Basic Arabic Phrases

In this section, you’ll find essential Arabic phrases that every traveler should know by
heart regardless of the reason why they’re traveling.

After all, whether you’re on holiday or on business, you’ll always find yourself in
situations in which you need to use the Arabic language to greet people, introduce
yourself, exchange courtesies and say “sorry” and “thank you.”

For every Arabic expression, you’ll find both its spelling in Arabic script and its
pronunciation.

 What’s your name? = ‫ – ﻣﺎ ﺍﺳﻣﻙ؟‬Ma esmuka?

 My name is ______. = ‫ﺍﺳﻣﻲ ﻫﻭ‬- Esmi huwa
 How are you? = ‫ – ﻛﻳﻑ ﺣﺎﻟﻙ؟‬Kayfahaluka (M)/haluki (F)
 I’m fine = ‫ﺍﻧﺎ ﺟﻳﺩ‬- Ana jayyed (M)/jayyedah (F)
 Please = ‫ﻟﻭ ﺳﻣﺣﺕ‬- Law samaht
 Thank you = ‫ﺷﻛﺭﺍ ﻟﻙ‬- Shukran
 You’re welcome= ‫ – ﻋﻔﻭﺍ‬Afwan
 I’m sorry = ‫ﺍﻧﺎ ﺁﺳﻑ‬- Ana asef (M)/ Ana asefa (F)

With the Arabic phrases above, you should be able to start a conversation, introduce
yourself, and show friendliness.

However, you may also find yourself in situations in which you need to use the Arabic
language to ask people to do something for you. You know what situations we’re talking
about. We’ve all been desperately looking for a bathroom or a service station or found
ourselves staring blankly at a foreign person who spoke too fast.

Said at the right moment, the Arabic expressions below can be real life-savers.

 Where is the bathroom? = ‫ – ﺃﻳﻥ ﺍﻟﺣﻣﺎﻡ؟‬AynaAl hammam?

 Where is the service station? = ‫– ﺃﻳﻥ ﻣﺣﻁﺔ ﺍﻟﺧﺩﻣﺔ؟‬
AynaMahatat Al khedmah?
  Help! = ‫ – !ﻣﺳﺎﻋﺩﺓ‬Mosa’adah!
 I don’t speak Arabic = ‫ﺍﻧﺎ ﻻ ﺍﺗﻛﻠﻡ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ‬- Ana la atakallamu Al
arabiyyah.
 Could you speak slower, please? = ‫ﻫﻝ ﻳﻣﻛﻧﻙ ﺍﻟﺗﺣﺩﺙ ﺑﺷﻛﻝ ﺃﺑﻁﺄ ﻣﻥ‬
‫ – ﻓﺿﻠﻙ؟‬hal yumkinuk altahaduth bishakl ‘abta min fadlika?
 How do you say____ in Arabic? = ‫– ﻛﻳﻑ ﺗﻘﻭﻝ ______ ﺑﺎﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ؟‬
KayfaTaqul ______ Belarabiyyah?

Common Arabic Greetings

Just like English, the Arabic language boasts a vast repertoire of Hello’s and
Goodbye’s.
How will you know which one to choose? That will depend on two factors. First, you’ll
need to look at the watch. Just like it would be a bit weird to say “good morning” at 2 PM
in English, similar Arabic expressions are unsuitable if said at the wrong time.

Second, you need to consider the level of formality that is expected of you in different
situations. After all, you wouldn’t say “‘Sup?” the first time you meet your parents-in-law,
right? Arabic phrases of this kind are no different.

Formal Arabic Greetings

 Good morning = ‫ – ﺍﻟﺧﻳﺭﺻﺑﺎﺡ‬sabah alkhayr

 Good afternoon = ‫ – ﻣﺳﺎءﺍﻟﺧﻳﺭ‬masa’ alkhayr
 Good evening = ‫ – ﻣﺳﺎءﺍﻟﺧﻳﺭ‬masa’ alkhayr
 It’s a pleasure to meet you = ‫ – ﻣﻧﺩﻭﺍﻋﻲ ﺳﺭﻭﺭﻱ ﻣﻘﺎﺑﻠﺗﻙ‬min
dawaei sururi muqabalatuk
 Have a nice day = ‫‘ – ﺃﺗﻣﻧﯨﻠﻙ ﻳﻭﻡ ﺳﻌﻳﺩ‬atamanaa lak yawm saeid

Informal Arabic Greetings

  Hi = ‫ﺃﻫﻼ‬- Ahlan
 Hey = ‫ﻣﻬﻼ‬- Mahlan
 What’s up? = ‫ – ﻣﺎﺃﺧﺑﺎﺭﻙ؟‬Ma Akhbarakura?
 How’s it going? = ‫ – ﻛﻳﻔﺗﺟﺭﻱ ﺍﻻﻣﻭﺭ؟‬Kayfa Tajri Alumur?
 Nice to meet you = ‫ – ﺳﻌﻳﺩﺑﻠﻘﺎﺋﻙ‬Ana Saeed Beliqa’ak (M) /
Belqa’ak (F)

Arabic Phrases to Talk About Your Career

Now, you’re not here only to learn Arabic greetings. Why stick to “Good morning” and
“Good evening” when you can have much more meaningful conversations?

