لدي عدة مهام يجب أن أنهيها

Use it when someone asks you to hang out or start a new project. It helps you set boundaries politely. You can use it as a standalone excuse. Or you can use it to explain why you're staying late. The verb أخلصهم (akhalas-hom) is very satisfying to say. It feels like physically crossing something off a list.

You can use this in the office when a boss asks for your status. It works great with friends when you need to decline an invite. Use it at home when your family wants you to run an errand. It’s perfect for those 'don't bother me' moments. It sounds productive rather than just lazy.

Avoid this in very formal legal or academic writing. Don't use it if you only have one single task. In that case, use عندي مهمة (andi muhimma) instead. Also, don't use it if you are actually free. People might ask what the tasks are! It’s too specific for a white lie.

In Egyptian culture, being busy is often seen as a sign of importance. However, people also value social time highly. Using the word لازم (lazem) adds a sense of duty. It tells the listener that these aren't optional tasks. It’s a way to balance work ethic with social politeness. It shows you care about your responsibilities.

You might hear ورايا حاجات كتير (waraya hagat kteer) which means 'I have many things behind me.' Another one is عندي شغل كتير (andi shoghl kteer) for 'I have a lot of work.' If you are super stressed, you might say أنا غرقان في الشغل (ana ghar'an fil shoghl) meaning 'I am drowning in work.' But عندي كام مهمة is the most organized-sounding version.