With all the excitement about the pending Eid al-Adha holidays, we started thinking about other holidays celebrated in the Arab world. For example, along with the two Islamic holidays, we know that some countries also celebrate Western holidays as well. These may include major holidays like Labor Day or their version of Independence Day. However, did you know that some countries also celebrate minor holidays...
Read More
“Should I learn Modern Standard Arabic or a local dialect?” That’s the question our app users ask us the most here at Kaleela. However, it’s a question that none of us can really give a sure answer to. Truth be told, the reason is because the answer really depends on you and why you’re learning Arabic. Thus, to help you decide, we’re presenting the pros...
Read More
You’ve seen us mention the fact that Arabic is one of the fastest-growing languages in the world. It moved up from fifth to fourth place in 2019’s list of most often used languages to learn. For example, there are 422 million speakers in the world. And with that many people, it’s no wonder there are so many dialects. If you’re looking to study Arabic, trying...
Read More
So, you’ve studied Modern Standard Arabic and you feel like you should aim for the next level and study Jordanian Arabic. However, with so many Arabic dialects to choose from, why learn the Jordanian one? “Well,” you might answer, “I’ve heard about the Egyptian dialect and how it got to be a popular dialect to learn because of the influence of Egyptian films and TV series....
Read More
Located between the Levantine and Arabian areas of the Middle East, Jordan is bordered by no less than four other Arabic speaking countries. You will find Syria to the north, Iraq along its northeastern panhandle, Saudi Arabia to the east and southeast, the Gulf of Aqaba, Jordan's only outlet to the sea, is to the south and Palestine to the west. The deserts of Jordan...
Read More
If you were to ask for zarb’s definition, we’d have to describe it as the ancient, traditional, and probably most dramatic, Bedouin style of cooking meat or chicken. Basically, it's an underground oven of hot coals beneath the desert sands. The cooking method makes the meat so tender, it literally falls right off the bones. If you’ve ever been on one of those Wadi Rum...
Read More
She is as beautiful and stylish as she is graceful. She is a deeply impassioned advocate for improving the lives of others, not just in Jordan, but around the world. You might find her rubbing shoulders at charity events with other humanitarian movers and shakers like Oprah and Bono one night. The next morning she’ll be at an all-girl school in an impoverished part of...
Read More
On a chilly November morning in 2019, as dawn broke across the eastern horizon and started to spread its light over Amman Citadel, Coldplay greeted the day (and many of their fans) by playing songs from their new album. Asked why they chose Jordan, the band stated it's because of its natural beauty and historical and cultural significance. This is also reflected in the Middle...
Read More
Way back when the Romans ruled this area, they were so impressed by Amman that they chose the city as the capital of the Roman Empire and renamed it Philadelphia after the Roman ruler Philadelphus. While they were here, they built a lot of impressive things. A few would be the Temple of Hercules at the Amman Citadel. Also, just down the hill, the sole...
Read More
From its rolling green hills on the Syrian border in the north to the sandy beaches of the Red Sea in the south, Jordan has been a cultural crossroads since at least the heydays of Petra back around 300 B.C. But don’t take our word for it; listen to the stories told by Jordan’s ancient sites – stories of Nabataean kings and Crusader’s castles that...
Read More