Egypt trivia: 43 questions and answers

Cairo. Cairo is the capital and by far the largest city. Much of the government has moved to the New Capital east of Cairo, but as of 2026 the constitution still names Cairo as the capital. Alexandria and Thebes, today's Luxor, were capitals in ancient times.

True. True. Egypt is mostly in Africa, but the Sinai Peninsula, east of the Suez Canal, is part of Asia, so Egypt spans two continents.

The Egyptian pound. The Egyptian pound, divided into 100 piastres, has been Egypt's currency since 1834. In Egyptian Arabic it is called the ginēh.

Upper and Lower Egypt. Upper and Lower Egypt, the Nile Valley in the south and the delta in the north, were united about 3100 BC. Pharaohs were called 'Lord of the Two Lands' ever after.

Khufu. It was built for Khufu, also known as Cheops, more than 4,500 years ago. Tutankhamun and Ramesses II lived over a thousand years later and were buried near Luxor, and Cleopatra lived about 2,500 years after Khufu, in the time of Julius Caesar.

True. True. After Octavian's forces invaded, Cleopatra died in August 30 BC, and Egypt became a province of Rome.

Nationalising the Suez Canal. Nasser announced nationalising the Suez Canal on 26 July 1956, and Britain, France and Israel invaded. Egypt had become a republic in 1953, united with Syria in 1958 and signed peace with Israel in 1979.

False. False. Britain, which had occupied Egypt since 1882, declared Egypt independent in 1922. France had occupied Egypt only briefly, from 1798 to 1801.

Koshari. Koshari, often called Egypt's national dish, was added to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage in 2025. Molokhia is a green soup, fatta a bread and meat feast dish, and mahshi stuffed vegetables.

Fava beans. Egyptian ta'ameya is usually made from fava beans with lots of fresh herbs, which makes it green inside. In the Levant, falafel is typically made from chickpeas.

Jute. Molokhia is made from finely chopped jute leaves cooked in stock and finished with garlic and ground coriander. Grapevine and cabbage leaves are used for mahshi.

True. True. Feseekh, fermented grey mullet, is eaten above all at Sham Ennessim. It must be bought from trusted sellers, because badly prepared feseekh can cause botulism.

False. False. Om Ali is a sweet pudding of pastry or bread baked in hot milk with nuts, raisins and coconut. The meat-filled bread is hawawshi.

Life. Eish comes from an Arabic word meaning life or living, a sign of how central bread is to Egyptian meals.

Eid al-Adha. Fatta is a feast dish for Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, and Coptic Christians make it at Christmas.

Alexandria. Alexandria, Egypt's second city and main port, is the 'Bride of the Mediterranean'. Hurghada is on the Red Sea, and Aswan and Siwa are far inland.

True. True. Masr is the Egyptian Arabic name of Egypt, and in everyday speech it often means Cairo too.

A lion. The Sphinx has the body of a lion, shown resting, and a human head, carved from the limestone bedrock, about 73 m long.

To save them from the waters of Lake Nasser. The Aswan High Dam created Lake Nasser, which would have drowned the temples, so they were cut into huge blocks and rebuilt on higher ground to save them from the waters of Lake Nasser, a project finished in 1968.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria. It was built in the 1470s on the site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which earthquakes had destroyed.

True. True. His tomb, known as KV62, was found there in 1922, among more than 60 tombs and chambers.

False. False. It stands in Giza, about 2 km from the pyramids, and opened officially on 1 November 2025.

Mount Sinai. The monastery, built in the 500s, stands at the foot of Mount Sinai in the south of the Sinai Peninsula.

False. False. That is a popular myth. Drawings from 1737, before Napoleon's army arrived, already show the nose missing, and marks show it was removed on purpose with rods or chisels.

The British Museum in London. It has been in the British Museum in London since 1802. French soldiers found it in 1799, and the British took it after defeating the French in Egypt.

Seven. Egypt has won it seven times. Cameroon is next with five titles.

Fossils of early whales. Wadi Al-Hitan, 'the valley of the whales', holds hundreds of fossils of early whales, some with small hind legs. As of 2026 it is Egypt's only natural World Heritage Site.

About 95%. About 95% of Egyptians live along the Nile Valley and Delta, on about 5% of the land. The rest of the country is mostly desert.

The rising sun lights up the statues deep inside. On those mornings the rising sun lights up the statues deep inside the sanctuary. When the temple was moved, it was placed so that this would still happen.

True. True. They include the pyramid fields from Giza to Dahshur, ancient Thebes, Historic Cairo, the Nubian monuments, Abu Mena, the Saint Catherine area and Wadi Al-Hitan.

Thank you. Shukran means thank you. Hello is ahlan, goodbye is ma'a salama, and please is law samaht.

True. True. Ma'lesh means don't worry, it's okay or never mind, and it is also used to say sorry. You will hear it many times a day.

Expensive. Ghali means expensive. 'Da ghali awi' means 'that's very expensive', useful when bargaining.

Bikam da?. Bikam da? means 'How much is this?'. Fein el-hammam? asks for the toilet, ana mesh fahem means 'I don't understand' and sabah en-nur is the reply to good morning.

Sabah en-nur. The reply is sabah en-nur, 'morning of light'. Ma'a salama means goodbye, Ramadan kareem is a Ramadan greeting and da ghali awi means 'that's very expensive'.

True. True. Asked 'izzayak?', how are you, many Egyptians simply answer el-hamdu lillah.

False. False. Ramadan kareem, 'Ramadan is generous', is the greeting for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Military sites, including the Suez Canal. Photographing military sites, including the Suez Canal, is illegal. Also ask before photographing people, and do not photograph children.

A small tip. Baksheesh is a small tip, for example for a bathroom attendant or a driver. Keep small notes handy, but you do not have to pay for help you did not ask for.

False. False. Drinking alcohol anywhere other than licensed restaurants, bars, private homes or certain tourist resorts is illegal and can lead to arrest.

Take off your shoes. Take off your shoes at the door, as shoes carry dirt from the street. Socks are fine, and you should also dress modestly.

False. False. Visitors are not expected to fast, but eating, drinking or smoking in public in the daytime is seen as insensitive.

True. True. Many locals drink the tap water, but it often makes travellers ill, so bottled water, with an unbroken seal, is the safer choice.