300+ Beckoning Basic Arabic Words To Get Started

Have you just started learning Arabic but can’t get the hang of the basics? Many newbies find Arabic too hard and give up on it easily, but what if there’s a way to still level up your skills without pressuring yourself? Yes, that’s possible! To do this, you simply have to focus on the basic Arabic words! Ready to learn what sets you can practice? Read on below!

Basic Arabic Words

Arabic may seem difficult, but there are some aspects about it that make it easy too. If you truly want to learn it, one way you can do this is by starting with the basics first, like the words and expressions. Hopefully, you can string these together to make a phrase or a short sentence. Also, it is important to practice how to pronounce everything you are learning so you can confidently use it in real conversations.

General Basic Words

Let’s start with the most basic general words in Arabic and learn about a few categories. 

A-F

EnglishArabicRomanization
cityمدينةmadina
congratulationsتهانيناtahanina
conversationمحادثةmuhadatha
countryبلدbalad
describeيصفyasif
difficultyصعوبةsueuba
downأسفلasfal
dubaiدبيdubay
eachكلkulu
englishالإنجليزيةal’iinjilizia
essentialضروريdaruri
exampleمثالmithal
excuseعذرeudhr
Facebookفيسْبوكfacebook
findتجدtajid
fineبخيرbikhayr
firstأولawal
fluencyالطلاقةaltalaqa
fluentبطلاقةbitalaqa
freeمجاناmajaanan

F-L

EnglishArabicRomanization
funمرحmarah
getاحصل علىaihsul ealaa
goيذهبyadhhab
godاللهallah
good morningصباح الخيرsabah alkhayr
goodbyeمع السلامةmae alsalama
greetingتحيةtahia
hasلديهاladayha
hearيسمعyasmae
herلهاlaha
himلهlah
howكيفkayf
ifإذاiidhan
languageلغةlugha
learnيتعلمyataealam
lifeالحياةalhayaa

L-Z

EnglishArabicRomanization
linkحلقة الوصلhalqat alwasl
listeningالاستماعalastimae
meaningالمعنىalmaenaa
newsالإخباريةal’iikhbaria
nightليلlayl
numberرقمraqm
oilنفطnaft
otherآخرakhar
outخارجkharij
partجزءjuz’
peaceسلامsalam
peopleاشخاصaishkhas
personشخصshakhs
practiceممارسةmumarasa
pronunciationالنطقalnutq
searchبحثbahath
seeنرىnaraa
soundsاصواتasawat
speakتحدثtahadath
spokenتحدثtahadath
standانتصابaintisab
talkحديثhadith
tomorrowالغدalghad
waterماءma’

Basic Travel Words

Traveling is an unavoidable thing once you go to an Arab country. This should motivate you to know some basic words about traveling and directions in the Arabic language. 

EnglishArabicRomanization
Go straightانطلق الأمامaintalaq al’amam
How far is it from here?كم تبعد من هنا؟kam tabeud min huna?
How much is a bus ticket to Mecca?كم هي تذكرة الباص الى مكة؟kam hi tadhkirat albas alaa maka?
How much is the bus fare?كم أجرة الباص؟kam ‘ujrat albasi?
I’m lostأنا تائهana tayih
I’m sorry, I’m not from around hereأنا آسف ، أنا لست من هناana asf , ‘ana last min huna
Turn leftانعطف لليسارaineataf lilyasar
Turn rightانعطف يميناaineataf yaminan
Where does this bus go?أين تذهب هذه الحافلة؟ayn tadhhab hadhih alhafilatu?

Basic Words For Accessories 

Accessorize your speech as you accessorize yourself with these beautiful accessory-related words. There are many Arabic events on which you might need the help of these words.

EnglishArabicRomanization
Beanie and capقبعة صغيرة وكابqubeat saghirat wakaab
Beret and straw hatقبعة بيريه وستروqubeat birih wastiru
Boots and mittensالأحذية والقفازاتal’ahdhiat walqufaazat
Bow tie and purseربطة عنق ومحفظةrabtat eunuq wamahfaza
Derby hat and helmetقبعة وخوذة ديربيqubeat wakhudhat dirbi
Hair band and safety pinرباط شعر ودبوس أمانribat shier wadabuws ‘aman
Hair clip or bobby pinمشبك شعر أو دبوس بوبيmishbak shaer ‘aw dbus bubi
Necklace and watchقلادة ومشاهدةqiladat wamushahada
Pocket watch and wrist watchساعة الجيب وساعة المعصمsaeat aljib wasaeat almaesam
Ring and glovesخاتم وقفازاتkhatim waqufaazat
Scarf and umbrellaوشاح ومظلةwashah wamizalatan
Socks and tieالجوارب وربطة عنقaljawarib warabtat eunuq
Stockings and earmuffsجوارب وأغطية للأذنينjawarib wa’aghtiat lil’udhunayn
Sunglasses and apronنظارة شمسية ومريلةnazaarat shamsiat wamarila
Top hat and mortar boardقبعة علوية ولوحة هاونqubeat ealawiat walawhat hawun

Basic Words For Flavors

Basic Arabic Words

In the Arab world, you can’t ignore Arabic food no matter how much you want to just like traveling. Learning essential words about the flavors is better in order to your favorite kind of food.

