Just starting your Arabic learning journey? You’ve come to the right place! Knowing a few basic Arabic words can make a huge difference in your understanding and confidence. Here at Kaleela, we believe in making language learning fun and accessible. Let’s dive into some of the most common Arabic words you’ll encounter, perfect for arabic words for beginners.
Greetings & Basic Interactions in Arabic
Just like saying “hello” in any language, mastering Arabic greetings is your first step to connecting with native speakers.
- Hello in Arabic: مَرْحَبًا (marḥaban) – This is a friendly and widely used greeting.
- Peace be upon you in Arabic: اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ (as-salāmu ʿalaykum) – A formal and common Islamic greeting.
- And upon you peace in Arabic: وَعَلَيْكُمُ ٱلسَّلَام (wa ʿalaykumu s-salām) – The standard response.
- Good morning in Arabic: صَبَاحُ الْخَيْر (ṣabāḥu l-khayr) – A cheerful way to start the day.
- Good evening in Arabic: مَسَاءُ الْخَيْر (masāʾu l-khayr) – Perfect for later in the day.
- Welcome in Arabic: أَهْلًا (ʾahlan) – A warm way to receive someone.
- How are you in Arabic: كَيْفَ حَالُكَ؟ (kayfa ḥāluka?) (to a male) / كَيْفَ حَالُكِ؟ (kayfa ḥāluki?) (to a female) – An essential phrase for polite conversation.
- I’m fine in Arabic: أَنَا بِخَيْر (ʾanā bi-khayr) – A common response.
- Yes in Arabic: أَجَل (ʾajal) / نَعَم (naʿam) – Two ways to say “yes.”
- No in Arabic: لَا (lā) – Simple and direct.
- Thank you in Arabic: شُكْرًا (shukran) – Always important to show gratitude.
- You’re welcome in Arabic: عَلَى الرَّحْبِ وَالسَّعَة (ʿalā r-raḥbi wa s-saʿah) / عَفْوًا (ʿafwan) – Polite responses to “thank you.”
- Excuse me in Arabic: الْمَعْذِرَة (al-maʿdhirah) / لَوْ سَمَحْتَ (law samaḥta) (to a male) / لَوْ سَمَحْتِ (law samaḥti) (to a female) – Useful for getting attention or apologizing.
- Goodbye in Arabic: إِلَى اللِّقَاء (ʾilā l-liqāʾ) – For when you part ways.
Essential Nouns in Arabic
Building your vocabulary with common nouns will help you understand and describe the world around you.
- Home in Arabic: بَيْت (bayt) – A basic and important word.
- Life in Arabic: حَيَاة (ḥayāh)
- World in Arabic: عَالَم (ʿālam)
- Water in Arabic: مَاء (māʾ) – A necessity.
- Food in Arabic: طَعَام (ṭaʿām) – Another essential.
- Bread in Arabic: خُبْز (khubz) – A staple in many cultures.
- Coffee in Arabic: قَهْوَة (qahwah)
- Tea in Arabic: شَاي (shāy)
- Car in Arabic: سَيَّارَة (sayyārah) – For discussing transportation.
- School in Arabic: مَدْرَسَة (madrasah)
- Book in Arabic: كِتَاب (kitāb)
- Dog in Arabic: كَلْب (kalb)
- Cat in Arabic: قِطَّة (qiṭṭah)
- Sun in Arabic: شَمْس (shams)
- Moon in Arabic: قَمَر (qamar)
Useful Adjectives & Verbs in Arabic
Describing things and actions becomes possible with adjectives and verbs.
Adjectives
- Good in Arabic: جيد (jayid) – A positive descriptor.
- Bad in Arabic: سيئ (sayi’) – The opposite of good.
- Beautiful in Arabic: جميل (jameel) – For admiring beauty.
- Ugly in Arabic: قَبِيح (qabīḥ)
- Happy in Arabic: سعيد (sa’eed) – Expressing joy.
- Sad in Arabic: حَزِين (ḥazīn)
- Big in Arabic: كَبِير (kabīr)
- Small in Arabic: صَغِير (ṣaghīr)
Verbs
- To be in Arabic: كَانَ (kāna) – Note: The verb “to be” is often omitted in the present tense.
