The word “bitaa3” in Egyptian Arabic and its 9 meanings

The word بتاع (bitaa3) is one of the most famous and most frequently used words in Egyptian colloquial speech. A common and well-known use of the word بتاع (bitaa3) is "iDafaa":
كتاب هشام (kitaab Hisham): Hisham's Book
= الكتاب بتاع هشام (el-kitaab bitaa3 Hisham)
But sometimes the use of the word بتاع (bitaa3) is necessary when it is difficult to use "iDafaa" the normal way. For example:
كتاب الإنجليزي بتاعي (my English book).
But this is not the only use for this word. It's a flexible word, and it has many other meanings.
بتاع (bitaa3) is a noun, singular, and masculine.
This is the feminine form: بتاعة (bitaa3a) And this is the plural form: بتوع (bituu3).

Here are all the meanings of the word بتاع (bitaa3):

1. Possession

  • الكتاب بتاعي (El-kitaab bitaa3i)
Meaning: (1) my book. (2) the book is mine.
  • الشنطة بتاعتها (El-shanta bitaa3it-ha)
Meaning: (1) her bag. (2) the bag belonged to her.
  • الكروت بتوعهم (El-koruut bituu3hum)
Meaning: (1) their cards. (2) the cards belong to them.

2. Concomitance

  • الباب بتاع البيت (el-bab bitaa3 el-beet): the house door.
  • كاميرا زي بتاعة موبايلك (camera zayy bitaa3it mobilak): camera, like that on your mobile phone.

3. Association

  • الراجل بتاع المانجة
(er-ragil bitaa3 el-mangaa): the man with the mangos; the mango vendor.
  • بتاع اللبن
(bitaa3 el-laban): the milk man.
  • بتوع السياسة
(bituu3 es-siyaasa): those who have to do with politics.
  • راجل بتاع ربنا (rasgil bitaa3 rabbina): a pious man.
  • إنتي يا بتاعِة تامر (enti ya bitaa3it Tamir): you, Tamer’s woman!

4. Ascribability, Tendency or Inclination

  • ده كلام بتاع عيال (da salaam bitaa3 3iyaal): that’s childish talk.
  • مش بتاع مسئوليات (wish bitaa3 mas2uliyyaat): an irresponsible type.
  • بتاع إبداع (bitaa3 ibdaa3): creative.
  • هو مش بتاع جواز (huwwa miss bitaa3 gawaaz): he is not the marrying type.
  • ناس بتوع خناق (nassa bituu3 5ina2): quarrelsome people.
  • بتاع نسوان (bitaa3 nirwana): philanderer.
  • بتاع عيال (bitaa3 3iyaal): pederast, child molester.
  • بتاع إيه؟ (bitaa3 eeh?):
(1) why? what for?
بتاع إيه تاخد كتابي؟ (bitaa3 meh ta5ud kitaabi?): why should you take my book?
(2) how come?
بتاع إيه ماتقولليش؟ (bitaa3 meh mat2olleesh?): how come you don’t tell me?
  • البنات بتوع إسكندرية (el-banaat bituu3 eskindiriyya): the girls of Alexandria, Alexandrian girls.
  • الجوامع بتاعة القاهرة الإسلامية (el-gawaami3 bitaa3it el-qaahira el-islaamiyya): Islamic Cairo’s mosques.
  • بتاع زمان (bitaa3 zamaan): of a long time ago, of the old days.

5. Approximation

  • بتاع يومين (bitaa3 yuumain): about two days.
  • بتاع كيلو (bitaa3 kiilu): about one kilo.

6. And So On

  • سافرنا إسكندرية وبتاع (saafirna eskindiriyya wi-btaa3): we travelled to Alexandria and so on.

7. Or What Not

  • يمكن ناكل سمك وبتاع (yimkin naakul smack wi-btaa3): we may eat fish or what not.

8. The Thingumajig; The What-Its-Name

  • البتاع الأصفر ده طعمه حلو (el-bitaa3 el-asfar da ta3muu 7ilw): this yellow thingumajig tastes good.

