Learning Arabic: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Arabic course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Arabic is like
Arabic reads right-to-left and is built from 3-letter roots: k-t-b gives kitāb (book), maktab (office), kātib (writer). 'The' is al- stuck on the front, and there's no 'is/are' in the present — "the house big" means "the house is big". Short vowels usually aren't written; the audio fills them in.
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Arabic has a few throat sounds with no English equivalent — copy the audio. It reads right-to-left.
- ح ḥ — a breathy h from deep in the throat, as in ḥisāb (bill).
- خ kh — like the 'ch' in Scottish loch, as in khubz (bread).
- ع ʿayn — a tight catch in the throat, as in ʿashara (ten).
- غ gh — like a French throaty 'r', as in ghadan (tomorrow).
- ق q — a 'k' from deep in the throat, as in qahwa (coffee).
- ص ض ط — 'heavy' s, d, t — deeper and fuller, as in ṣabāḥ (morning).
- ء hamza — a glottal stop (the catch in 'uh-oh'), as in māʾ (water).
- ↤ RTL — Arabic reads right-to-left, as in start from the right.
How the Arabic course is structured
The course has 32 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings — مرحبا · شكرا · السلام عليكم
- I want" أريد — أريد · قهوة · بكم
- Numbers — واحد to عشرة
- Food — القائمة · لا آكل اللحم · الحساب
- Getting around — أين · يمين/يسار · المطار
- I have / do you have" عندي — عندي · هل عندك · لا مشكلة
- Talking about the past — -تُ = I … (past)
- Mine & yours — -ي = my · -ك = your
- Time & when — اليوم · الآن · كم الساعة
- The question words — ما · من · لماذا · كيف
- Where things are — في · هنا · قريب
- Need & can — أحتاج · هل يمكنني
- Because, but & joining ideas — لأن · لكن · أيضاً
- Shopping & bargaining — غالي · أرخص · خصم
- Help & emergencies — النجدة · طبيب · الشرطة
- Family & people — عائلة · زوجتي · أطفال
- Colours & describing — لون · أحمر · كبير/صغير
- At the restaurant — قائمة الطعام · الحساب
- Days, dates & months — أيام الأسبوع · الشهور
- Weather & small talk — الطقس · كيف حالك
- Transport & tickets — حافلة · قطار · محطة
- Money & prices — نقود · بطاقة · الباقي
- Hotel & booking — غرفة · حجز · مفتاح
- Phone, internet & staying in touch — واي فاي · كلمة السر
- How I feel — سعيد · تعبان · جائع
- Everyday verbs & routines — أستيقظ · آكل · أعمل
- Feeling ill / at the doctor — مريض · طبيب · صيدلية
- Countries, nationalities & languages — من أين أنت · أتكلم
- Making plans & suggestions — لنذهب · نلتقي · متى
- Politeness & survival — عفواً · آسف · لا أفهم
- Bonus: The root machine — ك ت ب — كتاب · كاتب · مكتب · مكتبة
- مـ = the place of — مدرسة · مطعم · مخرج · موقف
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Food
Key pieces: القائمة · لا آكل اللحم · الحساب
- القائمة (al-qāʾima) — the menu
- خبز (khubz) — bread
- ماء (māʾ) — water
To say “The menu, please” in Arabic: القائمة من فضلك (al-qāʾima min faḍlak). Built from al-qāʾima = the menu; min faḍlak = please.
'I don't eat meat' = lā ākul al-laḥm (laḥm = meat).
To say “I don't eat meat” in Arabic: لا آكل اللحم (lā ākul al-laḥm). Built from lā = not; ākul = I eat; al-laḥm = the meat.
To say “It's delicious” in Arabic: إنه لذيذ (innahu ladhīdh). Built from إنه = it is; لذيذ = delicious.
The bill is al-ḥisāb (الحساب) — exactly 'hisaab'!
To say “The bill, please” in Arabic: الحساب من فضلك (al-ḥisāb min faḍlak). Built from الحساب = the bill; من فضلك = please. ḥisāb ≈ hisaab (Hindi/Urdu).
I have / do you have" عندي
Key pieces: عندي · هل عندك · لا مشكلة
'I have' is عندي (ʿindī) — literally 'at-me'. 'Do you have…?' is هل عندك…؟ (hal ʿindak).
