Arabic is spoken by roughly 250 million people in close to 25 countries around the world. Considered as the spiritual language of Islam, it is also spoken as the second language in many Islamic countries.
The Arabic language is also one of the world's oldest living languages and the source of many other languages. It is divided into 3 main groups:
Classical Arabic: Quran – the holy book of Islam is written in Classical Arabic. It is very ancient and thus not spoken as a local dialect nor used for day-to-day conversation. It is primarily learnt for recitation of the Quran.
Classical Arabic:It is a modernized version of Classical Arabic, which is taught in Arab schools. It is used in news and in modern literature and also by people who speak different varieties of Arabic.
Colloquial Arabic: Egyptian Arabic is the most commonly spoken and understood language among the variety of other local Arabic languages.
Let us look at some of the basic Arabic phrases:-
| I | --- | Ana |
| You | --- | Inta/inti (m/f) |
| He | --- | Huwa |
| She | --- | Hiya |
| We | --- | Nahnu |
| They | --- | Uhum |
| Yes | --- | Na’am |
| No | --- | La |
| Ok | --- | Tayib |
| What? | --- | Shoo? |
| Please | --- | Min fudluk |
| Sorry | --- | Aasef |
| Later | --- | Baadin |
| Now | --- | Al aan |
| May be | --- | Mumkin |
| Today | --- | Al yawm |
| Tomorrow | --- | Ghadan |
| Yesterday | --- | Al bareha |
| Perfect | --- | Tamaam |
| Of course! | --- | Tabaan! |
| Everything | --- | Kull |
| Big | --- | Kabeer |
| Small | --- | Sagheer |
| Straight | --- | Sida |
| Left | --- | Yasar |
| Right | --- | Yameen |
| What is this? | --- | Shoo hada? |
| What is the matter? | --- | Shoofi mafi? |
| No problem | --- | Mafi mushkil |
| I don’t know | --- | Ma adhri |
| How much? | --- | Kam? |
| See you later | --- | Araka/ Araki (to a lady) |
| Where do you stay | --- | Ayna taskun? |
| I do not follow | --- | La afham |
| I do not know | --- | La a’ref |
| I am hungry | --- | Ana jae’ |
| I am thirsty | --- | Ana ‘atshaan |
| I am lost! | --- | Adatu tariqi! |
| Can I help you? | --- | Hal Mumken mosa’ asaduq? |
| Can u help me? | --- | Hal mumken mosa’ adati? |
| Hello | --- | As-salamo alaykum |
| Hello (response) | --- | Wa alaykume s-salam |
| Hi | --- | Salam |
| Good morning | --- | Sabah el Kheer |
| Good evening | --- | Masah el kheer |
| Good night | --- | Tisbah el kheer |
| Thank you | --- | Shukran |
| Welcome | --- | Ahlan wa sahlan OR marhaba |
| Good Luck | --- | Betaufeeq |
| How are you | --- | Kayfa haluk? |
| Well/Fine, thank you | --- | Al hamdu lillah/ Ana bikhayr, shukran |
| What is your name? | --- | Ma ismuk? |
| My name is…. | --- | Esmee…. |
| Where are you from? | --- | Inta min weyn? |
| Goodbye | --- | Ma’asalaamah |
| Sure/If God wishes | --- | Inshallah – This phrase is used in several contexts. |
| Congratulations! | --- | Mabrook! |
| Bus | --- | Bas |
| Car | --- | Sayyara |
| Horse | --- | Hsan |
| Camel | --- | Jamal |
| Taxi | --- | Tax |
| Policeman | --- | Shurta |
| Bathroom | --- | Al merhaad |
| Pharmacy | --- | Assaidaliah |
| Telephone | --- | Hatif |
| Address | --- | Onwan |
| Lane | --- | Shari' |
| Contact no. | --- | Raqam |
| Metropolis | --- | Madina |
| Over here | --- | Hni |
| Over there | --- | Hhnak |
| Next to | --- | Yam |
| Opposite | --- | M’gabel |
| Behind | --- | Wara |
| Ingress | --- | Dukhol |
| Egress | --- | Khuruj |
| Traffic police | --- | Murur |
| Bank | --- | Masrif |
| Restaurant | --- | Mataam |
| Airport | --- | Matar |
| Post Office | --- | Maktab il bareed |
| Hospital | --- | Mustashfa |
| Police station | --- | Dar al shurta |
| Toilets (Gents) | --- | Hammam (lirrijal) |
| Toilets (Ladies) | --- | Hammam (linnisa'a) |
| Bus stop | --- | Mokaf al-bas |
| Monday | --- | Idhnayn |
| Tuesday | --- | Dhaladh |
| Wednesday | --- | Arba' |
| Thursday | --- | Khamis |
| Friday | --- | Jama'a |
| Saturday | --- | As-sabt |
| Sunday | --- | Al-had |
| 0 | --- | Sifr |
| 1 | --- | Wahed |
| 2 | --- | Ithnaan |
| 3 | --- | Thalatha |
| 4 | --- | Arba'a |
| 5 | --- | Khamsa |
| 6 | --- | Sitta |
| 7 | --- | Sab'a |
| 8 | --- | Thamania |
| 9 | --- | Tis'a |
| 10 | --- | Ashara |
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