
Where are You Going?: Directions in Arabic
If you ever have the chance to visit one of the Arabic speaking countries, chances are you’re going to have to ask for directions to all the beautiful sights to see, or at the very least, know how to get to your hotel. Or perhaps you’ll be standing on a street in Amman, Jordan waiting for a taxi, when all of sudden, a car pulls up next to you with a frantic driver and his obviously very pregnant wife who is about to give birth inside and he rolls down his window and shouts, “Ayana aqrab almostashfa?” and you don’t know how to give directions in Arabic (True story that happened to the author). Well, have no fear because after reading this article you will be able to visit the Sphinx, spend the night in your comfortable hotel bed, and ensure babies are born on time at the local hospital. Let’s start with questions you can use when asking for directions in the Arabic language.
English | Arabic | Pronunciation |
Where…….? | أين ….؟ | Ayna…? |
How do I get….? | كيف أصل إلى ….؟ | Kayfa asil ‘ilaa …? |
Where is the nearest..? | أين أقرب…..؟ | Ayna aqrab …? |
Is this the way to …..? | هل هذا هو الطريق إلى…..؟ | Hal haathaa huwa attareeq ‘ilaa … ? |
Now that you know how to ask for directions, you may want to also let the person you are asking where you want to go exactly. Here are some places that might come in handy:
English | Arabic | Pronunciation |
the hospital | المستشفى | Almustashfaa |
the airport | المطار | Almataar |
the police station | قسم الشرطة | Qism asshurtah |
The Mall | السوق | Assooq |
the Club | النادى | Annaadi |
the museum | المتحف | Almuthaf |
the post office | مكتب البريد | Maktab albareed |
the bus station | محطة الباص | Mahtat albaas |
the hotel | الفندق | Alfunduq |
Here are some examples using the language you learned above:
Excuse me, Where is the airport?/ عذراً , أين المطار ؟/’uthran, ayna almataar ?
How do I get to the train station, please? / من فضلك , كيف أصل لمحطة القطار ؟/ Min fadhlika, kayfa asil limahatit alqitaar?
Where is the nearest Hospital? / أين أقرب مستشفى ؟ / Ayna aqrab mustashfaa?
Is this the way to The Mall? / هل هذا الطريق الى السوق ؟ / Hal haathaa attareeq ‘ila assooq?
Now that we’ve seen how to ask for directions, let’s take a look at how to give directions if somebody asks us for them:
English | Arabic | Pronunciation |
Directions | إتجاهات | ‘itjaahaat |
Go left (masculine) | إذهب يسارا | ‘ithhab yasaaran |
Go right (masculine) | إذهب يمينا | ‘ithhab yameenan |
Go left (feminine) | إذهبي يسارا | ‘ithhabee yasaaran |
Go right (feminine) | اذهبي يمينا | ‘ithhabee yameenan |
On the right | على اليمين | ‘alaa alyameen |
On the left | على اليسار | ‘alaa alyasaar |
First street | أول شارع | Awal shaari’ |
Second street | ثاني شارع | Thaani shaari’ |
Walk | إمشي قليل | Emshi qaleel |
Straight ahead | على طول | ‘alaa tool |
Cross the road | أعبر الشارع | A’bur ashaari’ |
I can show you! | سأريك الطريق | Sa’reek attareeq |
Come with me! | تعالى معى | Ta’aali ma’i |
Near | قريب | Qareeb |
Far | بعيد | Ba’eed |
Next to | بجانب | Bijaanib |
Opposite | مقابل | Moqaabil |
Between… and… | بين … و… | Bayna … wa… |
behind | خلف | Khalf |
So, there you have it. Now you should be able to get around the Arab world and let other people know how to get around as well.
If you’re looking for direction in your life when it comes to learning about the Arabic language and Arab culture, then let kaleela show you the way. Come over to kaleela.com and download the Kaleela Arab language learning app coming soon to a mobile near you.