To say “I have a question (سؤال)” in Arabic: عندي سؤال (ʿindī suʾāl). Built from عندي = I have (at me); سؤال = a question.
To say “Do you have water?” in Arabic: هل عندك ماء؟ (hal ʿindak māʾ). Built from هل = (question); عندك = you have; ماء = water.
A phrase you'll hear and use a lot: لا مشكلة (lā mushkila) = 'no problem'.
To say “No problem” in Arabic: لا مشكلة (lā mushkila). Built from لا = no; مشكلة = problem.
To say “I don't have time (وقت)” in Arabic: ليس عندي وقت (laysa ʿindī waqt). Built from ليس = not; عندي = I have; وقت = time.
Talking about the past
Key pieces: -تُ = I … (past)
Arabic past tense adds an ending for 'I': -tu. 'he went' ذهب (dhahaba) → 'I went' ذهبت (dhahabtu).
To say “I went” in Arabic: ذهبت (dhahabtu). Built from ذهب = went; -tu = I.
To say “I ate” in Arabic: أكلت (akaltu). Built from أكل = ate; -tu = I.
To say “I saw” in Arabic: رأيت (raʾaytu). Built from رأى = saw; -tu = I.
Add a place with إلى (ilā = to).
To say “I went to the airport” in Arabic: ذهبت إلى المطار (dhahabtu ilā al-maṭār). Built from ذهبت = I went; إلى = to; المطار = the airport.
Mine & yours
Key pieces: -ي = my · -ك = your
'My' is the suffix -ī (ـي) stuck on the noun. اسم (ism = name) → اسمي (ismī = my name).
To say “my name” in Arabic: اسمي (ismī). Built from اسم = name; -ī = my.
To say “my book (كتاب)” in Arabic: كتابي (kitābī). Built from كتاب = book; -ī = my. كتاب kitāb ≈ kitaab.
'Your (to a man)' is the suffix -ak (ـك): اسمك = your name.
To say “your name” in Arabic: اسمك (ismak). Built from اسم = name; -ak = your.
To say “my passport (جواز)” in Arabic: جوازي (jawāzī). Built from جواز = passport; -ī = my.
Time & when
Key pieces: اليوم · الآن · كم الساعة
Time words: اليوم al-yawm today, غدا ghadan tomorrow, أمس ams yesterday, الآن al-ān now.
- اليوم (al-yawm) — today
- غدا (ghadan) — tomorrow
- الآن (al-ān) — now
To say “today” in Arabic: اليوم (al-yawm). Built from اليوم = today.
To say “now” in Arabic: الآن (al-ān). Built from الآن = now.
'What time is it?' is كم الساعة؟ (kam as-sāʿa) — literally 'how much the hour?'
To say “What time is it?” in Arabic: كم الساعة؟ (kam as-sāʿa). Built from كم = how much; الساعة = the hour.
To say “tomorrow” in Arabic: غدا (ghadan). Built from غدا = tomorrow.
Where things are
Key pieces: في · هنا · قريب
'In / at' is في (fī). أنا في الفندق = I'm at the hotel. هنا hunā here, هناك hunāka there.
To say “I'm at the hotel” in Arabic: أنا في الفندق (anā fī al-funduq). Built from أنا = I; في = at; الفندق = the hotel.
To say “here” in Arabic: هنا (hunā). Built from هنا = here.
To say “The bathroom is here” in Arabic: الحمام هنا (al-ḥammām hunā). Built from الحمام = the bathroom; هنا = here.
قريب qarīb = near. Combine with 'is there' (يوجد, yūjad).
To say “Is there a bank nearby?” in Arabic: هل يوجد بنك قريب؟ (hal yūjad bank qarīb). Built from هل = (question); يوجد = there is; بنك = bank; قريب = near.
Need & can
Key pieces: أحتاج · هل يمكنني
'I need' is أحتاج (aḥtāj). 'Can I…?' is هل يمكنني…؟ (hal yumkinunī).
To say “I need help (مساعدة)” in Arabic: أحتاج مساعدة (aḥtāj musāʿada). Built from أحتاج = I need; مساعدة = help.
To say “I need a taxi” in Arabic: أحتاج سيارة أجرة (aḥtāj sayyārat ujra). Built from أحتاج = I need; سيارة أجرة = taxi.
