Alphabet
| # | Letter | Name | Approximate Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ا | Alif | a / ā (carrier for vowels) | أنا (I) |
| 2 | ب | Bāʼ | b | بيت (house) |
| 3 | ت | Tāʼ | t | تفاحة (apple) |
| 4 | ث | Thāʼ | th (think) | ثلاثة (three) |
| 5 | ج | Jīm | j (Jordan/Palestine), zh (much of Lebanon), often j in learning materials | جبل (mountain) |
| 6 | ح | Ḥāʼ | strong breathy h | حب (love) |
| 7 | خ | Khāʼ | kh (Scottish "loch") | خبز (bread) |
| 8 | د | Dāl | d | دار (house/home) |
| 9 | ذ | Dhāl | th (this) | ذهب (gold) |
| 10 | ر | Rāʼ | rolled/flapped r | رجل (man) |
| 11 | ز | Zāy | z | زهرة (flower) |
| 12 | س | Sīn | s | سمك (fish) |
| 13 | ش | Shīn | sh | شمس (sun) |
| 14 | ص | Ṣād | emphatic s | صبر (patience) |
| 15 | ض | Ḍād | emphatic d | ضو (light, Levantine) |
| 16 | ط | Ṭāʼ | emphatic t | طريق (road) |
| 17 | ظ | Ẓāʼ | emphatic dh/z | ظرف (condition) |
| 18 | ع | ʿAyn | deep throat sound | عربي (Arabic) |
| 19 | غ | Ghayn | French 'r' / gargled r | غرفة (room) |
| 20 | ف | Fāʼ | f | فم (mouth) |
| 21 | ق | Qāf | q (classical); often glottal stop (') in urban Levantine | قلب (heart) |
| 22 | ك | Kāf | k | كتاب (book) |
| 23 | ل | Lām | l | ليمون (lemon) |
| 24 | م | Mīm | m | مدرسة (school) |
| 25 | ن | Nūn | n | ناس (people) |
| 26 | هـ | Hāʼ | h | هو (he) |
| 27 | و | Wāw | w / ū / o | ورد (flowers) |
| 28 | ي | Yāʼ | y / ī | يد (hand) |
| # | Name | Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final | Approximate Sound | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alif | ا | ا | ـا | ـا | a / ā | |
| 2 | Bāʼ | ب | بـ | ـبـ | ـب | b (boy) | |
| 3 | Tāʼ | ت | تـ | ـتـ | ـت | t (table) | |
| 4 | Thāʼ | ث | ثـ | ـثـ | ـث | th (think) | |
| 5 | Jīm | ج | جـ | ـجـ | ـج | j | |
| 6 | Ḥāʼ | ح | حـ | ـحـ | ـح | strong h | |
| 7 | Khāʼ | خ | خـ | ـخـ | ـخ | kh | |
| 8 | Dāl | د | د | ـد | ـد | d | |
| 9 | Dhāl | ذ | ذ | ـذ | ـذ | th (this) | |
| 10 | Rāʼ | ر | ر | ـر | ـر | r | |
| 11 | Zāy | ز | ز | ـز | ـز | z | |
| 12 | Sīn | س | سـ | ـسـ | ـس | s | |
| 13 | Shīn | ش | شـ | ـشـ | ـش | sh | |
| 14 | Ṣād | ص | صـ | ـصـ | ـص | emphatic s | |
| 15 | Ḍād | ض | ضـ | ـضـ | ـض | emphatic d | |
| 16 | Ṭāʼ | ط | طـ | ـطـ | ـط | emphatic t | |
| 17 | Ẓāʼ | ظ | ظـ | ـظـ | ـظ | emphatic z | |
| 18 | ʿAyn | ع | عـ | ـعـ | ـع | deep throat sound | |
| 19 | Ghayn | غ | غـ | ـغـ | ـغ | French r | |
| 20 | Fāʼ | ف | فـ | ـفـ | ـف | f | |
| 21 | Qāf | ق | قـ | ـقـ | ـق | q (often glottal stop in Levantine speech) | |
| 22 | Kāf | ك | كـ | ـكـ | ـك | k | |
| 23 | Lām | لـ | لـ | ـلـ | ـل | l | |
| 24 | Mīm | م | مـ | ـمـ | ـم | m | |
| 25 | Nūn | ن | نـ | ـنـ | ـن | n | |
| 26 | Hāʼ | هـ | هـ | ـهـ | ـه | h | |
| 27 | Wāw | و | و | ـو | ـو | w / ū | |
