What does “كده” (keda) mean in Egyptian Arabic?

كده (keda) is one of the most useful little words in Egyptian Arabic. It means “like this” or “that way,” and it fills the slot where Standard Arabic uses هكذا. ليه كده؟ is “why like that?” or “why did you do that?” You will hear it in every second sentence: عمل كده (“he did it like this”), كده كويس (“this is fine”), كده وخلاص (“just because”).

Mustafa comes home with a 50 instead of his usual 100, and his father asks ليه كده يا مصطفى؟ مش متعودين (“why like that, Mustafa? we’re not used to it”). The same word carries “so, then”: كده تمام (“that’s all right”) and كده يبقى... (“so that means...”). Say it with a rising voice and it becomes a mild reproach.