If you really want to show locals that you appreciate the Arabic language, learn a few
Arabic expressions to talk about your career and ask them about theirs. This way, you’ll
get people to trust you and you’re much more likely to make new friends.

Who knows? You might even find a new business partner!

 What do you do for a living? = ‫– ﻣﺎﺫﺍﺗﻌﻣﻝ ﻟﻛﺳﺏ ﻋﻳﺷﻙ؟‬

Matha Ta’amalu Likasb Ayshuka?
 Where do you work? = ‫ – ﺃﻳﻧﺗﻌﻣﻝ؟‬Ayna Ta’amalu (M) /
Ta’amali (F)?
 What is your occupation? = ‫ – ﻣﺎﻫﻳﻣﻬﻧﺗﻙ؟‬Ma heya Mehnatuka
(M) / Mehnatuki (F)?
 I work as a_______ = ‫ – _____ ﺃﻧﺎﺃﻋﻣﻝ ﻙ‬Ana A’amalu
Ka _____
 Businessperson = ‫ﺭﺟﻝ ﺍﻋﻣﺎﻝ‬- Rajul aemaal
 Doctor = ‫ﻁﺑﻳﺏ‬- Tabeeb
 Nurse = ‫ﻣﻣﺭﺽ‬- Mumaredh (M) / Mumaredhah (F)
 Cook = ‫ﻳﻁﺑﺦ‬- Yatbukh
 Veterinarian = ‫ﻁﺑﻳﺏ ﺑﻳﻁﺭﻱ‬- Tabeeb BayTari
 Teacher = ‫ﻣﺩﺭﺱ‬- Mudaris
 Researcher = ‫ﺍﻟﺑﺎﺣﺙ‬- Albahith
 Store clerk = ‫ﻣﻭﻅﻑ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺗﺟﺭ‬- Muwathaf Fi Matjar
 Driver = ‫ﺳﺎﺋﻖ‬- Saa’eq
 Web developer = ‫ﻣﻁﻭﺭ ﻭﻳﺏ‬- Mutawir wib
 I’m a freelancer = ‫ﺃﻧﺎ ﺑﺎﻟﻘﻁﻌﺔ‬- Ana BelqeTa’ah
  I have my own business = ‫ﻟﺩﻱ ﻋﻣﻠﻲ‬- Ladayya A’amali
 I’m looking for a job = ‫ﺃﻧﺎ ﺍﺑﺣﺙ ﻋﻥ ﻋﻣﻝ‬- Ana Abhathu A’n A’mal

Survival Arabic Phrases for Your Next Trip

Unfortunately, traveling to a foreign country is not always fun. Sometimes, you’re forced
to communicate things like “I can’t find my passport” (ouch) or simply ask for help so
you won’t take the wrong bus.

The following Arabic expressions will help you survive in difficult situations.

 I’m lost = ‫ﺃﻧﺎ ﺗﺎﺋﻪ‬. – Ana Ta’eh

 Do you speak English? = ‫– ﻫﻝ ﺗﺗﻛﻠﻡ ﺑﺎﻹﻧﺟﻠﻳﺯﻳﺔ؟‬
HalTatakallam Beler?
 Where’s the_____? = ‫ – ﺍﻳﻥ ﺍﻝ_____؟‬Ayna Al _____?
 Train station = ‫ﻣﺣﻁﺔ ﺍﻟﻘﻁﺎﺭ‬- Mahatat alqitar
 Bus station = ‫ﻣﺣﻁﺔ ﺍﻟﺑﺎﺹ‬- Mahatat albas
 Bathroom = ‫ﺣﻣﺎﻡ‬- hHamaam
 I can’t find______ = ‫ﻻ ﺃﺟﺩ‬- La ‘ajid
 My passport = ‫ﺟﻭﺍﺯ ﺍﻟﺳﻔﺭ ﺍﻟﺧﺎﺹ ﺑﻲ‬- Jawaz alsafar alkhasi bi
 My hotel = ‫ﻓﻧﺩﻗﻲ‬- Funduqi
 My group = ‫ﻣﺟﻣﻭﻋﺗﻲ‬- Majmueati
 Does this bus go to______? = ‫– ﻫﻝ ﺗﺫﻫﺏ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺣﺎﻓﻠﺔ ﺇﻟﻰ______؟‬
Hal tadhhab hadhih alhafilat ‘iilaa
 I’m allergic to______ = ______ ‫ – ﻟﺩﯨﺣﺳﺎﺳﻳﻪ ﻣﻥ‬Hal Tath.hab
Hathehy Alhafelah ela ______.
 Shrimp =‫ – ﺟﻣﺑﺭﻱ‬Jumbiri
 Nuts = ‫ﺍﻟﻣﻛﺳﺭﺍﺕ‬- Almukasirat
 Fish = ‫ﺳﻣﻛﺔ‬- Samaka
 Milk = ‫ﺣﻠﻳﺏ‬- Halib
 Wheat = ‫ﻗﻣﺢ‬- Qamh
  Can I use your phone? It’s an emergency = ‫ﻫﻝ ﻳﻣﻛﻧﻧﻲ ﺍﺳﺗﺧﺩﺍﻡ‬
‫ﻫﺎﺗﻔﻙ؟ ﺇﻧﻬﺎ ﺣﺎﻟﺔ ﻁﺎﺭﺋﺔ‬- Hal
Yumkenani estekhdam Hatefak? Innaha Halah Tare’a
 Police! = ‫ – !ﺷﺭﻁﺔ‬Shurtah!

