Whether it’s for business or pleasure, traveling to a new country can be both an exciting and anxious adventure. This is especially true if you’re traveling to an Arabic-speaking country and you can’t speak or read the language.
With that in mind, Kaleela wants to help you have a stress-free journey to the Middle East. We’ll do that today by teaching you some basic Arabic words and phrases to use when traveling the Arab world.
Everyday Arabic Phrases
You may have heard the old English adage that “Please” and “Thank you” go a long way. Well, that’s true for the Arabic language, too. First, we’ll start with some basic Arabic words for travelers that’ll take you far on your Middle Eastern rihla/ رحلة. (rihla/ رحلة is the Arabic word for “journey”.) Here is an Arabic vocabulary list.
| English | Transliteration | Arabic |
| Thank you | shukran | شكرا |
| Thank you very much | shukran jazilan | جزيلا شكرا |
| You’re welcome | ’ahlan wa sahlan | أهلاً وسهلا |
| Please | law samaht | لو سمحت |
| Yes | na’am | نعم |
| No | la | لا |
| Excuse me | afwan | عفوا |
| How are you? | kayfa Haaluka? (m.) kayfa Haaluki? (f.) | (m.) هالوكا؟ كيفا كيفا هالوكي؟(.f) |
| Can you help me? | hal bi’iimkanik musaeadati? | مساعدتي؟ هل بإمكانك |
| I’m sorry | ’anaa ’aasif | اسف أنا |
| I don’t understand | la ’afham | لا أفهم أنا |
| I don’t speak Arabic very well | ana la atakalam alearabiat jayidan | انا لا اتكلم العربية جيدا |
| Do you speak English? | hal tatakalam bial’iinjiliziati? | هل تتكلم بالإنجليزية؟ |
| How much does that cost? | kam yukalif hadha? | كم يكلف هذا؟ |
| Do you have free WIFI available? | hal ladayk khidmat WiFi majaaniat mutahatun? | هل لديك خدمة WiFi مجانية متاحة؟ |
| Speak slowly, please. | tahadath bibut’ min fadlika. | تحدث ببطء من فضلك. |
| Repeat, please. | ‘aeudu min fadlika. | أعد من فضلك |
At the Airport
Once you arrive at the airport, you might want to know things like where to find your baggage. Here is some airport vocabulary in Arabic to get you started. (These words and phrases are also helpful for when you want to return home.)
| English | Transliteration | Arabic |
| reservation | hajz | حجز |
| flight | rihlat | رحلة |
| baggage | ‘amtiea | أمتعة |
| passport | jawaz safar | جواز سفر |
| visa | tashira | تأشيرة |
| entry | dukhul | دخول |
| exit | khuruj | خروج |
| airport | matar | مطار |
| gate | bawaaba | بوابة |
| customs | jamruk | جمرك |
| baggage claim | aistilam al’amtiea | استلام الأمتعة |
| arrivals area | qaeat alqadimin | قاعة القادمين |
| departure area | salat almughadirin | صالة المغادرين |
| bus | ‘uwtubis | أوتوبيس |
| ticket | tadhkirat | تذكرة |
| departure time | waqt almughadara | وقت المغادرة |
| arrival time | waqt alwusul | وقت الوصول |
| first class | alsafu al’awal | الصف الأول |
Here are some phrases to know using some of the words you learned above.
| English | Transliteration | Arabic |
| I would like to buy a ticket. | ‘awadu shira ‘tadhkiratin. | أود شراء تذكرة. |
| I would like to travel to . . . | ‘awadu alsafar ‘iilaa. . . | أود السفر إلى. . . |
| I have two pieces of baggage | ladaya qiteatan min al’amtiea | لدي قطعتان من الأمتعة |
| This is my carry-on baggage. | hadhih hi ‘amtieati almahmulatu. | هذه هي أمتعتي المحمولة. |
| What time does the plane arrive? | fi ‘ayi waqt tasil altaayiratu? | في أي وقت تصل الطائرة؟ |
| Here is my passport. | ha hu jawaz safariun | ها هو جواز سفري |
| Here is my ticket. | ha hi tadhkarati. | ها هي تذكرتي. |
| I want to travel by plane | arid alsafar bialtaayira | اريد السفر بالطائرة |
| I want to rent a car | ‘urid tajir sayaara | أريد تأجير سيارة |
| How much is the ticket? | kam tablugh qimat altadhkurati? | كم تبلغ قيمة التذكرة؟ |
| Where is the gate? | ayn albawaabati? | اين البوابة؟ |
At the Hotel
Now that you arrived, you’re probably ready to rest your head after such a long flight. Here are some words you can use once you’re at your hotel. (You can also use them to practice your Arabic ahead of time by making reservations before you leave.)
| English | Transliteration | Arabic |
| hotel | funduq | فندق |
| room | ghurfa | غرفة |
| pool | hamaam alsibaha | حمام السباحة |
| floor | tabiq | طابق |
| air conditioning | takayaf | تكيف |
| balcony | shurfa | شرفة |
| two beds | siriran | سريران |
| bathroom | hamam | حمام |
| phone | hatif | هاتف |
| television | altilfaz | التلفاز |
| wifi | wifi | واي فاي |
The following phrases can help you make or change your hotel reservations.
| English | Transliteration | Arabic |
| I have a reservation. | ladaya hajzu. | لدي حجز. |
| Do you have a room? | hal ladayk ghurfatu? | هل لديك غرفة |
| I prefer a room with . . . | ‘uhil ghurfatan mae … | أحيل غرفة مع … |
| How much is the room? | kam sier alghurfati? | كم سعر الغرفة؟ |
| Smoking or non-smoking? | mudakhan ‘am la? | مدخن أم لا؟ |
| Smoking | altadkhin | التدخين |
| Non-Smoking | ghayr mudakhan | غير مدخن |
رحلات آمنة /rihlat amna!
(“Safe travels” in Arabic)
Want to learn more Arabic and make traveling even easier and more fun? Then head on over to our website and download Kaleela Arabic Language Learning app and know before you go! Visit kaleela.com for more info and to get your Arabic language learning app today!
Kaleela – Learn Arabic the Right Way!
