Learn About Arabic
العربية • 422 million speakers worldwide
"مرحبا، كيف حالك؟"
Pronunciation: mar-ha-ban, kayf ha-lak?
Translation: Hello, how are you?
Speakers
422 million
Language Family
Afro-Asiatic (Semitic)
Writing System
Arabic script
Official Status
Official in 26 countries
Regions (26 countries)
Arabic originated in the Arabian Peninsula and spread through Islamic conquests and trade. Classical Arabic is the language of the Quran and has remained largely unchanged for over 1,400 years.
Written from right to left
Root-based word formation (usually 3-letter roots)
Emphatic consonants not found in other languages
No capital letters
Vowels often omitted in writing
Egyptian Arabic
Levantine Arabic
Gulf Arabic
Maghrebi Arabic
Iraqi Arabic
Sudanese Arabic
Start with the alphabet and practice writing from right to left
Learn the root system - most words are built from 3-letter roots
Focus on Modern Standard Arabic before dialects
Practice connecting letters in different positions
Use Arabic media to familiarize yourself with the sounds
Hospitality is a cornerstone of Arab culture
Islamic traditions heavily influence daily life and customs
Family honor and respect are extremely important
Business relationships often involve personal connections
Arabic has influenced many languages including Spanish, Portuguese, and Swahili
The word 'algebra' comes from Arabic 'al-jabr'
Arabic is read from right to left, but numbers are read left to right
There are over 12 million words in Arabic