Arabic phrasebook

Arabic is the fourth most widely-spoken language in the world. It is spoken in many popular destinations in North Africa and the Middle East. There are many regional dialects, but a standard Arabic language is maintained due to religious needs and region-wide media.

Arabic is written from right to left. It has its own alphabet, different from the Roman alphabet used for English.

For communication purposes while travelling and using this guide, it is very important to note that Arabic is divided into Classical Arabic (mostly used in print) and Colloquial Arabic. Colloquial Arabic is further subdivided into regional colloquial accents, the main regions being the Levant, Persian Gulf States, Egypt, and North Africa. These regional colloquial accents differ enough to be mutually incomprehensible.

The pronunciation guide below uses Classical Arabic and Levantine Colloquial Arabic.

Pronunciation guide

TBD

Arabic pronunciation varies WIDELY from place to place.

Standard Arabic will be understood by most educated people, as it is what they hear frequently on TV.

As a general rule:

'a' tends to be like that of 'hat'
'aa' is a longer version of 'a'
'b' as in English
't' as in English
'th' as in English 'thin'
'dh' as in English 'them'
'j' as in 'jam' in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, 'j' as in 'measure' in the Levant (Lebanon, Palestine etc.), and 'g' as in 'give' in Egypt and North Africa.
'H' is a pharyngeal fricative sound at the back of the throat (though not like clearing it). It sounds like you are about to whisper the word 'hello'.
'kh' as in Scots 'loch' or German 'mach'
'r' a tapped sound like Spanish 'pero', but trilled like Spanish 'perro' when doubled.
'z' as in English
'd' as in English
's' as in English
'sh' as in English
'S' like 's' but with the back of the throat constricted. Makes 'a' further back in the throat, 'i' into 'e' and 'u' into 'o'.
'D' like 'd' but with the back of the throat constricted. Same vowel changes as 'S'
'T' like 'D', but equivalent to 't'
'Z' varies: sometimes like 'D', but equivalent to 'th', but other times equivalent to 'z'.
'h' as in English
'q' like 'k' but further back in the throat. Often pronounced like '?'
'k' as in English
'l' as in English
'm' as in English
'f' as in English
'n' as in English
'?' as in Cockney 'bottle' ('bole). A glottal stop.
'9' not always pronounced, but essential in Standard Arabic. A voiced version of 'H'.
'gh' a fricative sound at the back of the throat. 'kh' while using the voice box.

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

السلام عليكم assalam alaykum <formal>

Problems

Otrokni (M)- Otrokini (F)

Shurta!

Ahtaj musa'ada lau semah't

Ana Tayeh (M) Tayha (F)

Lakad fakadto hakibati

Lakad fakadto mahafazati

Ana mareed (m) Or Ana mareeda (f)

Ah'taj doktor.

hal momken asta'mel al-telefone?

Numbers

Arabic numerals

٠: 0
١: 1
٢: 2
٣: 3
٤: 4
٥: 5
٦: 6
٧: 7
٨: 8
٩: 9

Transportation

Directions

Pronouns

Asking questions

Useful "I"s

Things

Time

Clock time

Duration

Days

Months

Writing time and date

Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.

Colors

Transportation

Bus and train

Directions

Taxi

get to _____? (adeish?)

Lodging

Money

Eating