يا ناخد البوصلة يا ناخد الخريطة.

It means either ... or ....

So:

• يا ناخد البوصلة يا ناخد الخريطة
• Either we take the compass or we take the map

In Egyptian Arabic, repeating يا before each option is a very common way to present two alternatives.

Yes, it is the same written word, but here it has a different job.

Arabic يا can be:

• a vocative particle: يا محمد = Hey, Mohamed
• a choice marker in Egyptian: يا ... يا ... = either ... or ...

So in this sentence, يا is not calling someone. It is marking alternatives.

ناخد is the normal Egyptian Arabic form.

• ناخد = Egyptian Arabic
• نأخذ = Modern Standard Arabic

Both come from the verb to take, but Egyptian usually uses the colloquial form أخد / ياخد / ناخد.

So a learner should recognize:

• ناخد = we take
• MSA equivalent: نأخذ

In Egyptian Arabic, بـ often marks the regular present tense, especially for habitual or ongoing actions.

• بناخد can sound like we usually take or we are taking
• ناخد without بـ often appears in contexts like suggestions, plans, possibilities, or alternatives

In يا ناخد ... يا ناخد ..., the bare form ناخد fits the idea of choosing between two possible actions.

So this sentence is more like:

• either we take ... or we take ...
• or more naturally in English, either let's take ... or let's take ...

Literally, it is we take, but in context it can feel more like:

• we take
• we’ll take
• let’s take

The exact English translation depends on the situation.

That is very normal in Arabic: the verb form itself may be broad, and the context tells you whether it is a plain statement, a suggestion, or a planned action.

Repeating the verb is the most complete and natural structure here:

• يا ناخد البوصلة يا ناخد الخريطة

It keeps the two options parallel and very clear.

In casual speech, Arabic sometimes drops repeated words when the meaning is obvious, but for learners, and in a full clear sentence, repeating ناخد is the safest and most natural pattern.

Because they are definite nouns here:

• البوصلة = the compass
• الخريطة = the map

This usually means the speaker has specific items in mind, or the items are already understood from context.

Arabic often uses definiteness in a very natural way when both speaker and listener know what objects are being discussed.

A helpful pronunciation is:

ya nākhod el-boṣla ya nākhod el-kharīṭa

A few notes:

• الـ is usually pronounced el- in Egyptian, not al-
• خ in ناخد and الخريطة is a throaty sound, like ch in Scottish loch or German Bach
• the final ة in الخريطة is pronounced -a in normal pause: kharīṭa

It is most natural as Egyptian Arabic.

Why?

• ناخد is Egyptian colloquial
• يا ... يا ... for either ... or ... is very natural in spoken Egyptian

In Modern Standard Arabic, you would more often see something like:

• إمّا أن نأخذ البوصلة وإمّا أن نأخذ الخريطة
• or a simpler نأخذ البوصلة أو الخريطة

So the sentence you gave sounds like everyday spoken Egyptian.

Yes, but the nuance is a little different.

• أو = plain or
• يا ... يا ... = either ... or ..., with a clearer sense of two alternatives

So:

• ناخد البوصلة أو الخريطة = We take the compass or the map
• يا ناخد البوصلة يا ناخد الخريطة = Either we take the compass or we take the map

The يا ... يا ... version feels more balanced and more emphatic as a choice between two options.