To say “Can I sit here?” in Arabic: هل يمكنني الجلوس هنا؟ (hal yumkinunī al-julūs hunā). Built from هل يمكنني = can I; الجلوس = sitting; هنا = here.
To say “Can you help me?” in Arabic: هل يمكنك مساعدتي؟ (hal yumkinuka musāʿadatī). Built from هل يمكنك = can you; مساعدتي = help me.
Help & emergencies
Key pieces: النجدة · طبيب · الشرطة
The words you hope not to need: النجدة an-najda help!, طبيب ṭabīb doctor, مستشفى mustashfā hospital, شرطة shurṭa police.
To say “Help, please!” in Arabic: النجدة من فضلك! (an-najda min faḍlak). Built from النجدة = help; من فضلك = please.
To say “I'm sick” in Arabic: أنا مريض (anā marīḍ). Built from أنا = I; مريض = sick.
To say “I need a doctor” in Arabic: أحتاج طبيب (aḥtāj ṭabīb). Built from أحتاج = I need; طبيب = doctor.
To say “Where is the hospital?” in Arabic: أين المستشفى؟ (ayna al-mustashfā). Built from أين = where; المستشفى = the hospital.
Colours & describing
Key pieces: لون · أحمر · كبير/صغير
لون lawn = colour. أحمر red, أزرق blue, أبيض white, أسود black.
- أحمر (aḥmar) — red
- أزرق (azraq) — blue
- أبيض (abyaḍ) — white
To say “red” in Arabic: أحمر (aḥmar). Built from أحمر = red.
To say “big” in Arabic: كبير (kabīr). Built from كبير = big.
To say “small” in Arabic: صغير (ṣaghīr). Built from صغير = small.
To say “very beautiful” in Arabic: جميل جدا (jamīl jiddan). Built from جميل = beautiful; جدا = very.
To compare: أكبر (akbar) = bigger, الأكبر (al-akbar) = the biggest, من (min) = than.
- أكبر (akbar) — bigger
- الأكبر (al-akbar) — the biggest
- من (min) — than
Days, dates & months
Key pieces: أيام الأسبوع · الشهور
Talking about when things happen is essential for booking and planning.
- اليوم (al-YAWM) — today
- غداً (GHA-dan) — tomorrow
- أمس (AMS) — yesterday
- الأسبوع (al-us-BOO') — the week
- نهاية الأسبوع (ni-HAA-yat al-us-BOO') — the weekend
- الشهر (ash-SHAHR) — the month
- الاثنين (al-ith-NAYN) — Monday
- الجمعة (al-JUM-'a) — Friday
- السبت (as-SABT) — Saturday
- يناير (ya-NAA-yir) — January
To say “What day is today?” in Arabic: ما هو اليوم؟ (maa HU-wa al-YAWM). Built from ما هو = what is; اليوم = today.
To say “Tomorrow is Friday” in Arabic: غداً الجمعة (GHA-dan al-JUM-'a). Built from غداً = tomorrow; الجمعة = Friday.
To say “I arrived yesterday” in Arabic: وصلت أمس (wa-SALT AMS). Built from وصلت = I arrived; أمس = yesterday.
To say “On the weekend” in Arabic: في نهاية الأسبوع (fee ni-HAA-yat al-us-BOO'). Built from في = on/in; نهاية الأسبوع = the weekend.
Weather & small talk
Key pieces: الطقس · كيف حالك
A little small talk about the weather goes a long way. "Praise be to God" is the standard friendly reply to "how are you?"
- الطقس (aT-TAQS) — the weather
- حار (HAARR) — hot
- بارد (BAA-rid) — cold
- تمطر (TUM-tir) — it rains
- الشمس (ash-SHAMS) — the sun
- الحمد لله (al-HAM-du lil-LAAH) — praise be to God (I'm fine)
To say “How are you?” in Arabic: كيف حالك؟ (KAY-fa HAA-lak). Built from كيف = how; حالك = your state.
To say “Fine, praise be to God” in Arabic: بخير، الحمد لله (bi-KHAYR, al-HAM-du lil-LAAH). Built from بخير = well/fine; الحمد لله = praise be to God.
To say “The weather is hot today” in Arabic: الطقس حار اليوم (aT-TAQS HAARR al-YAWM). Built from الطقس = the weather; حار = hot; اليوم = today.
To say “It is cold” in Arabic: الجو بارد (al-JAWW BAA-rid). Built from الجو = the air/weather; بارد = cold.
