Getting Started with Essential Arabic
Arabic can look intimidating at first, but you can start communicating quickly with a small set of essential words and phrases. This guide focuses on practical, high-frequency vocabulary that beginners can start using right away. All explanations are in English, and each Arabic example includes an English translation.
Note: Arabic is written from right to left. In this article, Arabic words are given in the Arabic script followed by their English meaning.
1. Basic Greetings and Polite Phrases
Common Greetings
These are the greetings you will hear every day in Arabic-speaking countries.
- السلامُ عليكم – “Peace be upon you” (standard greeting)
- وعليكم السلام – “And upon you be peace” (standard reply)
- مرحباً – “Hello” / “Hi” (informal, friendly)
- أهلاً وسهلاً – “Welcome” / “Hello” (very common and polite)
Example:
السلامُ عليكم – “Peace be upon you.”
وعليكم السلام – “And peace be upon you.”
Time-Based Greetings
- صباح الخير – “Good morning”
- مساء الخير – “Good evening”
- ليلة سعيدة – “Good night” (used when parting at night)
Example:
صباح الخير – “Good morning.”
مساء الخير – “Good evening.”
Polite Words: Please, Thank You, Sorry
- من فضلك – “Please” (to a man or woman; context gives gender)
- شكراً – “Thank you”
- عفواً – “You’re welcome” / “Excuse me” (depending on context)
- آسِف – “Sorry” (male speaker)
- آسِفة – “Sorry” (female speaker)
Examples:
شكراً – “Thank you.”
عفواً – “You’re welcome.”
2. Essential Question Words
Question words allow you to ask for information, which is crucial for beginners.
- مَن؟ – “Who?”
- ما؟ – “What?”
- ماذا؟ – Also “What?” (used more in standard Arabic)
- أين؟ – “Where?”
- متى؟ – “When?”
- لماذا؟ – “Why?”
- كيف؟ – “How?”
- بكم؟ – “How much?” (for price)
Examples:
- أين الحمّام؟ – “Where is the bathroom?”
- بكم هذا؟ – “How much is this?”
- ما هذا؟ – “What is this?”
3. Introducing Yourself
Learning how to introduce yourself helps you build connections quickly.
Names and Nationality
- ما اسمُك؟ – “What is your name?” (to a man or woman; pronunciation changes slightly)
- اسمي … – “My name is …”
- من أينَ أنتَ؟ – “Where are you from?” (to a man)
- من أينَ أنتِ؟ – “Where are you from?” (to a woman)
- أنا من … – “I am from …”
Example mini-dialogue:
ما اسمُك؟ – “What is your name?”
اسمي جون. – “My name is John.”
من أينَ أنتَ؟ – “Where are you from?” (to a man)
أنا من أمريكا. – “I am from America.”
Simple Personal Information
- أنا طالب – “I am a student” (male)
- أنا طالبة – “I am a student” (female)
- أنا أستاذ – “I am a teacher” (male)
- أنا أستاذة – “I am a teacher” (female)
- أنا أعيش في … – “I live in …”
Example:
أنا طالبة. أنا أعيش في لندن. – “I am a (female) student. I live in London.”
4. Numbers and Time Basics
Numbers 1–10
Numbers appear everywhere: prices, addresses, time, and dates.
- واحد – 1 (one)
- اثنان – 2 (two)
- ثلاثة – 3 (three)
- أربعة – 4 (four)
- خمسة – 5 (five)
- ستة – 6 (six)
- سبعة – 7 (seven)
- ثمانية – 8 (eight)
- تسعة – 9 (nine)
- عشرة – 10 (ten)
Days of the Week (Most Useful Ones)
- اليوم – “today”
- غداً – “tomorrow”
- أمس – “yesterday”
Examples:
- أريد اثنين من هذا. – “I want two of this.”
- اليوم حار. – “Today is hot.”
5. Survival Phrases for Travel
These phrases are especially useful for tourists and new learners moving through Arabic-speaking environments.
Getting Around
- أينَ …؟ – “Where is …?”
- أينَ الفندق؟ – “Where is the hotel?”
- أينَ المحطّة؟ – “Where is the station?”
- إلى المطار، من فضلك. – “To the airport, please.”
At a Restaurant or Café
- أريد … – “I want …” / “I would like …”
- أريد ماءً، من فضلك. – “I would like water, please.”
- هل عندكم …؟ – “Do you have …?”
- الحساب، من فضلك. – “The bill, please.”
Example mini-dialogue:
أريد قهوة، من فضلك. – “I would like coffee, please.”
الحساب، من فضلك. – “The bill, please.”
Shopping and Money
- كم السعر؟ – “What is the price?”
- بكم هذا؟ – “How much is this?”
- غالي – “Expensive”
- رخيص – “Cheap” / “Inexpensive”
Example:
بكم هذا؟ – “How much is this?”
هذا غالي. – “This is expensive.”
6. Everyday Verbs and Useful Expressions
Learning a few very common verbs lets you build many simple sentences.
High-Frequency Verbs (Dictionary Form)
- أريد – “I want”
- أحبّ – “I like / I love”
- أذهب – “I go”
- آكل – “I eat”
- أشرب – “I drink”
- أفهم – “I understand”
- لا أفهم – “I do not understand”
Examples:
- أحبّ اللغة العربية. – “I like the Arabic language.”
- أذهب إلى المدرسة. – “I go to school.”
- لا أفهم. – “I don’t understand.”
Useful Communication Phrases
- نعم – “Yes”
- لا – “No”
- حسناً – “Okay”
- ممكن؟ – “Is it possible?” / “May I?” (very common)
- لحظة، من فضلك. – “One moment, please.”
Examples:
- نعم، ممكن. – “Yes, it’s possible.” / “Yes, you may.”
- لا، شكراً. – “No, thank you.”
7. Talking About How You Feel
Being able to express basic feelings and needs is essential.
Simple Feelings and States
- أنا تعبان – “I am tired” (male)
- أنا تعبانة – “I am tired” (female)
- أنا جوعان – “I am hungry” (male)
- أنا جوعانة – “I am hungry” (female)
- أنا عطشان – “I am thirsty” (male)
- أنا عطشانة – “I am thirsty” (female)
- أنا بخير – “I am fine” / “I am okay”
Examples:
- أنا بخير، شكراً. – “I am fine, thank you.”
- أنا جوعان. – “I am hungry.” (male speaker)
8. Asking for Help and Clarification
These phrases are very important when you are still learning and need support.
- من فضلك، ساعدني. – “Please, help me.”
- لا أفهم. – “I don’t understand.”
- هل تتكلّم الإنجليزية؟ – “Do you speak English?” (to a man)
- تكلّم ببطء، من فضلك. – “Speak slowly, please.”
- أعيد من فضلك. – “Repeat, please.”
Example mini-dialogue:
لا أفهم. تكلّم ببطء، من فضلك. – “I don’t understand. Speak slowly, please.”
هل تتكلّم الإنجليزية؟ – “Do you speak English?”
9. Practical Tips for Learning and Using This Vocabulary
To remember these words and phrases, try these simple strategies:
- Group words by situation. For example, learn all restaurant phrases together, then all shopping phrases together.
- Use them out loud. Even if you are alone, say the phrases aloud to practice pronunciation.
- Make mini-dialogues. Combine greetings, introductions, and survival phrases to create short conversations.
- Review daily. Just 5–10 minutes a day reviewing these words will help move them into your long-term memory.
With these essential Arabic vocabulary words and phrases, you already have a strong foundation for basic communication. As you continue, you can add more verbs, adjectives, and topic-specific words, but these expressions will support you in almost every beginner situation.