| 28 | Yāʼ | ي | يـ | ـيـ | ـي | y / ī |
Some basics¶
Introducing yourself¶
| English | Arabic | Transliteration | Example | Translation | Grammar | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | مرحبا | marḥaba | مرحبا! | Hello! | Greeting | L1 greeting |
| Hi | أهلا | ʾahla | أهلا! | Hi! | Greeting | L1 greeting |
| Welcome | أهلاً وسهلاً | ʾahlan wa sahlan | أهلاً وسهلاً! | Welcome! | Set phrase | L1 greeting |
| Good morning | صباح الخير | ṣabāḥ il-khēr | صباح الخير. | Good morning. | Set phrase | L1 greeting |
| Good evening | مسا الخير | masa l-khēr | مسا الخير. | Good evening. | Set phrase | L1 greeting |
| Goodbye | مع السلامة | maʿ is-salāme | مع السلامة. | Goodbye. | Set phrase | L1 greeting |
| See you later | بشوفك بعدين | bshūfak baʿdēn | بشوفك بعدين. | See you later. | Future meaning | L1 greeting |
| See you tomorrow | بشوفك بكرا | bshūfak bukra | بشوفك بكرا. | See you tomorrow. | Future meaning | L1 greeting |
| Yes | إيه | ʾēh | إيه. | Yes. | Common Levantine | L1 basic |
| No | لا | lā | لا. | No. | Basic | L1 basic |
| Please | لو سمحت | law samaḥt | لو سمحت. | Please. | To a man | L1 polite |
| Thank you | شكراً | shukran | شكراً. | Thank you. | Common | L1 polite |
| You're welcome | العفو | il-ʿafw | العفو. | You're welcome. | Response | L1 polite |
| Sorry | آسف | āsif | آسف. | I'm sorry. | Male speaker | L1 polite |
| Excuse me | عن إذنك | ʿan ʾiznak | عن إذنك. | Excuse me. | Leaving/passing | L1 polite |
| I | أنا | ʾana | أنا بنوا. | I am Benoit. | Pronoun | L1 pronoun |
| You | إنت | ʾinta / ʾinti | إنت من وين؟ | Where are you from? | Pronoun | L1 pronoun |
| He | هو | huwwa | هو هون. | He is here. | Pronoun | L1 pronoun |
| She | هي | hiyye | هي هون. | She is here. | Pronoun | L1 pronoun |
| We | إحنا | ʾiḥna | إحنا جاهزين. | We are ready. | Pronoun | L1 pronoun |
| They | هم | humme | هم هون. | They are here. | Pronoun | L1 pronoun |
| My name is | اسمي | ismi | اسمي بنوا. | My name is Benoit. | Possessive | L1 intro |
| What is your name? | شو اسمك؟ | shu ismak? | شو اسمك؟ | What's your name? | Question | L1 intro |
| Nice to meet you | تشرفت فيك | tsharrafet fīk | تشرفت فيك. | Nice to meet you. | Set phrase | L1 intro |
| Likewise | وأنا كمان | wa ana kamān | وأنا كمان. | Likewise. | Response | L1 intro |
| Where? | وين؟ | wēn | وين البيت؟ | Where is the house? | Question | L1 question |
| Who? | مين؟ | mīn | مين هاد؟ | Who is this? | Question | L1 question |
| What? | شو؟ | shu | شو هاد؟ | What is this? | Question | L1 question |
| When? | إيمتى؟ | ʾēmta | إيمتى؟ | When? | Question | L1 question |
| Why? | ليش؟ | lēsh | ليش؟ | Why? | Question | L1 question |
| How? | كيف؟ | kīf | كيفك؟ | How are you? | Question | L1 question |
