المعازيم عند البوفيه.

Because Arabic normally leaves out the verb to be in the present tense.

So:

• المعازيم عند البوفيه literally looks like: the guests at the buffet
• but the natural English meaning is: The guests are at the buffet.

This is very normal in both Egyptian Arabic and Standard Arabic.

If you wanted past tense, then Arabic would use a verb, for example:

• المعازيم كانوا عند البوفيه = The guests were at the buffet.

المعازيم is an Egyptian Arabic word meaning the invited guests or simply the guests in a social event context.

It comes from the idea of someone being invited:

• singular: معزوم = invited person / guest
• plural in Egyptian: معازيم

So this word is especially natural for:

• weddings
• dinners
• parties
• social gatherings

It is a very Egyptian, conversational word.

It is mainly Egyptian colloquial Arabic.

A more Standard Arabic equivalent would usually be:

• الضيوف = the guests

So:

• Egyptian: المعازيم عند البوفيه
• More formal/standard: الضيوف عند البوفيه

Both can mean the same thing here, but المعازيم sounds more local and conversational in Egypt.

Yes — عند has a range of meanings, and here it means something like at or over at.

In this sentence:

• عند البوفيه = at the buffet

In Egyptian Arabic, عند is very commonly used for location, especially when someone is by a place or over at a place.

It can also mean:

• with / in someone’s possession
  
  • عندي فلوس = I have money
• at someone’s place
  • عند الدكتور = at the doctor’s
• near/by
  • depending on context

So in this sentence, عند is just a natural way to say the guests are gathered at the buffet area.

Sometimes, but the meaning shifts a little.

• عند البوفيه = at the buffet / by the buffet
• في البوفيه = in the buffet

Since buffet here usually means the buffet table or buffet area, عند sounds more natural if people are standing there getting food.

So:

• المعازيم عند البوفيه suggests the guests are gathered around the buffet.
• المعازيم في البوفيه could sound less natural unless you mean they are inside a buffet-style restaurant or physically in that area.

In most event contexts, عند is the better choice.

Because both nouns are definite in this sentence:

• المعازيم = the guests
• البوفيه = the buffet

Arabic often uses definiteness clearly and directly. In this sentence, we are talking about:

• a specific group of guests
• a specific buffet at the event

So the definite article الـ is used on both words.

A natural Egyptian pronunciation would be roughly:

el-maʕāzīm ʕand el-būfēh

A simpler learner-friendly version:

• el-ma-a-zeem 'and el-boo-fayh

A few notes:

• ال is usually pronounced el- in Egyptian Arabic.
• ع is a deep throat sound that English does not have.
• بوفيه is a borrowed word, so it sounds fairly familiar.

The singular is usually:

• معزوم = invited man / male guest

For a female:

• معزومة = invited woman / female guest

Examples:

• هو معزوم = He is invited
• هي معزومة = She is invited

And the Egyptian plural:

• معازيم = invited people / guests

So this word behaves a lot like a social-event word built from invited person.

It is a loanword used in Arabic.

بوفيه comes from the international word buffet, and in Egyptian Arabic it is commonly used for:

• a buffet table
• buffet-style food service

Arabic, especially spoken Arabic, uses many loanwords for modern or everyday items, and بوفيه is one of them.

So even though it is not originally Arabic, it is completely normal in everyday speech.

Yes, but the emphasis may change.

The basic sentence:

• المعازيم عند البوفيه

This is the most straightforward way to say:

• The guests are at the buffet.

You might also hear:

• عند البوفيه المعازيم

But that sounds more marked or dramatic, as if emphasizing where they are.

For a learner, the original order is the best and most natural one to use.

Yes, absolutely.

• المعازيم عند البوفيه
• الضيوف عند البوفيه

Both can mean The guests are at the buffet.

The difference is mainly tone:

• المعازيم = more Egyptian, more colloquial, often tied to invited guests at an event
• الضيوف = more general, more standard, also understood everywhere

So if you want very natural Egyptian speech in a social setting, المعازيم is a great choice.