Essential Modern Standard Arabic Phrases


Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Modern Standard Arabic words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation, please see the Pronunciation Guide below. m = man f = woman > m = to a man > f = to a woman > pl = to many Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ... The Top 10 ... as-salām Aalaykum. wa-Aalaykum as-salām. (response) marHaba. ahlan. Hello. ma'a s-salaāma. 'ilā l-liqā'. Goodbye. hal tatakallamu l-'ingliziyya? hal tatakallamīna l-'ingliziyya? Do you speak English? 'anā lā 'afham. I don't understand. qalīlan. A little. naAam. lā. Yes. No. bikam hādhā? (m) bikam hādhihi? (f) How much is it? ghālin jazīlan. tamām. Too expensive. OK. min faDluka. (> m) min faDluki. (> f) Please. shukran (jazīlan). Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...

mā ismuka? (> m) mā ismuki? (> f) What is your name? ismi ... My name is ... kayfa Hāluka? (> m) kayfa Hāluki? (> f) How are you? bi-khayrin. wa 'anta? (> m) bi-khayrin. wa 'anti? (> f) Good. And you? 'ayna ...? Where is ...? 'ayna l-Hamām? arrijāl / annisā' 'ayna d-dawratul miyāh? arrijāl / annisā' Where is the toilet? Men / Women 'anā āsif. (m) 'anā āsifa. (f) Sorry. Excuse me. law samaHta / Aan idhnak. (> m) law samaHti / Aan idhnik. (> f) Excuse me. lā mushkila. No problem. 'anā 'urīdu ... I want ... 'anā lā 'urīdu ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ... ; The Top 30 ...

min 'ayna 'anta? (> m) min 'ayna 'anti? (> f) Where are you from? 'anā min 'ustarālya.* I am from Australia. al-Hisāb, min faDluka. (> m) al-Hisāb, min faDluki. (> f) The bill, please. 'anā Da'iA. (m) 'anā Da'iAa. (f) I am lost. kif! intaDHir! (> m) kifi! intaDHiri! (> f) Stop! Wait! hunā, hunāka. Here, there. sayyārat ujra. funduq. maTar. maHaTTat alqiTār. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station. 'anā 'uHibbu ... I like ... 'anā lā 'uHibbu ... I don't like ... wāHid, ithnān, thalātha, arbaAa, khamsa. one, two, three, four, five. sitta, sabAa, thamāniya, tisAa, Aashara. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: 'amrīkā - America kanadā - Canada barīTāniya; - UK irlanda; - Ireland nyūzīlanda - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ... Useful Extras ...

fi SiHHatak! (> m) fi SiHHatik! (> f) fi SiHHatkum! (> pl) Cheers! jayyid / sayi' good / bad kabīr / Saghīr big / small qarību / baAīdu near / far 'akallu / 'aktharu less / more kaman wāHid / kifāya another / enough 'anā nabati. I am vegetarian. ''anā lā 'a'kulu l-laHm. I don't eat meat. ... d-dajāj. ... chicken. ... s-samak. ... fish. Aandi Hasasiya min al jawzīyāt. I am allergic to nuts. ... al-fūl sūdāni. ... peanuts. ... as-samak. ... fish. ... al-fawākih al-baHr. ... seafood. ... al-bayD. ... eggs.