Arabic Dialects – How And Where They Are Spoken

Download Kaleela

We’ve noticed that when people want to learn more about the variations of Arabic, they are most likely to search for phrases like “Syria language”, “Egypt language”, “Lebanon language”, “Jordan language”, and so on. We’re here to shed some light on the subject, as this is incorrect. These countries don’t speak different tongues, but different Arabic dialects.

Arabic is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and many independent nations use it as their official language. Millions of people around the world speak Arabic dialects, with most of them being those living in the Arab world, a geographical area stretching from Morocco to Dubai. With such a large space to cover, it’s no wonder that this language has so many different and important facts about Arabic.

To understand where do they speak Arabic, it’s crucial to distinguish between the different forms of the language. The Arabic language is classified into three different forms: Classical Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, and Dialectal (Colloquial) Arabic.

  • Classical Arabic (اللغة العربية الفصحى): Classical Arabic or Quranic Arabic is primarily found in literature and religious texts. It is the language used in the Holy Quran and the predecessor of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). This form of Arabic is learned by Muslims worldwide to read their Holy Book and is traditionally recited melodically in a highly formal style. There are no native speakers of Classical Arabic in the everyday sense.
  • Modern Standard Arabic (اللغة العربية الفصحى الحديثة): Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the standardized variety used in formal settings, education, news, and official communication. It is not anyone’s mother tongue but is acquired through education. Compared to Arabic dialects, MSA sounds clearer and more measured. While it’s the written and scholarly standard, it’s not the version people naturally speak in their daily lives.
  • Colloquial Arabic (العامية): Colloquial Arabic refers to the various spoken dialects that differ from MSA. These dialects are the result of the historical development of Arabic and its interaction with local languages and cultural influences.

Understanding Arabic languages and dialects requires recognizing the distinctions between MSA and colloquial forms:

  1. Grammar: Colloquial Arabic often has simpler grammatical structures than MSA.
  2. Pronunciation: Certain letters are pronounced differently, and these differences vary between dialects.
  3. Vocabulary: Dialects have unique words and expressions not found in MSA.
  4. Written Form: Colloquial Arabic is rarely written except for specific purposes like informal communication or artistic expression.
  5. Formality: Colloquial Arabic is more casual in vocabulary and style.

To answer the question of who speaks Arabic and where do they speak Arabic, it’s essential to understand the major dialect groups. There’s some debate among linguists about the precise classification, but here’s a commonly accepted overview:

  • Levantine Arabic (اللهجة الشامية): Spoken in the Levant region (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine).
    • Jordanian Arabic (اللهجة الأردنية): A continuum of mutually intelligible varieties. Stress and tone can be significant.
    • Palestinian Arabic (اللهجة الفلسطينية): Southern Levantine dialect. Shares similarities with other Levantine dialects but has distinct features.
    • Lebanese Arabic (اللهجة اللبنانية): Influenced by multilingualism (French, English).
    • Syrian Arabic (اللهجة السورية): Known for its intonation and musicality.
  • Egyptian Arabic (اللهجة المصرية): Widely understood due to the influence of Egyptian media.
  • Gulf Arabic (اللهجة الخليجية): Spoken in the Gulf region. Some consider it closer to MSA, but it still has its own features.
  • Iraqi Arabic (اللهجة العراقية): Influenced by Mesopotamian history and languages like Turkish and Persian.
  • North African Arabic (اللهجة المغاربية): Spoken in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania). It’s quite distinct from other dialects, which can make it harder for speakers of other dialects to understand.
    • Darija (الدارجة): The variety spoken in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Learning Darija presents unique challenges due to its Berber and French influences.

To further illustrate the differences between Arabic languages and dialects, here are some examples of a simple sentence in various dialects:

EnglishMSAEgyptian ArabicLevantine ArabicGulf ArabicNorth African Arabic (Darija)Iraqi Arabic
How are you?كَيْفَ حَالُكَ؟ (Kayfa ḥāluka?)إزَيَّك؟ (Izzayyak?)كيفَك؟ (Kēfak?)شلُونك؟ (Shlōnak?)كِيف داير؟ (Kif dayr?) / كاي دايرة؟ (Kay dayra?)شِلونك؟ (Shlōnak?)
I want waterأُرِيدُ مَاءً (ʾurīdu māʾan)عايز مَيَّة (ʿāyez mayya)بدي مَيّ (baddi mayy)أبي ماي (abi may)بغيت الما (Bghit l-ma)أريد ماي (Arid May)
Where is the market?أَيْنَ السُّوقُ؟ (ʾayna as-sūqu?)فين السوق؟ (fēn es-sūʾ?)وين السوق؟ (wēn es-sūʾ?)وين السوق؟ (wēn es-sūʾ?)فين السوق؟ (fin s-souq?)وين السوق؟ (wēn es-sūq?)
This is beautifulهَٰذَا جَمِيلٌ (hāḏā ǧamīlun)ده حلو (dah ḥelw)هاد حلو (hād ḥelu)هذا حلو (hāḏa ḥilw)هادا زوين (hada zwīn) / هادي زوينة (hadi zwina)هذا حلو (Hatha Hilw)
Thank youشُكْرًا (šukran)شكراً (šukran)شكراً (šukran) / يسلمو (yislamo)شكراً (šukran)شكرا (shukran) / بارك الله فيك (barak allah fik)شكرا (shukran)

A common question is: Can all who speak Arabic understand each other? The answer is complex. Generally, speakers of closely related dialects (e.g., within Levantine Arabic) have a high degree of mutual intelligibility. However, the differences between geographically distant dialects (e.g., Egyptian and Maghrebi) can be significant, leading to comprehension difficulties. Factors like exposure to other dialects through media also play a role.

For those learning Arabic languages and dialects, choosing a dialect is essential. Here’s some practical advice:

  • Your Goals:
    • Travel: Choose the dialect of the region you plan to visit.
    • Media: Egyptian Arabic is helpful for understanding films and music.
    • Communication: Consider the dialect of the community you want to connect with.
    • Linguistics: MSA provides a strong foundation for studying various dialects.
  • Resources:
    • Availability of learning materials (courses, apps, teachers) varies by dialect.
  • Difficulty:
    • Some dialects (like Maghrebi) may present unique challenges for beginners.
  • Interest:
    • Ultimately, choose a dialect that genuinely interests you, as this will motivate your learning.

If you are curious to see how different dialects sound, then feel free to download our Arabic app, Kaleela, as it offers audio samples of each dialect.

Download Kaleela

The new version of the Kaleela app is now live

Update or download the Kaleela app