يعني ماشي

You use it mostly as a response to questions about status or quality. It works perfectly as a one-liner. You can also use it to agree to a plan that you aren't super excited about but are willing to do. Just say it with a slight tilt of the head for maximum effect. It is the verbal version of a 'meh' face.

Use it with friends when they ask how your new job is going. Use it at a restaurant when the food is edible but won't win any awards. It is great for texting when you want to acknowledge a message without oversharing. It is the perfect shield when you don't want to dive into a long story about your day.

Avoid this if someone is sharing big, exciting news. If your friend gets engaged, don't say يعني ماشي unless you want to lose a friend. Also, avoid it in high-stakes professional settings where you need to show enthusiasm. If your boss asks if you can handle a huge project, saying this might make you look lazy. It is too casual for a funeral or a serious apology.

In many Arabic-speaking cultures, there is a tendency to be modest about one's situation. Even if things are great, people often use neutral terms to avoid 'the evil eye' or appearing boastful. ماشي literally means 'walking,' implying that life is in motion. It reflects a resilient, 'keep on keeping on' attitude that is very common in the Levant and Egypt.

You will often hear ماشي الحال (mashi al-hal), which is slightly more complete. In Egypt, you might just hear ماشي on its own for 'okay.' Some people add يعني (ya'ni) at the start as a filler word, similar to how English speakers use 'I mean' or 'well.' It softens the delivery and makes you sound more like a local.