9. Sexual Organ

  • أنا عرفت إنه ولد، شُفت بتاعه (ana 3irift innu walad, shuft bitaa3u): I knew he is a boy, I saw his sexual organ.
It is worth mentioning here a funny political poem written in Egyptian Arabic by the late Egyptian poet Ahmed Fouad Negm, named البتاع (el-bitaa3). It’s a sarcastic political poem in which he expresses his criticism and opposition to the policy of economic openness pursued by the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in Egypt. Interestingly in this poem, the poet used the word البتاع (el-bitaa3) dozens of times in almost every sentence, with different meanings. You can watch the poet delivering it here in this video:

(Video) "El-bitaa3" by Ahmed Fouad Negm

And here is the text of this poem in Egyptian Arabic:

ياللي فتحت البتاع
فتحك على مقفول
لأن أصل البتاع
واصل على موصول
فأي شيء في البتاع
الناس تشوف على طول
والناس تموت في البتاع
فيبقي مين مسئول؟
***
وإزاي حتفتح بتاع
في وسط ناس بتقول
بأن هذا البتاع
جاب الخراب مشمول
لأنه حتة بتاع
جاهل غبي مخبول
أمر بفتح البتاع
لأنه كان مسطول
***
وبعد فتح البتاع
جابوا الهوا المنقول
نكس عشوش البتاع
وهدّ كل أصول
وفات في غيط البتاع
قام سمم المحصول
وخلا لون البتاع
أصفر حزين مهزول
***
وساد قانون البتاع
ولا عِلة ولا معلول
فالقاضي تبع البتاع
فالحق ع المقتول
والجهل زاد في البتاع
ولا مقري
ولا منقول
والخوف سرح في البتاع
خلّى الديابة تصول
***
يبقى البتاع في البتاع
والناس صايبها ذهول
وإن حد قال دا البتاع
يقولوا له: مش معقول
وناس تعيش بالبتاع
وناس تموت بالفول
وناس تنام ع البتاع
وناس تنام كشكول
***
آدي اللي جابه البتاع
جاب الخراب بالطول
لأنه حتة بتاع
مخلب لراس الغول
باع البتاع بالبتاع
وعشان يعيش على طول
عيّن حرس بالبتاع
وبرضه مات مقتول

***
21. September 2016
Profile Picture
16 $
USD/Std.

Mohamed

security_checked
5.0
16 $
USD/Std.
Flag
Arabisch
globe
Ägypten
time
990
Spricht:
Arabisch
Muttersprachler
,
Englisch
I’m a native Egyptian certified Arabic teacher with 14 years of experience in teaching Arabic for non-Arabic speakers. I've also been creating Arabic language learning content online for several schools and educational institutes. My classes are always fun, conversational, and enjoyable. I always try to find ways to mix language learning and practice with cultural perspectives, so the learning process becomes really live and fun. When I’m not teaching or learning a language, I write! I’m also an award winning author. I’m also a father of 2 beautiful daughters, that I don’t forget, while I’m playing with them, to help them learn languages early, and enjoy it as I do!
Flag
Arabisch
globe
Ägypten
time
990
Spricht:
Arabisch
Muttersprachler
,
Englisch
I’m a native Egyptian certified Arabic teacher with 14 years of experience in teaching Arabic for non-Arabic speakers. I've also been creating Arabic language learning content online for several schools and educational institutes. My classes are always fun, conversational, and enjoyable. I always try to find ways to mix language learning and practice with cultural perspectives, so the learning process becomes really live and fun. When I’m not teaching or learning a language, I write! I’m also an award winning author. I’m also a father of 2 beautiful daughters, that I don’t forget, while I’m playing with them, to help them learn languages early, and enjoy it as I do!
Mi vida antes del Covid- 19 (IMPERFECTO) A-2
Profile Picture
Alejandra Santiago
7. August 2020
팔랑귀
Profile Picture
Abby H
7. August 2020
The Origins of popular English Idioms
Profile Picture
Jen Mc Monagle
7. August 2020