لو الطابعة مش شغالة، ابعتيلي الملف على الايميل.

If the printer is not working, send me the file by email.

Breakdown of لو الطابعة مش شغالة، ابعتيلي الملف على الايميل.

• ال: the
• مش: not
• لو: if
• ل: to

Questions & Answers about لو الطابعة مش شغالة، ابعتيلي الملف على الايميل.

What does لو mean here?

لو means if. It introduces the condition:

لو الطابعة مش شغالة = If the printer isn’t working

In Egyptian Arabic, لو is the normal everyday way to make this kind of if sentence.

Why is there no word for is in الطابعة مش شغالة?

Because in Egyptian Arabic, the verb to be is usually omitted in the present tense.

So:

الطابعة شغالة
literally: the printer working
natural English: the printer is working

And:

الطابعة مش شغالة
natural English: the printer isn’t working

This is very normal in Arabic, and it is one of the first things English speakers notice.

What does شغالة mean exactly?

شغالة means working, running, or on, depending on context.

With a machine or device, it usually means functioning / operating. So:

الطابعة مش شغالة = the printer isn’t working

It comes from the idea of working / operating, and Egyptians use it a lot for machines, appliances, and electronics.

Why is it شغالة and not some other form?