Knowing how to say the names of European countries and nationalities is more than just vocabulary; it’s a key to respectful and meaningful conversations in Arabic. Whether you’re traveling, studying, or connecting with Arabic speakers, understanding how to discuss where you’re from is essential. This guide will provide you with a clear and practical list of countries in Arabic and their corresponding nationalities in Arabic.
No matter how good your Arabic is, most people in Arabic-speaking countries will likely know you’re not a native speaker. So, if you’re a foreigner visiting or living in an Arab country, you might be frequently asked the following question: min ayn ant? / من أين أنت؟ . Basically, an Arab is asking you, “Where are you from?”
You can answer this simply with the country you’re from: ana min britania (I’m from Britain). But you can also answer by using the nationality form: ana britani (I’m British).
Today, we’ll be going over the names of European countries and their nationalities in Arabic.
European Countries in Arabic: Names and Pronunciation
To help you learn countries in Arabic, we’ve organized them by region.
Western Europe
| English Name | Arabic Name | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Austria in Arabic | النمسا | Al-namsa |
| Belgium in Arabic | بلجيكا | Baljika |
| France in Arabic | فرنسا | Fransa |
| Germany in Arabic | ألمانيا | Almania |
| Netherlands in Arabic | هولندا | Holanda |
Key takeaway: Pay attention to how “Al-” (ال) is often used as “the” in Arabic, for example “Almania” for “Germany”.
For example:
- “Germany Arabic name” is “ألمانيا” (Almania).
- “Netherlands arabic name” is “هولندا” (Holanda).
Eastern Europe
| English Name | Arabic Name | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria in Arabic | بلغاريا | Belgharia |
| Croatia in Arabic | كرواتيا | Kerwatya |
| Romania in Arabic | رومانيا | Romania |
| Russia in Arabic | روسيا | Rusiya |
| Serbia in Arabic | صربيا | Serbia |
| Ukraine in Arabic | أوكرانيا | Okrania |
Northern Europe
| English Name | Arabic Name | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark in Arabic | الدنمارك | Danimark |
| Iceland in Arabic | أيسلندا | Iceland |
| Ireland in Arabic | أيرلندا | Irlanda |
| Norway in Arabic | النرويج | Al-narooj |
| Sweden in Arabic | السويد | Al-suwaid |
Southern Europe
| English Name | Arabic Name | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Albania in Arabic | ألبانيا | Albania |
| Cyprus in Arabic | قبرص | Kobros |
| Greece in Arabic | يونان | Yunan |
| Italy in Arabic | إيطاليا | Italia |
| Spain in Arabic | إسبانيا | Espania |
| Portugal in Arabic | البرتغال | Al-bortugal |
European Nationalities in Arabic: Expressing Origin
Knowing how to say nationalities in Arabic is equally important.
| Nationality English name | Arabic name | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Albanian in Arabic | ألباني | Albani |
| Austrian in Arabic | نمساوي | Namsawe |
| Belgian in Arabic | بلجيكي | Baljiki |
| British in Arabic | بريطاني | Britani |
| Bulgarian in Arabic | بلغاري | Bulghari |
| Croatian in Arabic | كرواتي | Karwati |
| Cypriot in Arabic | قبرصي | Kubrusi |
| Dane in Arabic | دنماركي | Dinmarki |
| Dutch in Arabic | هولندي | Holandi |
| French in Arabic | فرنسي | Faransi |
| German in Arabic | الماني | Almani |
| Greek in Arabic | يوناني | Yonani |
| Hungarian in Arabic | هنغاري | Hanghari |
| Icelander in Arabic | أيسلندي | Ayslandi |
| Irish in Arabic | ايرلندي | Erlandi |
| Italian in Arabic | ايطالي | Etali |
| Norwegian in Arabic | نرويجي | Narweji |
| Polish in Arabic | بولندي | Bulandi |
| Portuguese in Arabic | برتغالي | Burtughali |
| Romanian in Arabic | روماني | Rumani |
| Russian in Arabic | روسي | Rusi |
| Serbian in Arabic | صربي | Sirbi |
| Spanish in Arabic | اسباني | Esbani |
| Swedish in Arabic | سويدي | Swedi |
| Swiss in Arabic | سويسري | Swesri |
| Ukrainian in Arabic | اوكراني | Okrani |
Practical Phrases: Using Country in Arabic and Nationality Words
Here are some useful phrases to help you use these words in conversation:
- I am from… / أنا من… / Ana min…
- I am… (nationality) / أنا… / Ana… (nationality)
- Do you speak…? / هل تتكلم…؟ / Hal tatakallam…?
- Where are you from? / من أين أنت؟ / Min ayna anta/anti?
Examples
- I speak Italian / أنا أتكلم الإيطالية / ana atakalam alitalia
- My mother tongue is German / لغتي الأم هي الألمانية / lughati al um hiya alalmania
- I want to go to Germany / أريد أن أذهب إلى ألمانيا / ureed an athaba ila almania
- I am Dutch / أنا هولندي / Ana holandi
Cultural Context: Discussing Origin in Arabic-Speaking Regions
In Arabic-speaking cultures, asking about someone’s origin is common and often seen as a way to initiate conversation and show interest. However, it’s important to be mindful of sensitivity and avoid making assumptions based on someone’s appearance or name.
Conclusion
This guide provides a solid foundation for learning the names of European countries and nationalities in Arabic. With this knowledge, you’ll be better equipped to communicate and connect with Arabic speakers.
If you liked this article and would like to learn Arabic, why not head over to our website and download the Kaleela Arabic learning app and learn to speak Arabic today? With the Kaleela Arabic learning app you can start learning Arabic on your own, at your own pace, whenever and wherever you want. It really is the best way to learn Arabic! Try it now and find out why