EnglishArabicRomanization
alkalineقلويqalawi
bitterمرmara
buttermilkاللبنallaban
candyحلوياتhalwayat
coffeeقهوةqahwa
honeyعسلeasal
metallicمعدنيmaediniun
saltyمالحmalih
savoryمالحmalih
sourحامِضhamid
soy sauceصلصة الصوياsalsat alsuwya
sweetحلوhulw
vinegarخلkhul
water-likeمثل الماءmithl alma’
wineنبيذnabidh
yogurtزباديzibadi

Basic Sentences

Now that you are aware of most words used in Arabic, you should also learn some Arabic sentences that could help you make more sentences using all the words you have just learned.

C-I

EnglishArabicRomanization
Can someone please assist me with this?هل يمكن لأحد أن يساعدني في هذا؟hal yumkin li’ahad ‘an yusaeidani fi hadha?
Can you assist me?هل يمكنك مساعدتي؟hal yumkinuk musaeadati?
Can you bring this to me?هل يمكنك إحضار هذا لي؟hal yumkinuk ‘iihdar hadha li?
Could you just repeat that?هل يمكنك فقط تكرار ذلك؟hal yumkinuk faqat takrar dhalika?
Does it sound okay?هل يبدو بخير؟hal yabdu bikhayrin?
From where do you hail?من أين تحيرين؟min ‘ayn tuhayrina?
Do you have this pen in another shade?هل لديك هذا القلم في ظل آخر؟hal ladayk hadha alqalam fi zil akhar?
Have you joined Facebook?هل انضممت إلى Facebook؟hal andamamt ‘iilaa Facebook؟
Hi! I’m Anna.أهلاً! انا انا.ahlaan! ana ana.
How can I assist you?كيف يمكنني مساعدتك؟kayf yumkinuni musaeadatuka?
How can I locate this book?كيف يمكنني تحديد موقع هذا الكتاب؟kayf yumkinuni tahdid mawqie hadha alkitabi?
How do you behave?كيف تتصرف؟kayf tatasarafu?
How do you feel?ما هو شعورك؟ma hu shueuruka?
I actually believed this to be my room.في الواقع اعتقدت أن هذه هي غرفتي.fi alwaqie aietaqadt ‘ana hadhih hi ghurfiti.
I am about to go outأنا على وشك الخروجana ealaa washk alkhuruj
I apologize.أنا أعتذر.ana ‘aetadhiru.
I don’t realizeلا ادركla adrak
I don’t require a bag.أنا لا أطلب حقيبة.ana la ‘atlub haqibatan.
I genuinely value that.أنا أقدر ذلك بصدق.ana ‘uqadir dhalik bisadaqi.
I require this in an XL size.أطلب هذا بحجم كبير.atlub hadha bihajm kabirin.

I-Z

EnglishArabicRomanization
I’ll join you in a second.سوف أنضم إليكم في ثانية.sawf ‘andamu ‘iilaykum fi thaniatin.
I’ll take care of that, no problem.سأعتني بذلك ، لا مشكلة.sa’aetani bidhalik , la mushkilata.
I’m not sure about my size.لست متأكدًا من مقاسي.last mtakdan min maqasi.
I’m studying English.أنا أدرس اللغة الإنجليزية.ana ‘adrus allughat al’iinjiliziata.
I’m trying to find work.أحاول العثور على عمل.uhawil aleuthur ealaa eamala.
Pardon meاعذرنيaiedhirni
Nice to meet you.من دواعي سروري مقابلتك.min dawaei sururi muqabalatuki.
Please give me a call at this number, thanksمن فضلك أعطني مكالمة على هذا الرقم ، شكراmin fadlik ‘aetini mukalimatan ealaa hadha alraqm , shukran
Please speak more slowly.من فضلك تكلم ببطء أكثر.min fadlik takalam bibut’ ‘akthara.
Thank you, it is very helpful.شكرا لك ، إنه مفيد جدا.shukran lak , ‘iinah mufid jida.
Thanks a lotشكرًا جزيلاًshkran jzylaan
That is fantastic.هذا رائع.hadha rayieun.
What do you enjoy doing when you have free time?ما الذي تستمتع به عندما يكون لديك وقت فراغ؟ma aladhi tastamtie bih eindama yakun ladayk waqt faraghi?
What does it spell?ماذا يتهجى؟madha yatahajaa؟
What is the price of that/that?ما هو ثمن ذلك / ذاك؟ma hu thaman dhalik / dhaki?
What time is the cutoff?ما هو وقت الانقطاع؟ma hu waqt alainqitaei?
What time will we meet?في أي وقت سوف نلتقي؟fi ‘ayi waqt sawf naltaqi?
Which phone number do you have?ما هو رقم الهاتف لديك؟ma hu raqm alhatif lidayka?
Why do you say that?لماذا تقول هذا؟limadha taqul hadha?
Why does this matter?لماذا هذا مهم؟limadha hadha muhima?