- To have in Arabic: عِنْدَ (ʿinda) – Used to express possession, e.g., “I have a book” – عِنْدِي كِتَاب (ʿindī kitāb).
- To speak in Arabic: تَكَلَّمَ (takallama)
- To go in Arabic: ذَهَبَ (dhahaba)
- To want in Arabic: أَرَادَ (arāda)
- To love in Arabic: أَحَبَّ (aḥabba)
- I understand in Arabic: أَنَا أَفْهَم (anā afham)
- I don’t understand in Arabic: أَنَا لَا أَفْهَم (anā lā afham)
Talking About Places in Arabic
Knowing the names of common places is incredibly useful, especially when traveling.
- Airport in Arabic: مَطَار (maṭār)
- Restaurant in Arabic: مَطْعَم (maṭʿam)
- Hotel in Arabic: فُنْدُق (funduq)
- Market in Arabic: سُوق (sūq)
- Hospital in Arabic: مُسْتَشْفَى (mustashfā)
- Pharmacy in Arabic: صَيْدَلِيَّة (ṣaydaliyyah)
- Bank in Arabic: بَنْك (bank)/ مَصرَف (masraf)
- Station in Arabic: مَحَطَّة (maḥaṭṭah) (e.g., bus or train station)
- Museum in Arabic: مُتْحَف (mutḥaf)
- Beach in Arabic: شَاطِئ (shāṭiʾ)
- City Center / Downtown in Arabic: وَسَط الْبَلَد (wasat al-balad)
Getting to Know People in Arabic
Connecting with others is at the heart of learning a new language. Here are some essential words for talking about people.
- My name is in Arabic: اِسْمِي (ismee) – A fundamental phrase for introductions.
- Family in Arabic: عَائِلَة (ʿāʾilah) – For talking about loved ones.
- Friend in Arabic: صَدِيق (ṣadīq) (male) / صَدِيقَة (ṣadīqah) (female)
- He in Arabic: هُوَ (huwa)
- She in Arabic: هِيَ (hiya)
- Father in Arabic: أَب (ʾab)
- Mother in Arabic: أُم (ʾum)
- Brother in Arabic: أَخ (ʾakh)
- Sister in Arabic: أُخْت (ʾukht)
- Son in Arabic: اِبْن (ibn)
- Daughter in Arabic: اِبْنَة (ibnah)
- Baby in Arabic: طِفْل (ṭifl)
- Man in Arabic: رَجُل (rajul)
- Woman in Arabic: اِمْرَأَة (imra’ah)
- Baby in Arabic: طِفْل (ṭifl)
Asking for and Giving Directions in Arabic
Navigate your way around with these essential directional words and phrases.
- Where is…? in Arabic: أَيْنَ…؟ (ʾayna…?)
- Right in Arabic: يَمِين (yamīn)
- Left in Arabic: يَسَار (yasār)
- Straight ahead in Arabic: إِلَى الْأَمَام (ʾilā al-ʾamām)
- Here in Arabic: هُنَا (hunā)
- There in Arabic: هُنَاكَ (hunāk)
- Near in Arabic: قَرِيب (qarīb)
- Far in Arabic: بَعِيد (baʿīd)
- Turn right in Arabic: اِنْعَطِف يَمِينًا (inʿaṭif yamīnan)
- Turn left in Arabic: اِنْعَطِف يَسَارًا (inʿaṭif yasāran)
Common Phrases for Travelers in Arabic
Here are some essential phrases to help you navigate your trip with ease.
- Where is the bathroom? In Arabic أَيْنَ الْحَمَّامُ؟ (Ayna al-Ḥammām? )— A crucial phrase for travelers.
- How much is this? In Arabic كَمْ سِعْرُ هَذَا (Kam siʿru hādhā?) — Useful for shopping.
- Do you speak English? In Arabic هَلْ تَتَكَلَّمُ الْإِنْجْلِيزِيَّةَ؟ ( Hal tatakallamu al-ʾinjlīziyyah?) — Helpful when communication is challenging.
