Arabic is renowned for its plethora of multi-use words. Today, let’s delve into the nuances of a common term in Egyptian, Levantine and Maghrebi Arabic: “malesh” (معلش)
How would you translate “malesh”
from Arabic to English? Although commonly translated as “sorry,” its usage is varied and complex.
How to pronounce “malesh” (معلش)
“Malesh” معلش
contains a unique sound (ع)
that doesn’t have an exact equivalent in English. Try to imagine a sound that comes from deep within your throat, almost as if you are lightly constricting your throat muscles, like when a dentist asks you to open wide. Start with an “ah” sound, making it deeper and more guttural.
Now, let’s explore how it’s used.
No biggy! It’s nothing! Don’t worry about it!
“Malesh”
springs from ما عليه شيء
, which literally means “there’s nothing on it or someone.” Picture saying this with a light-hearted shrug—it’s all about brushing off the small stuff with a smile.
The phrase is typically used when someone’s goofed up but in a way that’s more clueless than catastrophic. Think of it as a charming way to wave off blunders, saying, “Hey, no big deal!” This colorful origin gives “malesh”
its cheerful vibe, making it a go-to expression for forgiving and forgetting with a grin.
In the following Egyptian video about a native speaker struggling with Arabic, two people start arguing, blaming each other for something. A third person tries to diffuse the situation by blaming himself. He concludes with “malesh,” meaning it’s not a big deal and everything is fine.
From an Egyptian TV show
Genuine support, no strings attached
With pure intentions and the right tone, you can combine “malesh”
with other words to show care and support to a friend going through a hard time. For instance: معلش كله هيعدي
“It’s okay, it will pass.”
In moments of empathy, “malesh”
acts as a bridge of understanding. When a loved one shares their struggles, responding with “malesh”
signifies not just words, but a heartfelt acknowledgment of their feelings, a way of saying, “I’m here for you.”
In this Egyptian video about family drama, a husband tries to calm and support his sick wife. He uses “malesh” because there’s nothing else he can do:
From the Egyptian series نصيبي وقسمتك (My Destiny and Your Fate)
Feigned sympathy
Picture a moment when you’re feeling down, and someone advises “don’t worry!” or “just be happy!” or tells you to just try breathing to alleviate your asthma. Well, we’ve got you covered! “Malesh”
alone is harnessed in precisely the same way, to such an extent that a few years back, some ingenious Egyptians developed a playful chatbot designed to fulfill this exact purpose.
Instead of seeking solace from family or close friends, you can confide in the bot about your troubles, and it’ll respond with the ever-reliable “malesh.”
Therapy has never been more cost-effective!
So while “malesh”
is rarely seen as aggressive, it could make people feel like their emotions aren’t being taken seriously, depending on tone and context. But don’t worry! Most Egyptians are light-hearted, so they’re unlikely to get seriously offended. Syrians, Palestinians, Jordanians, and Lebanon are a slightly more serious bunch, but they usually won’t mind either.
In the Jordanian comedy show below, the patient is crying from pain and fear, and the doctor treats her with a magical remedy: the word “malesh”! (He also says عاشت الأسامي
, which translates literally to “long live the names,” a way of wishing someone a long life):
From بث بياخة, a Jordanian comedy show.
Apologizing
“Malesh”
can be skillfully employed for genuine apologies by coupling it with words or gestures of similar import. Consider this example: معلش آسف على التأخير
“Sorry for being late!” By uniting “malesh”
with “aasef”
you can infuse your apology with authenticity and sincerity.
Or imagine a scenario where someone accidentally steps on your foot in a crowded marketplace. Instead of invoking frustration, they offer a sincere smile and utter “malesh”
This isn’t just about accepting a mistake; it’s a gracious gesture that diffuses tension, saying, “It’s alright, no harm done.”
Playaling’s Cloze Listen activity using an Egyptian video from Easy Languages
The use of “malesh” in requests and questions
In the dialects of the Levant, Egypt and Maghreb, the word “malesh” (معلش)
is versatile and frequently used in daily conversations. Understanding its different uses can help distinguish the appropriate tone between friends and formal relationships.
“Malesh” as a question
In the Levant and Maghreb, “malesh”
can be used to form a question on its own. When you want someone to do something for you, you can simply use “malesh”
followed by your request. This usage is informal and commonly used among friends and acquaintances. For example:
- معلش تساعدني بالطبخ؟
(“Malesh, could you help me with cooking?”) (Syrian)
- معلش تجاوبني؟
(“Malesh, could you answer me?”) (Syrian)
- مَعْلِيشْ نْسَقّْسِيكْ ؟ (“Malesh, could I ask you?”) (Algerian)
These questions translate to “Could you?” or “Is it possible?” Imagine you’re in the kitchen, your hands covered in flour, and you need a hand. You might shout out to your close friend, “Malesh, could you help me with the dough?” This casual tone emphasizes the friendly and relaxed nature of the request.
When asking for something using “malesh”
in the Levant the response can be اي معلش
(yes, it’s possible) or لا مش معلش
or لا مو معلش
(no, it’s not possible).
“Malesh” in polite requests
“Malesh”
also plays a significant role in making polite requests, a usage common in both the Levant and Egypt. When you want to soften your request and avoid sounding too demanding, you add “malesh”
before your appeal. For instance:
- معلش ممكن تقفل الشباك؟
in Egyptian or معلش ممكن تسكر الشباك؟
in Levantine – “Malesh, could you please close the window?”
Here, “malesh”
is used to preface the request, making it sound more polite and considerate. This formality is essential when speaking with someone you don’t know well or when you want to maintain a respectful tone.
When to use “malesh” formally and informally
- In the Levant: Using “malesh” as a standalone question is informal and suitable for casual relationships. For more formal interactions, you should use “mumkin” instead. For example, among friends, you might say, “Malesh, can you help me?” (معلش تساعدني؟)
, but with a colleague or in a professional setting, you would say, “Mumkin help me?” (ممكن تساعدني؟)
.
- In Egypt and the Levant: When using “malesh” as a polite introduction to a request, it can be considered respectful and appropriate for both formal and informal interactions. For example, saying, “Malesh, can you please close the window?” (معلش، ممكن تقفل الشباك؟)
is seen as courteous and can be used with strangers or in formal settings without issue.
By understanding these nuances, you can use “malesh” appropriately depending on the context and your relationship with the person you are speaking to.
In the following scene from Syrian romance series, the girl asks if she can speak or give her opinion. She uses the word “maalesh” before asking, as a polite way to start her request, saying, “Maalesh, if you allow me.”
A woman uses the word “maalesh” to politely ask to start speaking. From the Syrian romance series سيرة الحب
Polite refusals
It doesn’t stop there. This unassuming word also extends its reach to polite refusals. When offered something that might not suit your preferences, a gracious “malesh”
communicates gratitude while declining gracefully.
In the scene below from Egyptian series, a man calls room service to order food, but after his wife says that she wants to sleep, he politely declines room service using the word “malesh”
and says he’ll go down to the restaurant instead of ordering food to his room.
From the Egyptian series مسلسل تحت السيطرة (Under Control)
“Malesh” for when something IS a big deal
In the Levant, “Malesh”
can be negated by مش
(in Palestinian, Jordanian and Syrian Arabic) or مو
(in Syrian Arabic), meaning “not,” to indicate that something shouldn’t be taken lightly. During the COVID-19 pandemic, مش معلش
was used in this video From a satirical political show to argue that the lives of elderly people shouldn’t be considered expendable:
From the satirical political show السليط الإخباري. The man is Jordanian and the woman is Lebanese.
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