هذا خطأ
That's wrong
Wörtlich: This [is] wrong
Use it to directly correct facts or behavior among friends, but soften it for superiors.
In 15 Sekunden
- Used to point out factual errors or moral mistakes.
- Composed of 'da' (this/that) and 'ghalat' (wrong).
- Very common in Egyptian dialect for direct correction.
Bedeutung
This phrase is the bread and butter of Egyptian Arabic when you need to point out a mistake or a moral lapse. It’s a direct way to say something is factually incorrect or just plain 'not okay' in a social sense.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Checking a restaurant bill
الحساب ده غلط، إحنا ماطلبناش ده.
This bill is wrong; we didn't order this.
Correcting a friend's gossip
لا يا صاحبي، الكلام ده غلط خالص.
No my friend, those words are completely wrong.
Reacting to someone being rude
اللي بتعمله ده غلط.
What you are doing is wrong.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Egypt, pointing out what is 'wrong' (ghalat) often carries a moral weight beyond just factual errors. It is deeply tied to social norms and 'ayb' (shame/taboo). While the phrase is simple, its impact depends heavily on the 'shibshib' (slipper) factor—the level of authority the speaker has over the listener.
The 'Soft' Alternative
If you want to be polite, use `مش صح` (mish sahh) which means 'not right'. It's much gentler on the ears.
Watch Your Tone
Saying it with a smile makes it a correction; saying it with a frown makes it an accusation. Tone is everything in Egypt.
In 15 Sekunden
- Used to point out factual errors or moral mistakes.
- Composed of 'da' (this/that) and 'ghalat' (wrong).
- Very common in Egyptian dialect for direct correction.
What It Means
ده غلط (da ghalat) is your go-to tool for correction. It’s simple, punchy, and gets the job done. In Egyptian Arabic, ده means 'this' or 'that,' and غلط means 'wrong' or 'mistake.' You aren't just talking about math problems here. You are talking about anything that feels 'off.' It covers everything from a typo in a text to someone cutting you in line at the koshary shop.
How To Use It
You can use it as a standalone sentence. If someone says something you know isn't true, just look at them and say, ده غلط. You can also point at a physical object, like a bill with an extra zero, and say it. It’s very flexible. If you want to be extra, you can add أوي (awi) at the end—ده غلط أوي—to say 'that is very wrong.' It’s like adding three exclamation points in a text.
When To Use It
Use it when you are 100% sure about a fact. Use it when you are with friends and someone tells a story that sounds like a total lie. It’s also great for moral stands. If you see someone being rude to a waiter, a quiet ده غلط to your friend expresses your disapproval perfectly. In a professional setting, use it to point out errors in data or schedules, but keep your tone neutral so you don't sound like you're scolding someone.
When NOT To Use It
Be careful using this with people significantly older than you or your boss. In Middle Eastern culture, being that direct can sometimes feel like a lack of adab (politeness). Instead of saying ده غلط, you might want to say مش صح أوي (mish sahh awi), which means 'it's not quite right.' It’s the linguistic equivalent of a soft pillow versus a brick. Also, don't use it if you're only 'kind of' sure—you'll look a bit silly if you're the one who ends up being wrong!
Cultural Background
Egyptians are generally very expressive and direct with their friends. Correcting each other is actually a sign of closeness. If a friend doesn't tell you ده غلط when you're making a mistake, are they even your friend? The word ghalat itself comes from Classical Arabic, but the way it's paired with the informal da makes it quintessentially Egyptian. It reflects a culture that values truth-telling within the inner circle.
Common Variations
You might hear كلام غلط (kalam ghalat) which means 'wrong words' or 'what you're saying is wrong.' If you’re talking about something feminine (like a 'story' or 'info'), you’d say دي غلط (di ghalat). If you want to sound more formal or like a news anchor, you’d use the Standard Arabic هذا خطأ (haza khata’), but honestly, stick to the dialect version if you want to sound like a local.
Nutzungshinweise
This is a neutral-to-informal expression. It is perfectly fine for daily life, but in high-stakes professional environments, use 'mish mazbout' to sound more diplomatic.
The 'Soft' Alternative
If you want to be polite, use `مش صح` (mish sahh) which means 'not right'. It's much gentler on the ears.
Watch Your Tone
Saying it with a smile makes it a correction; saying it with a frown makes it an accusation. Tone is everything in Egypt.
The Gender Switch
If you're talking about a feminine noun like 'information' (ma'louma), remember to change 'da' to 'di'. It's a small change that makes you sound like a pro.
Beispiele
6الحساب ده غلط، إحنا ماطلبناش ده.
This bill is wrong; we didn't order this.
Using 'da' to point out a specific error on paper.
لا يا صاحبي، الكلام ده غلط خالص.
No my friend, those words are completely wrong.
Adding 'khalis' (completely) for strong emphasis.
اللي بتعمله ده غلط.
What you are doing is wrong.
Used here for moral judgment of an action.
المعاد ده غلط، المفروض الساعة ٥.
This appointment time is wrong; it's supposed to be at 5.
Quick factual correction in a text message.
بتحط سكر على الرز؟ ده غلط يا بنتي!
You put sugar on rice? That's wrong, girl!
Using the phrase humorously to judge someone's weird habits.
أعتقد إن الرقم ده غلط في التقرير.
I think this number is wrong in the report.
Softened with 'I think' to maintain professional politeness.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct word to say 'That is wrong' when pointing at a masculine object.
___ غلط.
'ده' (da) is the masculine 'this/that' in Egyptian Arabic.
How do you say 'That is VERY wrong'?
ده غلط ___.
'أوي' (awi) is the Egyptian word for 'very' or 'a lot'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of 'Da Ghalat'
Used with very close friends, often jokingly.
Enta ghalat ya muallem!
Standard daily use with peers and family.
Da ghalat.
Acceptable in shops or with colleagues.
El-hisab da ghalat.
Too blunt; better to use 'Mish mazbout'.
Haza khata' (Standard)
When to say 'Da Ghalat'
Math/Facts
Correcting a calculation.
Moral/Social
Seeing someone litter.
Directions
Friend takes a wrong turn.
Food Crimes
Ketchup on a fine steak.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt's not inherently rude, but it is very direct. Use it with friends, but maybe avoid it with your future Egyptian mother-in-law unless you want a long lecture.
Yes, you can say إنت غلط (enta ghalat) for 'you are wrong,' but it's quite confrontational. ده غلط is safer because it focuses on the thing/action, not the person.
In Modern Standard Arabic, you would say هذا خطأ (haza khata’). You’ll see this in books or hear it on the news.
Not exactly. For 'sin,' people usually use حرام (haram) or ذنب (zanb). Ghalat is more about mistakes or social errors.
You would say أنا غلطت (ana ghaltet). It uses the verb form of the word.
Yes, almost all Arabic speakers understand Egyptian dialect because of movies and music, though they might say هذا غلط (hada ghalat) in their own dialects.
Ghalat is the common word used in daily life (dialect), while khata is the more formal, academic term.
No, for a broken machine, use عطلان (atlaan) or بايظ (bayez). Ghalat is for errors, not mechanical failures.
Just add مش (mish) before it: ده مش غلط (da mish ghalat).
Usually, people just keep using ده غلط for plural concepts, or they might say دول غلط (dol ghalat) for 'these are wrong.'
Verwandte Redewendungen
مش صح
عيب
مش مظبوط
خطأ مطبعي
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