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Arabic (Modern Standard) phrasebook: 14 phrases and numbers
Arabic is a Semitic language written from right to left. Modern Standard Arabic is used in writing, news and formal speech across the Arab world, while people speak regional dialects at home.
- In its own name: العربية
- Writing system: Arabic script (written right to left)
- Family: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic
- Official language in: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Algeria and more
Essential Arabic phrases
| English | Arabic | Romanisation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | مرحبا | marhaban |
| Goodbye | مع السلامة | ma'a s-salama |
| Good morning | صباح الخير | sabah al-khayr |
| Good night | تصبح على خير | tusbih 'ala khayr |
| Thank you | شكرا | shukran |
| You're welcome | عفوا | 'afwan |
| Please | من فضلك | min fadlak |
| Sorry | آسف | asif |
| Yes | نعم | na'am |
| No | لا | la |
| My name is ___ | اسمي ___ | ismi ___ |
| What is your name? | ما اسمك؟ | ma ismuk? |
| How are you? | كيف حالك؟ | kayfa halak? |
| I love you | أحبك | uhibbuk |
Phrases are cross-checked against independent sources but still await a native-speaker review.
Numbers 1 to 10 in Arabic
| # | Word | Romanisation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | واحد | wahid |
| 2 | اثنان | ithnan |
| 3 | ثلاثة | thalatha |
| 4 | أربعة | arba'a |
| 5 | خمسة | khamsa |
| 6 | ستة | sitta |
| 7 | سبعة | sab'a |
| 8 | ثمانية | thamaniya |
| 9 | تسعة | tis'a |
| 10 | عشرة | 'ashara |
Pronunciation
Arabic has sounds such as the throaty ع (ayn) and ح (ha) that learners need time to master. Short vowels are normally not written, so the vowelled form used here is a learning aid.
Good to know
Many phrases change for the gender of the person you are speaking to. Greetings are fuller and warmer than in English, and the formal salaam is widely understood.
Introducing yourself? See My name is ... in Arabic for formal and casual versions.
Mini quiz
A quick check of what you just read.
Play with Arabic
Meet Arabic in Mystery Phrase, Listen and Guess and Memory Match.
Questions
How do you say hello in Arabic?
مرحبا (marhaban).
What writing system does Arabic use?
Arabic is written in Arabic script.