لا بأس، لا تقلق

You usually say this after someone apologizes to you. They might say "I am so sorry I am late!" You respond with a smile and عادي، متقلقش. If you are talking to a woman, change it. Say عادي، متقلقيش to make it grammatically correct. The "mat" part is "don't," and "la'sh" is "worry." It flows best when said quickly and softly. Don't shout it like a drill sergeant. Say it like you are sharing a secret. It is all about the calm energy you project.

Use it for the small hiccups of daily life. Did someone forget to bring your charger back? Did a waiter bring the wrong soda? Is your friend five minutes late for coffee? These are perfect moments for this phrase. It works great in text messages too. It shows you are easy-going and not easily bothered. Use it when someone is over-explaining their mistake. It cuts through the awkwardness very quickly. It is the reset button for social tension.

Avoid this phrase during major life crises. If someone's car is totaled, don't say عادي. That would sound very cold and dismissive. Also, avoid it in high-stakes legal or medical settings. You don't want to tell a judge it is normal. Keep it for social blunders and minor inconveniences. If the person is genuinely devastated, use more empathy. Saying it is normal to a tragedy is a big mistake. Read the room before you drop the عادي bomb.

Middle Eastern culture places high value on social harmony. We often downplay mistakes to save the other person's face. This phrase is a cousin to the famous معلش. It reflects a relaxed, life goes on attitude. In places like Cairo, life is chaotic and loud. Small mistakes happen every single minute there. This phrase keeps the gears of society turning smoothly. It turns a potential conflict into a shared moment. It is the verbal version of a warm cup of tea. It says we are bigger than this little problem.

You might hear حصل خير which means good happened. Another one is ولا يهمك meaning don't let it bother you. Some people just say ما في مشكلة in other dialects. In Lebanon, they might say مش مشكلة. But in Egypt, عادي، متقلقش is the king of chill. It is simple, effective, and very friendly. You can also just say عادي with a shrug. Or just متقلقش with a pat on the shoulder. Both parts work well on their own too.