Movie One-Liners Egyptians Use Every Day
February 28, 2022