| How are you? | كيفك؟ | kīfak / kīfik | كيفك؟ | How are you? | Common greeting | L1 greeting |
| I'm fine | منيح | mnīḥ | أنا منيح. | I'm fine. | Male speaker | L1 greeting |
| Very good | كتير منيح | ktīr mnīḥ | كتير منيح. | Very good. | Expression | L1 greeting |
| Not bad | مو سيئ | mū sayyeʾ | مو سيئ. | Not bad. | Common | L1 greeting |
| I am... | أنا | ʾana | أنا فرنسي. | I am French. | No verb "to be" | L1 grammar |
| French | فرنسي | faransi | أنا فرنسي. | French. | Nationality | L1 nationality |
| English | إنجليزي | inglīzi | أنا بحكي إنجليزي. | English. | Language | L1 language |
| Arabic | عربي | ʿarabi | أنا عم بتعلم عربي. | Arabic. | Language | L1 language |
| I speak | بحكي | baḥki | أنا بحكي عربي. | I speak Arabic. | Present tense | L1 verb |
| I understand | بفهم | bafham | أنا بفهم شوي. | I understand a little. | Present tense | L1 verb |
| I don't understand | ما بفهم | ma bafham | ما بفهم. | I don't understand. | Negation | L1 verb |
| I know | بعرف | baʿrif | بعرف. | I know. | Present tense | L1 |
| English | Arabic | Transliteration | Example | Translation | Grammar | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House | بيت | bēt | هذا بيتي. | This is my house. | Noun | L2 house |
| Home | البيت | il-bēt | أنا بالبيت. | I'm at home. | Noun | L2 house |
| Apartment | شقة | sha'qa | هاي شقتي. | This is my apartment. | Noun | L2 house |
| Room | غرفة | ghurfe | هاي غرفة النوم. | This is the bedroom. | Noun | L2 house |
| Door | باب | bāb | الباب مفتوح. | The door is open. | Noun | L2 house |
| Window | شباك | shubbāk | افتح الشباك. | Open the window. | Noun | L2 house |
| Wall | حيط | ḥēṭ | الحيط أبيض. | The wall is white. | Noun | L2 house |
| Floor | أرض | ʾarḍ | الأرض نظيفة. | The floor is clean. | Noun | L2 house |
| Ceiling | سقف | saʾef | السقف عالي. | The ceiling is high. | Noun | L2 house |
| Key | مفتاح | miftāḥ | وين المفتاح؟ | Where is the key? | Noun | L2 house |
| Table | طاولة | ṭāwle | الكتاب على الطاولة. | The book is on the table. | Noun | L2 furniture |
| Chair | كرسي | kursi | اقعد على الكرسي. | Sit on the chair. | Noun | L2 furniture |
| Sofa | كنباية | kanabāye | أنا على الكنباية. | I'm on the sofa. | Noun | L2 furniture |
| Bed | تخت | takht | أنا بالتخت. | I'm in bed. | Noun | L2 furniture |
| Pillow | مخدة | mkhadde | هاي مخدتي. | This is my pillow. | Noun | L2 furniture |
| Blanket | حرام | ḥrām | الحرام دافي. | The blanket is warm. | Noun | L2 furniture |
| Wardrobe | خزانة | khazāne | الثياب بالخزانة. | The clothes are in the wardrobe. | Noun | L2 furniture |
| Lamp | لمبة | lambe | طفي اللمبة. | Turn off the light. | Noun | L2 furniture |
| Light | ضو | ḍaw | شغّل الضو. | Turn on the light. | Noun | L2 furniture |
| Mirror | مراية | mrāye | المراية هون. | The mirror is here. | Noun | L2 furniture |
