Whenever we mention the Middle East, many of you likely think of hot, dry deserts under a blistering sun. A place where there is no rain, only one year long hot summer. Truth be told, however, many of the countries of the Arab world actually have all four seasons in a normal year. Autumn follows summer, winter follows autumn, spring comes after winter, and so...
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If there is one Middle Eastern folktale we all know it’s the Aladdin story. So learning Arabic means that you are learning its cultures and stories behind everything. At some point, you must have come across the one and only: the book of One Thousand and One Nights. It is also called the Arabian Nights. These Arabic stories and folktales do not only tell stories. They are...
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If your visit to Egypt just happens to fall during the holy month of Ramadan, you’re in luck. That’s because there is no better place to enjoy the holiest of all Islamic months than in Egypt. Indeed, when you spend Ramadan in Egypt, traditions seem just a little bit more special there. So, what makes Ramadan so special in Egypt? Well, that’s what we’re going to...
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It is not common that certain stories make it to historical books. The kind of world literature that lecturer’s and teachers teach students in schools. The Arabian Nights is a work of art that is one of the best influences by the Arabic and Islamic world. This contribution sheds light on so many life lessons through a number of different stories in one set. The Arabian...
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Many people visit the Arab world to check out its striking landscapes and rich history. Still others visit the Middle East because they enjoy the wide array of flora and fauna they find only in this region. Today, Kaleela takes you on a journey to learn about some of that wildlife. In particular, we look at the two most widely common species of deer –...
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The Arab world inspires the world through its culture. Part of these traditions lies the stories of heroes. The most prominent one is The Seven Voyages of Sinbad story. This one is so good, it’s hard to put it down even after all these years. Of course, like all other Arabian stories, there are lessons or morals. These morals started in the Arab world and made...
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Death is an inevitable part of life. As such, there may be a time in your life when you or someone you know loses a loved one. If that someone happens to be an Arab, you might be wondering what say to that person in Arabic to provide some comfort. As you know, most of the people living in the Middle East are Muslims. This means...
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Cats have been an important part of Middle Eastern culture since the days of Ancient Egypt. Indeed, back then, they were praised for protecting the pharaohs by killing venomous snakes. What’s more this duty to protect got our feline friends turned into gods, and they are even used as symbols of protection in the infamous Book of the Dead. Now, flash forward a couple of thousand...
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If you’re thinking about learning Arabic, you’re likely aware of the richness of the Arabic language. Indeed, there are many interesting things about Arabic language learning, but here are a few fun facts about Arabic that you might not know: 1. Arabic is the official language of 25 countries One of the most interesting facts about Arabic language is that there are 466 million native speakers of...
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Bedouins and other native Arab cultures consider the Arabian horse a gift from God and they treat them as such. Indeed, the bond between Arabs and their horses over the years has played a vital role in Arab culture. After all, how many grand poems have been written to the Arabian horse? And how many songs have Bedouins sung by their desert campfires at night praising these noble...
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