Sounds and Voices in the Cities {The Egyptian Explained}

 

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The Buzz of Cairo: A Culture of Sound

You can’t help but notice the buzz that the city of Cairo has become. The noise—or rather, the sounds of the city—are everywhere. Cairo has developed a unique culture of sound, a signature of sorts that makes the city recognizable by its volume and vocal presence.

Known as "the city that never sleeps," Cairo is filled with all kinds of voices, honks, and ambient sounds. But what stands out most is that these sounds are rarely soft. Loudness is the culture.

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Mapping the City Through Sound

One compelling way to analyze the city is by mapping its soundscape. If you walk through downtown Cairo, you’ll experience firsthand just how intense the sounds can be.

In Cairo, communication is often about who can be louder. While it’s said that being loud doesn't always mean you're right, an Egyptian proverb tells a different story: “Khodohom bel soot”, meaning “They are taken by the sound.” This saying implies that even nonsensical or exaggerated speech, if delivered loudly, may still gain attention or influence interpretation.

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Loudness as Social Performance

During street disputes or verbal altercations, people often resort to exaggerated, animated storytelling. The goal is less about reason and more about performative loudness. Street fights and arguments frequently showcase this aspect of Cairo’s sound culture.

In such cases, loud voices tend to invite more loud voices, creating a competition not for clarity, but for volume. It becomes a contest of who can dominate the sound space—even if the substance is lacking.

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Horn Honking: A Sound of Urban Chaos

Another hallmark of Cairo’s sound culture is its horn-honking phenomenon. At traffic lights, it’s common to hear a collective chorus of honks the moment the light turns green—or even just before. Drivers honk to signal impatience, to urge movement, or seemingly out of habit. Suddenly, everyone is competing for the loudest beep.

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Comparing Soundscapes: Urban vs. Coastal

Unlike Cairo, coastal or low-density cities tend to be quieter. These places have lower population concentrations, leading to less ambient noise. In rural villages or along the coast, the dominant sounds are often natural—waves, wind, birds, and other environmental elements.

The contrast between urban and rural soundscapes can shape people's behaviors and even personalities.

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Sound Culture and Its Effects

The culture of sound—particularly constant loudness—may have an impact on personality development, anxiety levels, and tension. The rhythm of life can differ significantly depending on the sound environment. Loud cities may encourage louder, more animated personalities, while quieter towns may foster calmness and introspection.

That said, some individuals are naturally loud or quiet, regardless of their environment. Still, the urban soundscape can influence or amplify these traits.

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Final Thought: How Loud Are You?

So—how loud are you, or could you be? Are you shaped by your environment, or do you shape the environment with your voice? In Cairo, you just might find yourself speaking up—or being spoken over.

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References

• Schafer, R. M. (1977). The Soundscape: Our Sonic Environment and the Tuning of the World. Destiny Books.

• Bijsterveld, K. (2008). Mechanical Sound: Technology, Culture, and Public Problems of Noise in the Twentieth Century. MIT Press.

• Thompson, E. (2002). The Soundscape of Modernity: Architectural Acoustics and the Culture of Listening in America, 1900–1933. MIT Press.

• Cairo street sound observations and proverbs: Informal cultural sources, personal experiences, and ethnographic reflections.