Essential Arabic Basics
Basic Arabic words
We made this big selection of basic Arabic words for complete beginners to learning Arabic.
Be sure to learn the essentials like Yes, No, Where, When, Why etc and you will at least be able to understand or participate in a conversation even if you only know these basic Arabic words and phrases.
Read more about our words and phrases here
نعم
na”am
Yes
لا
la
No
و
wa
And
حسنا
hasanan
OK!
ربما
robbama
Maybe
هو
howa
He
هي
heya
She
نحن
nahn
Us
رجائا
rajaa’an
Please
شكرا
shokran
Thank you
شكرا جزيلا
shokran jazeelan
Thank you very much
لا شكرا
la shokran
No thank you
عفوا
‘afwan
You’re welcome
عذرا
‘othran
Excuse me (to interrupt or to ask)
أرجو المعذرة
arjul ma”therah
Pardon me
أعرف
a”ref
I know
لا أعرف
la a”ref
I don’t know
دائما
daa’eman
Always
قط
qutt
Never
أفهم
aff ham
I understand
لا أفهم
la aff ham
I don’t understand
هذا
haatha
This (addressing male)
هذه
haatheh
This (addressing female and/or plural)
ذلك
thaalek
That (addressing male)
تلك
tilk
That (addressing female and/or plural)
هنا
hona
Here
هناك
honaak
There
كيف؟
kayf?
How?
كم؟
kamm?
How many?
ما هو؟
ma howa?
What is it? (addressing male)
ما هي؟
ma heya?
What is it? (addressing female)
أين؟
ayn?
Where?
من؟
mann?
Who?
متى؟
mata?
When?
لماذا؟
lemaatha?
Why?
أي؟
ayy?
Which?
لكن
laaken
But
آسف
aasef
I am sorry (addressing male)
آسفة
aasefah
I am sorry (addressing female)
آسفون
aasefoon
I am sorry (addressing plural)
حقا
haqqan
It’s true
إنتبه!
intabeh!
Watch out! (addressing male)
إنتبهي!
intabehee!
Watch out! (addressing female)
إنتبهو!
intabehoo!
Watch out! (addressing plural)
بالصحة و العافية!
bessehhaty wal ”aafyah!
Cheers! (wishing good health and well being)
مدخل
madkhal
Entrance
مخرج طوارئ
makhraju tawaare’
Emergency Exit
دورة المياه
dawratul myaah
Toilets
رجال
rejaal
Men
نساء
nesaa’
Women
منزل
manzel