Speak Arabic Instantly

Arabia

العربية/عربي‎‎

Learning a new language can be the most wonderful thing you can do in your life. Some people devote their entire lives to learning a language. Some even learn a multitude of languages. They are called polyglotts. To be able to communicate with an Arabic person in their own tongue is something you will never forget and this article will help you to achieve that goal.

Arabic

Arabic is from the Central-Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family . There are 290 million speakers and if considered a single language rises to 420 million speakers. The writing system is Arabic and where possible I will include the Arabic script.

Exercise 1 : Hello

Let's begin with saying hello. I know there are formal greetings we can learn, but we are on vacation so we will use the informal word:

marhaban مرحبا

Try these English words : bar-a-man

Whenever "a" is used as a single letter in English it is always pronounced "a" as in "apple".

Arabic Phrase : marhaban

What it means : hello

English words : bar-a-man

Pronounced : marr-habb-ban

Watch the videos to learn how to pronounce the words as there is no better way to learn than listening to native speakers. Throughout I will tell you where on the videos the particular phrases can be heard by minutes and seconds. For example in the next video the phrase begins at 0:30.

Thanks To Arabicpod101

Exercise 2 : Where Are The Toilets?

At some stage on our holiday we will need to know where the toilets are. For me it's usually when we arrive at our destination at the airport. We already know how to say hello to someone. Now find out where the toilets are.

wain it amman

Arabic Phrase : wain it ammam

What it means : where is the toilet?

English words : pain lit lamb-mam

Pronounced : wain it ammam

In the video skip to 2:33

Thanks Damas Sara

Exercise 3 : Thank You

This is just a great word that we can use for thousands of situations.

shuckran___شكرا

Arabic Phrase : shuckran

What it means : thank you

English words : duck-bran

Pronounced : shook-ran

The girl in this next video, Enas Eldabbas, speaks many phrases and her fluency is something you should listen to so you can get the feeling, sounds and rhythms of this beautiful language. For the phrase skip to 1:49.

Thanks To Easy Languages

Exercise 4 : Excuse me

Here is another phrase we are bound to use on our vacation. To attract someones attention in a shop or to pass somebody in a busy market.

afuan

Arabic Phrase : afuan

What it means : excuse me

English words : laugh-man

Pronounced : aff-wan

On the video in exercise 3 skip to 3:30.

Exercise 5 : How Much is it?

This phrase is essential for when we go shopping. We are bound to want to know the price of something sooner or later, especially on markets where you might end up bartering. It helps in shops or anywhere, where there is no price displayed.

kem say roh ha

Arabic Phrase : kem say roh ha

What it means : how much is it?

English words : gem day low a

Pronounced : kem say roh ha

On the video in exercise 3 skip to 2:12.

Exercise 6 : I Would Like

I would like or I want are always handy to know. Even if you only point to what it is that you need. The phrase to use is:

arragabboh fee

Arabic Phrase : arragabboh fee

What it means : I would like

English words : para-dab-oh pea

Pronounced : arra-gabbo fee

On the video in exercise 3 skip to 2:40.

Exercise 7 : Drinks

Obviously we can't learn every single item we might want to buy while we're on our holidays, so we will narrow it down to some drinks we may want in a cafe or a bar. Hence there is quite a few words and phrases to get through.

القهوة والشاي

البيرة والنبيذ المياه الحليب

Arabic Phrase : quawah....shy

What it means : coffee.... tea

English words : kwawah....buy

Pronounced : kwawah....shy

Arabic Phrase : birra....haleeb....nabeev....mah

What it means : beer....milk....wine....water

English words : clear-a....pal-leave....a-leave....bah

Pronounced : beera....haleeb....nabeev....mah

Exercise 8 : Numbers

When we are ordering our drinks we might want more than one so we will need to learn some numbers. Here they are one to five.

wah-head, it-naan, thalahtah, arabah-ah-a, hamsah

Arabic Phrase : wah-head, it-naan, thalahtah, arabah-ah-a, hamsah

What it means : one two three four five

English words : bah-ted, fit-barn, alarm-bah, para-shah-car-a, lamb-shah

Pronounced : wah-head, it-naan, thalahtah, arabah-ah-a, hamsah

Exercise 9 : The Bill / The Check

Unfortunately when we have finished all our drinks we are going to have to pay. So we will need the bill.

al fatohrah lou samaht

Arabic Phrase : al fatohrah lou samaht

What it means : the bill/ the check, please

English words : pal shah-you-far now dam-that

Pronounced : al fah-too-rah lou(d) sam-at

On the video in exercise 3 skip to 2:15.

Beirut, Lebanon

Exercise 10 : Goodbye

We began with hello so why don't we end with goodbye?

maheh salaama___مع السلام

Arabic Phrase : maheh salaama

What it means : goodbye

English words : ballet alarm-a

Pronounced : maheh salaama

On the video in exercise 3 skip to 3:13.

مع السلام

Unfortunately our time in Arabia is at an end, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to practise your Arabic language. There are many internet sites you can visit or even better you may get to know an Arabic person. You may even decide to begin learning the language in it's entirety, which will bring you a lifetime of pleasure. Good luck and until next time...مع السلام