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.