Learn a few useful Arabic phrases if you are planning to travel to the Arab World.
The Arab World has its own mystic and enchanting beauty that seduces travelers. And there is more to it than sun, sand and beaches. Its allure includes world class cultural and natural attractions. The cities of Manama (Bahrain), Doha (Qatar), Giza (Egypt), The Old City (Israel) and Istanbul (Turkey) are just some of the cities in the Middle East that offer beautiful places to see, delicious food to try and a great culture to experience.
But when you are traveling anywhere, it is a great tool if you can learn a little bit of the local language to help you get around. Here are a few useful Arabic phrases for you.
Useful Arabic Phrases
These useful Arabic phrases will help you get by when traveling to any of the countries in the Arab World.
Conversations
- Welcome! – Ahlan wa sahlan!
- Hello! – As-salām ‘alaykum / Marḥabanا (inf) / ‘āllō (on the phone)
- How are you? – Kayfa ḥālik? (f) / Kayfa ḥālak? (m)
- Long time no see. – Lam naraka mundhu muddah.
- What’s your name? – Mā ismak/ik?
- My name is ___. – ___ ismee.
- Pleased to meet you. – Motasharefon bema’refatek. (m) / Motasharefatun bema’refatek. (f)
Arab Greetings
- Good morning! – ṣabāḥul kẖayr
- Good afternoon / evening! – Masā’ al-khayr
- Good night! – Tuṣbiḥ ‘alā khayr! / Laylah sa’īdah!
- Goodbye! – Ilā al-liqā’ / Ma’a as-salāmah
- Good luck! – Bit-tawfīq!
- Bon appetit! – Bil-hanā’ wa ash-shifā’
- Bon voyage! – Riḥlah saʿīdah! (happy journey) / Riḥlah muwaffaqah! (successful journey)
- Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! – Ajmil at-tihānī bimunāsabah al-mīlād wa ḥilūl as-sanah al-jadīdah!
- Happy Birthday! – Kul ‘am wa antum bekheir! / Eid mīlad sa’aīd!
Traveling in a Arabic Country
- Can I help you? – Hal beemkani mosa’adatuk?
- Can you help me? – Hal beemkanek mosa’adati?
- I understand. – Ana afham.
- I don’t understand . Lā afham.
- Please speak more slowly. – Takallam bibuṭ’ min fadlak/ik.
- Please say that again. – A’īd min fadlik (f) / A’id min fadlak! (m)
- Please write it down. – Uktubhā min fadlak/ik.
- Can You Say It Again? – A’ed men fadlek!
- I Don’t Know! – La a’ref!
- How do you say ___ in Arabic? – Kayfa taqūlu kalimah ___ bil-‘arabīyah?
- Excuse me. – Min faḍlak/ik (to call someone’s attention) / Al-ma’dirah (to ask someone to move)
- Please. – Min tadlak.
Sorry. – Aāsif! - Thank you! – Shukran jazīlan! / Shukran!
- You’re welcome! – Al’afw!
- Don’t worry! – La taqlaq (m) / ! La taqlaqi (f)
- Really! – Haqqan!
- Look! – Onzor! (m) / Onzori! (f)
- What time is it? – Kam essa’a?
- Good / So-So – Jayed/ ‘aadee
- Today/ Now – Alyawm/ Al aan
- Tomorrow/ Yesterday – Ghadan/ Albareha
- Yes/ No – Na’am/ Laa
- I love you! – Uḥibbuk!
- Leave me alone! – Idrukkini! (f) / Idrukni (m)
- Call the police! – Nād ash-shariṭah!
Transport / Getting Around / Finding your way
- I’m lost! – Ada’tu tareeqi!
- Hurry up! – Asre’! (m)/ Asre’ee! (f)
- How far is it to ___ / Kam kiloometre ila ___?
- Here / There – Huna / Hunaak
- Where is the __? – Ayna ajedu ___?
- Bathroom – Al merhaad
- Pharmacy – Assaidaliah
- Hotel – Fondoq
- Museum – Mathaf
- Mall -Souq
- Restauran – Mat’am
- Hospital – Mustashfa
- Doctor – Tabeeb
- Police – Shorta
- Down Town – Wast El-Balad
- Street – Share’a
- Car – Seyyara
- Taxi – Taxi Ojrah
- Bus – Bas
- Airplane – Teyyara
- Train – Qetar
- Right / Left / Straight – Yameen / Shemal / Doghree
Food and Dining
- I’m hungry/ thirsty. Ana jae’/ ana ‘atshaan
- I don’t eat meat. – Ana ma bakul laham.
- I am a vegetarian. – Ána nabbáti. (m)/ Nabbátiya. (f)
- Enough, thanks. – Bas, shukran
- food – ákl
- breakfast / lunch / dinner – futour / ghadaa / ashaa
- fish / meat / chicken – simich / láhm / dijaj
- bread / butter / cheese – khúbz / zibdeh / jabne
- coffee / tea / milk – káhwa / shay / halíb
- beer -beera
- with sugar – bi súkkar
- without sugar -bidún súkkar
- mineral water – mái ma’adaniya
- glass – gelaas
- bottle – zajaja / botel
- cup – finján
- The Bill – El-Hesab
- Invoice – Fatora
Shopping
- How much is this? – Bikam hādihi? (f) / Bikam hādhā? (m)
- What is this? – Ma hatha?
- Give me this! – A’teni hatheh!
- Here you go! (when giving something) – Khod!
- Do you like it? – Hal a’jabak? (m) / Hal a’jabaki? (f)
- I really like it! – A’jabani haqqan!
- Can I see this? / Momken ashout da?
- I don’t want this. / Mish avez(m)/avza(f) da.
- It costs too much. – Da ghali awi.
- Do you have ___? – Fi andak ___?
- Money – Felous
- Big / Small – Kabeer / Sagheer
- This / That – Hatha / Thalek
- Expensive – Ghali
- Too Much – Kteer
- Cheap – Rekhis
- Beautiful – Jameel – Helow
- Nice – Lateef
Get more help on useful Arabic phrases or hire an Arabic translator from Language Direct.
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