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, 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 he rolls down his window and shouts, “Ayana aqrab almostashfa?” and you don’t know how to give directions in Arabic. Well, have no fear because after reading this article you will be able to visit the Sphinx or spend the night in your comfortable hotel bed.

Let’s start with questions you can use when asking for directions in Arabic language:

English	Arabic	Transliteration
Where…?	أين …؟	Ayna … ?
How do I get to…?	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	Transliteration
Hospital in Arabic	مستشفى	mustashfaa
Airport in Arabic	مطار	mataar
Police station in Arabic	قسم شرطة	qism shurtah
Mall in Arabic	سوق	sooq
Club in Arabic	نادى	naadi
Museum in Arabic	متحف	muthaf
Post office in Arabic	مكتب البريد	maktab bareed
Bus station in Arabic	محطة باص	mahtat baas
Hotel in Arabic	فندق	funduq

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.

Here are our examples:

English	Arabic	Transliteration
Directions in Arabic	إتجاهات	‘itjaahaat
Go left in Arabic	إذهب يسارا إذهبي يسارا	‘ithhab yasaaran (m.) ‘ithhabee yasaaran (f.)
Go right in Arabic	إذهب يمينا اذهبي يمينا	‘ithhab yameenan (m.) ‘ithhabee yameenan (f.)
On the right in Arabic	على اليمين	‘alaa alyameen
On the left in Arabic	على اليسار	‘alaa alyasaar
First street in Arabic	أول شارع	Awal shaari’
Second street in Arabic	ثاني شارع	Thaani shaari’
Walk in Arabic	إمشي	Emshi
Straight ahead in Arabic	على طول	‘alaa tool
Cross the road in Arabic	أعبر الشارع	A’bur ashaari’
I can show you in Arabic	سأريك الطريق	Sa’reek attareeq
Come with me in Arabic	تعالى معى	Ta’aali ma’i
Near in Arabic	قريب	Qareeb
Far in Arabic	بعيد	Ba’eed
Next to in Arabic	بجانب	Bijaanib
Opposite in Arabic	مقابل	Moqaabil
Between in Arabic	بين	Bayna
Behind in Arabic	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 Arabic language and Arab culture, then let Kaleela show you the way. Come over to kaleela.com and download the Kaleela Arabic learning app for your iOS or Android.