| Kitchen | مطبخ | maṭbakh | أنا بالمطبخ. | I'm in the kitchen. | Noun | L2 kitchen |
| Fridge | براد | barrād | المي بالبراد. | The water is in the fridge. | Noun | L2 kitchen |
| Freezer | فريزر | frīzer | اللحم بالفريزر. | The meat is in the freezer. | Loanword | L2 kitchen |
| Oven | فرن | furn | الخبز بالفرن. | The bread is in the oven. | Noun | L2 kitchen |
| Microwave | مايكرويف | māykrōwēf | حطها بالمايكرويف. | Put it in the microwave. | Loanword | L2 kitchen |
| Sink | مجلى | majla | الكاسات بالمجلى. | The glasses are in the sink. | Noun | L2 kitchen |
| Cup | كاسة | kāse | هاي كاسة مي. | This is a glass of water. | Noun | L2 kitchen |
| Plate | صحن | ṣaḥen | الصحن نظيف. | The plate is clean. | Noun | L2 kitchen |
| Fork | شوكة | shōke | وين الشوكة؟ | Where is the fork? | Noun | L2 kitchen |
| Knife | سكينة | sikkīne | السكينة حادة. | The knife is sharp. | Noun | L2 kitchen |
| Spoon | ملعقة | malʿa'a | هات الملعقة. | Bring the spoon. | Noun | L2 kitchen |
| Bottle | قنينة | ʾannīne | هاي قنينة مي. | This is a bottle of water. | Noun | L2 kitchen |
| Water | مي | mayy | بدي مي. | I want water. | Noun | L2 kitchen |
| Food | أكل | ʾakel | الأكل جاهز. | The food is ready. | Noun | L2 kitchen |
| Bathroom | حمام | ḥammām | الحمام هون. | The bathroom is here. | Noun | L2 bathroom |
| Shower | دوش | dūsh | بدي آخد دوش. | I want to take a shower. | Loanword | L2 bathroom |
| Toilet | تواليت | twālēt | وين التواليت؟ | Where is the toilet? | Loanword | L2 bathroom |
| Soap | صابون | ṣābūn | اغسل إيدك بالصابون. | Wash your hands with soap. | Noun | L2 bathroom |
| Towel | منشفة | manshafe | هاي منشفتي. | This is my towel. | Noun | L2 bathroom |
| Toothbrush | فرشاية سنان | firshāyet snān | وين فرشاية السنان؟ | Where is the toothbrush? | Noun | L2 bathroom |
| Bedroom | غرفة النوم | ghurfet en-nōm | غرفة النوم كبيرة. | The bedroom is big. | Noun | L2 bedroom |
| Living room | غرفة القعدة | ghurfet il-qaʿde | نحنا بغرفة القعدة. | We're in the living room. | Noun | L2 bedroom |
| Stairs | درج | daraj | اطلع عالدرج. | Go up the stairs. | Noun | L2 house |
| Garage | كراج | karāj | السيارة بالكراج. | The car is in the garage. | Loanword | L2 house |
| Garden | جنينة | jnēne | الجنينة حلوة. | The garden is beautiful. | Noun | L2 house |
| Balcony | بلكونة | balkōne | أنا بالبلكونة. | I'm on the balcony. | Loanword | L2 house |
| Roof | سطح | saṭḥ | اطلع عالسطح. | Go up to the roof. | Noun | L2 house |
| Electricity | كهربا | kahraba | ما في كهربا. | There's no electricity. | Noun | L2 utilities |
| Water (supply) | مي | mayy | في مي؟ | Is there water? | Noun | L2 utilities |
| Internet | إنترنت | internet | الإنترنت سريع. | The internet is fast. | Loanword | L2 utilities |