Of course, not everything has to be so dramatic all the time. Maybe you’re just cold and
all you need is to ask for the price of a scarf. Or you’ve taken a vegetarian friend for
dinner and want to impress them by asking the waiter if they have veggie options using
Arabic phrases. No matter what situation you may find yourself in, these miscellaneous
phrases are worth writing down.

 I want a ticket to ______, please. = ‫ﺃﺭﻳﺩ ﺗﺫﻛﺭﺓ ﺇﻟﻰ ______ ﻣﻥ‬

‫ﻓﺿﻠﻙ‬. – UriduTadhkarah ela ______ min fadlika.
 How much does this cost? = ‫ – ﻛﻡ ﻳﻛﻠﻑ ﻫﺫﺍ؟‬Kam yukalif hadha?
 Can I use your Wi-Fi? = ‫ﻫﻝ ﻳﻣﻛﻧﻧﻲ ﺍﺳﺗﺧﺩﺍﻡ ﺷﺑﻛﺔ‬Wi-Fi ‫– ﺍﻟﺧﺎﺻﺔ ﺑﻙ؟‬
Hal yumkinuni astikhdam shabakat Al Wi-Fi Alkhasah bika
(M) / biki (F)?
 Do you have any vegetarian dishes? = ‫– ﻫﻝ ﻟﺩﻳﻙ ﺃﻱ ﺃﻁﺑﺎﻕ ﻧﺑﺎﺗﻳﺔ؟‬
Hal ladayk ‘ayu ‘atbaq nabateyyan?
 Can I have the bill, please? = ‫ﻫﻝ ﻳﻣﻛﻧﻧﻲ ﺃﻥ ﺍﺣﺻﻝ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻔﺎﺗﻭﺭﺓ ﻣﻥ‬
‫ – ﻓﺿﻠﻙ؟‬Hal yumkinuni ‘an ahsul AlaAlfatorah min fadlika?

Arabic Phrases to Express Your Love

As we already said, your knowledge of the Arabic language might lead you to find new
work opportunities.

But do you know what else might happen? You might fall in love. After all, isn’t traveling
all about opening your heart to new possibilities?

We know what you’re thinking. “But I’ll only be there for a couple of weeks!”. Well, we’re
not saying you’re bound to find the love of your life. But if you do, believe this: you’ll
want to have a big arsenal of Arabic phrases to express your feelings.
 I love you = ‫ﺍﻧﺎ ﺍﺣﺑﻙ‬- Ohebuka (M) / Ohebuki (F)
 I miss you = ‫ﺍﻓﺗﻘﺩﻙ‬- Aftaqeduka (M) / Aftaqeduki (F)
 I’m crazy about you = ‫ﺃﻧﺎ ﻣﺟﻧﻭﻥ ﺑﻙ‬- Ana Majnun Bika (M) / Biki
(F)
 You take my breath away = ‫ﻛﻧﺕ ﺗﺄﺧﺫ ﺃﻧﻔﺎﺳﻲ ﺑﻌﻳﺩﺍ‬- Kunt takhudh
‘anfasi Ba’eedan
 You’re my dream come true = ‫ﻛﻧﺕ ﺣﻠﻣﻲ ﻳﺗﺣﻘﻖ‬- Kunt hilmi
yatahaqaq
 You look great today and every day = ‫ﺗﺑﺩﻭ ﺭﺍﺋﻌًﺎ ﺍﻟﻳﻭﻡ ﻭﻛﻝ ﻳﻭﻡ‬-
Tabdu ra’ean alyawm wakula yawm
 I want a lifetime with you = ‫ﺍﺭﻳﺩ ﺍﻟﻌﻣﺭ ﻣﻌﻙ‬- Uridu Al Umru Ma’ak
 I’m the luckiest person in the world = ‫ﺃﻧﺎ ﺃﺳﻌﺩ ﺷﺧﺹ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻟﻡ‬- ‘ana
‘asead shakhs fi Ala’alam