Fun Fact

It’s hardly surprising that you might go for months not hearing any native Arabic, given that ex-pats outnumber citizens in the United Arab Emirates and make up to 85% of the employment in Dubai. Even households and people from outside who have been in this country for a long time or period cannot comprehend a discussion in native Arabic.

Especially kids of other cultures and foreigners brought up in the Emirates don’t speak Arabic. Mostly say they never needed to study Arabic when questioned about it. This is why you should also know about some of the most common slang in the middle east.

Basic Arabic Slang

Basic Arabic Words

والله (Wallah)

والله (Wallah) literally means “I swear to God.” It’s one of the most common slang words in Arabic, and Muslims and non-muslims living in Arab tend to use this word a lot. And by a lot, I literally mean A LOT. You would find the Arabs starting every single sentence with this word which could make you dizzy when you talk in Arab.

It doesn’t have a positive or negative connotation, and it’s just a word you can use with every sentence and time of the day. Here are some examples:

  • Wallah, I am tired. – والله تعبت. (wallah taeibtu.)
  • Wallah, my wife is driving me crazy. – والله زوجتي تقودني للجنون. (wallah zawjati taquduni liljununi.)
  • Wallah, the soup is yummy. – والله الحساء لذيذ. (wallah alhisa’ lidhidha.)
  • Wallah this day is horrible. – والله هذا اليوم فظيع. (wallah hadha alyawm fazieu.)
  • Wallah, you would love this. – والله تحب هذا. (wallah tuhibu hadha.)

يلا (Yala)

Arabs love to hang out and go places, and they have their own mini forests and deserts to have a lot of fun. That is why they always ask people to come and have fun. You can also say يلا يا شباب (Yala ya shab’ab) to say, “Hey guys, let’s go.”

يا شباب (Ya Shab’ab)

One prevalent Arabic slang is يا شباب (Ya Shab’ab), meaning Hey guys! You can say يا شباب (Ya Shab’ab) while greeting a group of your friends or while you are in an informal setting. Another excellent word to use is also يا جماعة (Ya Jammaa), meaning the same. You can use these words interchangeably for most of the part.

For example, Ya shabaab, I invite you all to dinner at my house tomorrow. – يا شباب أدعوكم جميعًا إلى العشاء في منزلي غدًا (ya shabab ‘adeukum jmyean ‘iilaa aleasha’ fi manzili ghdan)

خلاص (Khalas)

The word خلاص (Khalas), when used as slang, refers to a favorable situation. Arabic people are obsessed with using this word, which means “stop.” You might wonder if it means stop, then isn’t this a rude word? As a slang word, it is one of the happiest or most positive words that Arabs use. It can also refer to the meaning of “enough,” indicating that one has had enough happiness and there is no need/room for more.

For instance, Khalas, I don’t need food anymore – خلاص ، لم أعد بحاجة للطعام (khalas , lam ‘aeud bihajat liltaeami.)

Wrapping Up

Basic Arabic Words

If you are learning Arabic and want to enhance your experience, hear me. Ling App has brought such epic ways to make learning Arabic easy for you. Your language learning has the potential to become more accessible than you realize, and that is precisely why Ling App is here.

Ling App aims to diversify learning strategies to make it easy for you to learn Arabic words. You can expand your vocabulary immensely by learning through its exclusive set of comprehensive lessons that you can take at your own pace. It also comes with authentic materials like video, blog posts, and audio recordings to help master the language faster!

Apart from that, learning Arabic by writing is another way to improve your skills. We recommend using Arabikeyan online source that helps type in Arabic for free. This tool can be very helpful if your goal is to strengthen your writing skill.

If you are at a loss of where to start, we suggest that you start learning topics like different apps to learn ArabicArabic Verbs, and the Arabic Alphabet. Ready to try it out? Download the Ling App from Google Playstore or App Store. Bid adieu to competitive deadlines, books, and classes. Start learning Arabic right away!

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