Whether it’s for business or pleasure, traveling to a new country can be both an exciting and anxious adventure. This is especially true if you’re traveling to an Arabic-speaking country and you can’t speak or read the language.

With that in mind, Kaleela wants to help you have a stress-free journey to the Middle East. We’ll do that today by teaching you some basic Arabic words and phrases to use when traveling the Arab world.


Everyday Arabic Phrases

You may have heard the old English adage that “Please” and “Thank you” go a long way. Well, that’s true for the Arabic language, too. First, we’ll start with some basic Arabic words for travelers that’ll take you far on your Middle Eastern rihla/ رحلة. (rihla/ رحلة is the Arabic word for “journey”.) Here is an Arabic vocabulary list.


EnglishTransliterationArabic
Thank youshukranشكرا
Thank you very muchshukran jazilanجزيلا شكرا
You’re welcome’ahlan wa sahlanأهلاً وسهلا
Pleaselaw samahtلو سمحت
Yesna’amنعم
Nolaلا
Excuse meafwanعفوا
How are you?kayfa Haaluka? (m.) kayfa Haaluki? (f.)(m.) هالوكا؟ كيفا  كيفا هالوكي؟(.f)
Can you help me?hal bi’iimkanik musaeadati?مساعدتي؟ هل بإمكانك
I’m sorry’anaa ’aasifاسف أنا
I don’t understandla ’afhamلا أفهم أنا
I don’t speak Arabic very wellana la atakalam alearabiat jayidanانا لا اتكلم العربية جيدا
Do you speak English?hal tatakalam bial’iinjiliziati?هل تتكلم بالإنجليزية؟
How much does that cost?kam yukalif hadha?كم يكلف هذا؟
Do you have free WIFI available?hal ladayk khidmat WiFi majaaniat mutahatun?هل لديك خدمة WiFi مجانية متاحة؟
Speak slowly, please.tahadath bibut’ min fadlika.تحدث ببطء من فضلك.
Repeat, please.‘aeudu min fadlika.أعد من فضلك


At the Airport


Once you arrive at the airport, you might want to know things like where to find your baggage. Here is some airport vocabulary in Arabic to get you started. (These words and phrases are also helpful for when you want to return home.)

EnglishTransliterationArabic
reservationhajzحجز
flightrihlatرحلة
baggage‘amtieaأمتعة
passportjawaz safarجواز سفر
visatashiraتأشيرة
entrydukhulدخول
exitkhurujخروج
airportmatarمطار
gatebawaabaبوابة
customsjamrukجمرك
baggage claimaistilam al’amtieaاستلام الأمتعة
arrivals areaqaeat alqadiminقاعة القادمين
departure areasalat almughadirinصالة المغادرين
bus‘uwtubisأوتوبيس
tickettadhkiratتذكرة
departure timewaqt almughadaraوقت المغادرة
arrival timewaqt alwusulوقت الوصول
first classalsafu al’awalالصف الأول

Here are some phrases to know using some of the words you learned above.

EnglishTransliterationArabic
I would like to buy a ticket.‘awadu shira ‘tadhkiratin.أود شراء تذكرة.
I would like to travel to . . .‘awadu alsafar ‘iilaa. . .أود السفر إلى. . .
I have two pieces of baggageladaya qiteatan min al’amtieaلدي قطعتان من الأمتعة
This is my carry-on baggage.hadhih hi ‘amtieati almahmulatu.هذه هي أمتعتي المحمولة.
What time does the plane arrive?fi ‘ayi waqt tasil altaayiratu?في أي وقت تصل الطائرة؟
Here is my passport.ha hu jawaz safariunها هو جواز سفري
Here is my ticket.ha hi tadhkarati.ها هي تذكرتي.
I want to travel by planearid alsafar bialtaayiraاريد السفر بالطائرة
I want to rent a car‘urid tajir sayaaraأريد تأجير سيارة
How much is the ticket?kam tablugh qimat altadhkurati?كم تبلغ قيمة التذكرة؟
Where is the gate?ayn albawaabati?اين البوابة؟


At the Hotel


Now that you arrived, you’re probably ready to rest your head after such a long flight. Here are some words you can use once you’re at your hotel. (You can also use them to practice your Arabic ahead of time by making reservations before you leave.)

EnglishTransliterationArabic
hotelfunduqفندق
roomghurfaغرفة
poolhamaam alsibahaحمام السباحة
floortabiqطابق
air conditioningtakayafتكيف
balconyshurfaشرفة
two bedssiriranسريران
bathroomhamamحمام
phonehatifهاتف
televisionaltilfazالتلفاز
wifiwifiواي فاي


The following phrases can help you make or change your hotel reservations.

EnglishTransliterationArabic
I have a reservation.ladaya hajzu.لدي حجز.
Do you have a room?hal ladayk ghurfatu?هل لديك غرفة
I prefer a room with . . .‘uhil ghurfatan mae …                أحيل غرفة مع …
How much is the room?kam sier alghurfati?كم سعر الغرفة؟
Smoking or non-smoking?mudakhan ‘am la?مدخن أم لا؟
Smokingaltadkhinالتدخين
Non-Smokingghayr mudakhanغير مدخن

رحلات آمنة /rihlat amna!

(“Safe travels” in Arabic)

Want to learn more Arabic and make traveling even easier and more fun? Then head on over to our website and download Kaleela Arabic Language Learning app and know before you go! Visit kaleela.com for more info and to get your Arabic language learning app today!

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