واحنا في المطعم، بابا كان بيطلب لحمة وماما كانت بتشرب شاي.

the

Breakdown of واحنا في المطعم، بابا كان بيطلب لحمة وماما كانت بتشرب شاي.

• شاي: tea
• في: at
• يشرب: to drink

Questions & Answers about واحنا في المطعم، بابا كان بيطلب لحمة وماما كانت بتشرب شاي.

What does واحنا mean here?

واحنا is و + احنا:

• و = and
• احنا = we

In this sentence, واحنا في المطعم is often understood as and while we were at the restaurant or when we were in the restaurant.

So the و is not always just a simple and connecting two equal sentences the way English does. In Egyptian Arabic, it can also help introduce background context.

Why is there no word for were in واحنا في المطعم?

Because Arabic often uses nominal sentences in the present and in general descriptive statements without a verb like to be.

So:

• احنا في المطعم = we are in / at the restaurant

There is no separate word for are.

When this kind of phrase appears as background in a past story, English may translate it as we were at the restaurant, even though Arabic still says simply احنا في المطعم.

So the Arabic is natural, even though English needs were.

Why is في used here, and does it mean in or at?

في literally means in, but in many situations it can also translate naturally as at.

So:

• في المطعم = literally in the restaurant
• but in English we often say at the restaurant

Both ideas are built into the Arabic phrase depending on context.