Your first words
These essential phrases will let you navigate basic interactions in Arabic-speaking countries. Arabic has both Modern Standard Arabic (MSA, used in formal contexts) and regional dialects (used in everyday speech). The phrases here work across most Arabic-speaking regions, though local variants exist.
Greetings
"As-salāmu ʿalaykum" (peace be upon you) is the universal Arabic greeting, appropriate in any situation with any speaker. It always receives the response "wa ʿalaykum as-salām" (and upon you peace). This exchange is deeply embedded in Arabic culture and works across religious and regional boundaries:
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🔊 السلام عليكم | as-salāmu ʿalaykum | Peace be upon you | Universal greeting |
| 🔊 وعليكم السلام | wa ʿalaykum as-salām | And upon you peace | Response |
| 🔊 مرحبا | marḥaba | Hello | Informal |
| 🔊 أهلا | ahlan | Hi | Common |
| 🔊 صباح الخير | ṣabāḥ al-khayr | Good morning | — |
| 🔊 صباح النور | ṣabāḥ an-nūr | Morning of light | Response |
| 🔊 مساء الخير | masāʾ al-khayr | Good evening | — |
| 🔊 مع السلامة | maʿa as-salāma | Goodbye | — |
Polite essentials
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 🔊 شكرا | shukran | Thank you |
| 🔊 عفوا | ʿafwan | You're welcome |
| 🔊 من فضلك | min faḍlak (m) / min faḍlik (f) | Please |
| 🔊 آسف | āsif (m) / āsifa (f) | Sorry |
| 🔊 لو سمحت | law samaḥt | Excuse me |
Yes and no
Arabic has formal (نعم, naʿam) and colloquial (أيوه, aywa) versions of "yes". Religious expressions like "in shāʾ Allāh" (God willing) are part of everyday speech, not just religious contexts — they express hope or intention about future events:
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 🔊 نعم | naʿam | Yes (formal) |
| 🔊 أيوه | aywa | Yes (colloquial) |
| 🔊 لا | lā | No |
| 🔊 طيب | ṭayyib | OK |
| 🔊 إن شاء الله | in shāʾ Allāh | God willing (about future plans) |
Asking for help
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 🔊 هل تتكلم الإنجليزية؟ | hal tatakallam al-inglīziyya? | Do you speak English? |
| 🔊 لا أفهم | lā afham | I don't understand |
| 🔊 أعد من فضلك | aʿid min faḍlak | Please repeat |
| 🔊 ببطء من فضلك | bibuṭʾ min faḍlak | Slowly please |
| 🔊 ما هذا؟ | mā hādhā? | What is this? |
Introducing yourself
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 🔊 اسمي... | ismī... | My name is... |
| 🔊 أنا من... | anā min... | I'm from... |
| 🔊 تشرفنا | tasharrafnā | Pleased to meet you |
| 🔊 ما اسمك؟ | mā ismuk (m) / mā ismuki (f) | What's your name? |
| 🔊 من أين أنت؟ | min ayna anta (m) / anti (f)? | Where are you from? |
Numbers 1–10
| Number | Arabic | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🔊 واحد | wāḥid |
| 2 | 🔊 اثنان | ithnān |
| 3 | 🔊 ثلاثة | thalātha |
| 4 | 🔊 أربعة | arbaʿa |
| 5 | 🔊 خمسة | khamsa |
| 6 | 🔊 ستة | sitta |
| 7 | 🔊 سبعة | sabʿa |
| 8 | 🔊 ثمانية | thamāniya |
| 9 | 🔊 تسعة | tisʿa |
| 10 | 🔊 عشرة | ʿashara |
Common expressions
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 🔊 كيف حالك؟ | kayf ḥālak (m) / ḥālik (f)? | How are you? |
| 🔊 الحمد لله | al-ḥamdu li-llāh | Thanks be to God (fine) |
| 🔊 بخير | bi-khayr | Fine |
| 🔊 ما شاء الله | mā shāʾ Allāh | Wonderful (expression of admiration) |