How I feel
Key pieces: سعيد · تعبان · جائع
Describe your state: happy, tired, hungry or thirsty.
- سعيد (sa-'EED) — happy
- تعبان (ta'-BAAN) — tired
- جائع (JAA-i') — hungry
- عطشان ('aT-SHAAN) — thirsty
- مشغول (mash-GHOOL) — busy
- أشعر (ASH-'ur) — I feel
To say “How do you feel?” in Arabic: كيف تشعر؟ (KAY-fa TASH-'ur). Built from كيف = how; تشعر = you feel.
To say “I am happy” in Arabic: أنا سعيد (A-naa sa-'EED). Built from أنا = I; سعيد = happy.
To say “I am tired” in Arabic: أنا تعبان (A-naa ta'-BAAN). Built from أنا = I; تعبان = tired.
To say “I am hungry” in Arabic: أنا جائع (A-naa JAA-i'). Built from أنا = I; جائع = hungry.
Everyday verbs & routines
Key pieces: أستيقظ · آكل · أعمل
Simple present-tense verbs describe your daily routine. "Every day" ties them together.
- أستيقظ (as-TAY-qiz) — I wake up
- آكل (AA-kul) — I eat
- أعمل (A'-mal) — I work
- أنام (a-NAAM) — I sleep
- أشرب (ASH-rab) — I drink
- كل يوم (KUL-la YAWM) — every day
To say “I wake up early” in Arabic: أستيقظ مبكراً (as-TAY-qiz mu-BAK-ki-ran). Built from أستيقظ = I wake up; مبكراً = early.
To say “I eat breakfast” in Arabic: آكل الإفطار (AA-kul al-if-TAAR). Built from آكل = I eat; الإفطار = breakfast.
To say “I work every day” in Arabic: أعمل كل يوم (A'-mal KUL-la YAWM). Built from أعمل = I work; كل يوم = every day.
To say “I sleep at night” in Arabic: أنام في الليل (a-NAAM fee al-LAYL). Built from أنام = I sleep; في الليل = at night.
Bonus: The root machine — ك ت ب
Key pieces: كتاب · كاتب · مكتب · مكتبة
Here is the secret that turns Arabic from an endless memorizing job into a system. Almost every Arabic word is built on a three-consonant root. The root carries the meaning; the vowels and extra letters around it decide the word's job.
And notice what Arabic writing actually shows you: mostly the consonants. The vowels are left out. That's not the script being difficult — it's the script showing you the root itself, right there on the page.
- ك ت ب (k - t - b) — the root: WRITING
- كتب (KA-ta-ba) — he wrote
Now a pattern you'll reuse constantly. Arab grammarians describe patterns with the dummy root ف ع ل — so فاعل (faa'il) means 'the one who does it'.
The next pattern is the one that will change how you read street signs. مفعل (maf'al) = 'the PLACE where it happens'.
To say “This is my book.” in Arabic: هذا كتابي (HAA-tha ki-TAA-bee). Built from هذا = this; كتاب = book; ـي = my.
To say “Where is the office?” in Arabic: أين المكتب؟ (AY-na al-MAK-tab). Built from أين = where; الـ = the; مكتب = office.
مـ = the place of
Key pieces: مدرسة · مطعم · مخرج · موقف
One prefix now unlocks a whole shelf of words. Put مـ (ma-) in front of a root and you get the place where that thing happens. Watch how far this goes.
Now one you have already been using. Back in the restaurant lesson you learned قائمة الطعام, 'the menu' — so you know طعام (ta'aam) = food, root ط ع م.
These next two are written above every door in the Arab world. خ ر ج = going out. د خ ل = going in.
To say “Where is the exit?” in Arabic: أين المخرج؟ (AY-na al-MAKH-raj). Built from أين = where; الـ = the; مخرج = exit.
To say “Where is the car park?” in Arabic: أين الموقف؟ (AY-na al-MAW-qif). Built from أين = where; موقف = car park.
To say “The kitchen is here.” in Arabic: المطبخ هنا (al-MAT-bakh HU-na). Built from المطبخ = the kitchen; هنا = here.
Common mistakes and things to watch out for
- الحمد لله (al-HAM-du lil-LAAH): I'm fine.
- الباقي (al-BAA-qee): money back.
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.