All The Different Meanings Of 'Malesh' In Arabic

If you spend time in an Arabic-speaking country, especially somewhere like Egypt or the Levant, you’ll hear the word malesh / ma3lesh (معلش) a lot.

It’s a small word but it’s incredibly versatile.

It can be an apology, a word of comfort, a way to brush something off, and more.

Understanding malesh is a necessary step to speaking Arabic more naturally.

I’ll show you what it means and how you can use it.

The basic meaning of malesh

Malesh is used to downplay or minimize a negative situation.

It doesn’t have a single, perfect English translation. Instead, it covers a whole range of ideas, like:

“Don’t worry about it.”
“It’s okay.”
“Never mind.”
“Sorry.”
“It can’t be helped.”

The specific meaning always depends on the situation you’re in.

Where does it come from? The word malesh (معلش) is believed to be a shortened version of the formal Arabic phrase mā ʿalayhi shay’ (ما عليه شيء), which literally means “there is nothing upon him/it.” This gives you a clue to its main purpose: to say that something is not a big deal.

The main uses of malesh (with examples)

Here are the most common situations where you’ll hear and use malesh.

1. For a small apology

If you make a small mistake, like bumping into someone on a crowded street or stepping on their foot, malesh is the perfect word.

It’s a quick and casual way of saying “oops, sorry.”

معلش

malesh

Excuse me, sorry!

It’s less formal than saying ‘āsif (آسف), which means “I am sorry.”

You use malesh for minor accidents where no real harm was done.

2. To accept an apology

Just as you can use it to apologize, you can also use it to respond to an apology.

If someone apologizes to you for something small, replying with malesh is like saying, “it’s no problem,” or “don’t worry about it.”

أنا آسف جداً، اتأخرت!

Ana āsif jiddan, it'akhart!

I'm so sorry, I'm late!

معلش، مفيش مشكلة.

Malesh, ma fiish mushkila.

It's okay, no problem.

3. To offer comfort and sympathy

This is one of the most important uses of malesh.

When someone is telling you about a problem - they’re sick, they failed a test, they lost something - saying malesh shows you care. It’s a gentle way of saying, “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” or “That’s too bad.”

It acknowledges their hardship and offers a soft place to land.

عندي صداع رهيب النهاردة.

ʿandi ṣudāʿ rahīb en-naharda.

I have a terrible headache today.

معلش، ألف سلامة.

Malesh, alf salāma.

Oh, that's a shame. Get well soon.

Here, it’s not an apology.

It’s a sound of sympathy. You’re telling the person you feel for them.

4. To mean “suck it up” or “deal with it”

Now for a tougher meaning.

Sometimes, malesh can be used with a tone of resignation. It can mean “it is what it is, and you have to endure it.”

Imagine a child complaining about having to do their homework.

A parent might say malesh to mean, “Too bad, you have to do it anyway.” It’s not meant to be harsh, but rather a realistic “that’s life.”

مش عايز أروح الشغل!

Mish ʿāyiz arūḥ esh-shughl!

I don't want to go to work!

معلش، لازم تروح.

Malesh, lāzem terūḥ.

You have to, deal with it.

5. As a way to excuse something

This is a more cultural, and sometimes frustrating, use of the word.

Sometimes, malesh can be used to excuse a lack of responsibility. If a bus is an hour late, the driver might just shrug and say “malesh.” It can feel like a way of saying “so what?” or “what can you do?”

This is an attitude of accepting things that maybe shouldn’t be accepted.

Malesh is a truly versatile word in conversational Arabic (kind of like 3ady).

It softens blows, shows empathy, excuses small errors, and sometimes, it’s just a verbal shrug that says “life goes on.”

Learning how to use it in different situations will make your Arabic sound much more fluent and natural. It’s one of those words that carries a lot more than just its dictionary definition - it carries a whole mindset.

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