What is “maṣrūf” in Egyptian Arabic?

مصروف (maṣrūf) is the Egyptian Arabic word for “pocket money,” literally “what is to be spent.” Egyptian parents (and often a kindly عمو “uncle” or خالة “aunt”) hand out maṣrūf before kids leave for school: usually a small bill for snacks or kushari lunch. The ritual has its own fixed vocabulary: المصروف اليومي (daily allowance), مصروف الجيب (pocket money).

This clip captures the moment in miniature: a little girl named Sumi is told by her mom “تعالي خذي مصروفك من عمو جو” (“come take your pocket money from uncle Jo”) before heading to school. The casual address عمو (“uncle”) for older male relatives is itself a marker of warm Egyptian household speech.