- I need help In Arabic أَحْتَاجُ مُسَاعَدَةً (ʾAḥtāju musāʿadah)— Important for emergencies or when assistance is required.
- Goodbye In Arabic إِلَى اللِّقَاءِ (ʾIlā al-liqāʾ )— A common way to end a conversation.
- I’m sorry in Arabic: أَنَا آسِف (anā āsif)
- No problem in Arabic: لَا مُشْكِلَة (lā mushkilah)
Asking Questions in Arabic
Knowing how to ask questions is key to getting information.
- What in Arabic: مَاذَا(maathaa?) / إيه؟ (ʾēh?) (colloquial)
- Where in Arabic: أَيْنَ؟(’ayn?)
- When in Arabic: مَتَى؟(mataa?)
- Why in Arabic: لِمَاذَا؟(limaathaa?)
- How much? in Arabic: بِكَمْ؟(bikam?)
- Where are you in Arabic: أَيْنَ أَنْتَ؟(‘ayna ‘anta?) (to a male) / أَيْنَ أَنْتِ؟ (‘ayna ‘anti?) (to a female)
- I don’t know in Arabic: لَا أَعْرِفُ (laa ’a‘rif) – Useful when you’re unsure.
Numbers (1-10) in Arabic
Here are the basic building blocks of counting: the numbers 1 through 10.
- One in Arabic : وَاحِد (wāḥid)
- Two in Arabic: اِثْنَان (iṯnān)
- Three in Arabic: ثَلَاثَة (ṯalāṯah)
- Four in Arabic: أَرْبَعَة (ʾarbaʿah)
- Five in Arabic: خَمْسَة (ḫamsah)
- Six in Arabic: سِتَّة (sittah)
- Seven in Arabic: سَبْعَة (sabʿah)
- Eight in Arabic: ثَمَانِيَة (ṯamāniyah)
- Nine in Arabic: تِسْعَة (tisʿah)
- Ten in Arabic: عَشَرَة (ʿašarah)
Time & Dates in Arabic
Discussing schedules and making plans requires knowing these words for time.
- What time is it? in Arabic: كَمِ السَّاعَة؟ (kam is-sāʿah?)
- Now in Arabic: الآن (al-ʾān)
- Later in Arabic: لَاحِقًا (lāḥiqan)
- Before in Arabic: قَبْل (qabl)
- After in Arabic: بَعْد (baʿd)
- Today in Arabic: الْيَوْم (al-yawm)
- Yesterday in Arabic: أَمْس (ʾams)
- Tomorrow in Arabic: غَدًا (ghadan)
- Day in Arabic: يَوْم (yawm)
- Week in Arabic: أُسْبُوع (ʾusbūʿ)
- Month in Arabic: شَهْر (shahr)
- Year in Arabic: سَنَة (sanah)
- Hour in Arabic: سَاعَة (sāʿah)
- Minute in Arabic: دَقِيقَة (daqīqah)
Expressing Well Wishes in Arabic
Connecting with people often involves sharing good wishes.
- Happy birthday in Arabic:(عِيدُ مِيلَادٍ سَعِيدٌ – ʿīdu mīlādin saʿīdun)
- Congratulations in Arabic:(مُبَارَكٌ – mubārakun)
- Good luck in Arabic: (بِالتَّوْفِيقِ – bil-tawfīqi)
- Bless you in Arabic: يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ (yarḥamuka allāh) (after someone sneezes)
- I miss you in Arabic:اشْتَقْتُ لَكَ – ishtaʾtu laka) (to a male) / اشْتَقْتُ لَكِ – ishtaʾtu laki (to a female) – For expressing longing.
- My love in Arabic: (حَبِيبِي – ḥabībī) (to a male) حبيبتي (حَبِيبَتِي – ḥabībatī) (to a female) – Terms of endearment.
Want to expand your knowledge beyond these basic Arabic words and easy Arabic phrases? Explore our blog at Kaleela.com for in-depth articles on various Arabic language topics. Don’t forget to download the Kaleela app to learn even more!