Arabic phrases – Here you will find the most common phrases in Arabic with translation. | Free & useful
Arabic phrases are short expressions or idioms often used in speech to be polite, express gratitude, greet or say goodbye or simply to have a pleasant conversation.
They are an important part of Arabic culture and can be useful in different situations, both in private and business life.
Arabic phrases you should know
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Greet someone in Arabic
If you want to greet someone in Arabic, it’s actually quite easy:
| English | Arabic | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome! in Arabic | أهلًا وسهلًا | /ʔahlan wa sahlan/ |
| Good day to you! in Arabic | نهارك سعيد | /nahāruk saʕīd/ |
| Good morning to you! in Arabic | صباح الخير | /ṣabāḥ al-xayr/ |
| Good evening! in Arabic | مساء الخير | /masāʾ al-xayr/ |
| Good to see you. in Arabic | سعيد برؤيتك | /saʕīd bi-ruʾyatika/ |
| I’m glad to see you. in Arabic | أنا سعيد برؤيتك | /ʔanā saʕīd bi-ruʾyatika/ |
If you are greeted in Arabic, the best way to respond is as follows:
| English | Arabic | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| Have a nice day too! in Arabic | أتمنى لك يومًا جميلًا أيضًا | /ʔatamannā laka yawman jamīlan ʾayḍan/ |
| Thanks, it’s nice to see you too. in Arabic | شكرًا، من الجميل رؤيتك أيضًا | /ʃukran, min al-jamīl ruʾyatuka ʾayḍan/ |
How is my dialogue partner?
As in any other country, it is polite to start by asking where the person you are talking to is located. Here’s how you do it:
| English | Arabic | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| How are you doing? in Arabic | كيف حالك؟ | /kayfa ḥāluka/ (to a male), /kayfa ḥāluki/ (to a female) |
| Are you doing well? in Arabic | هل أنت بخير؟ | /hal ʾanta bi-xayr/ (to a male), /hal ʾanti bi-xayr/ (to a female) |
If you are asked how you feel, you can answer with the following phrases:
| English | Arabic | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| Thank you for asking, I am fine. | شكرًا لسؤالك، أنا بخير. | /ʃukran li-suʾālika, ʔanā bi-xayr/ (to a male) /ʃukran li-suʾāliki, ʔanā bi-xayr/ (to a female) |
| Thank you, I am fine. | شكرًا، أنا بخير. | /ʃukran, ʔanā bi-xayr/ |
| Thank you, I am not doing so well. | شكرًا، لا أشعر أنني بخير. | /ʃukran, lā ʔaʃʕuru ʔanna-nī bi-xayr/ |
| Thanks, I’m fine. How are you doing? | شكرًا، أنا بخير. كيف حالك؟ | /ʃukran, ʔanā bi-xayr. kayfa ḥāluka?/ (to a male) /ʃukran, ʔanā bi-xayr. kayfa ḥāluki?/ (to a female) |
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How do I say goodbye to someone in Arabic?
Saying goodbye to a friend or stranger in Arabic is not that difficult. Just use the following phrases:
| English | Arabic | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| Goodbye! in Arabic | مع السلامة | /maʕa s-salāmah/ |
| Take care of yourself! in Arabic | اعتنِ بنفسك | /ʔiʕtani binafsik/ |
| Goodbye in Arabic | وداعًا | /wadaːʕan/ |
| See you tomorrow in Arabic | أراك غدًا | /ʔarāka ġadan/ (to a male) /ʔarāki ġadan/ (to a female) |
| See you soon in Arabic | أراك قريبًا | /ʔarāka qarīban/ (to a male) /ʔarāki qarīban/ (to a female) |
| See you later in Arabic | أراك لاحقًا | /ʔarāka lāḥiqan/ (to a male) /ʔarāki lāḥiqan/ (to a female) |
| Good night in Arabic | تصبح على خير | /tuṣbiḥ ʕalā xayr/ |
| Sleep well in Arabic | نم جيدًا | /nam ǧayyidan/ |
| Talk to you later. in Arabic | سأتحدث معك لاحقًا | /sa-ʔataḥaddaṯ maʕak lāḥiqan/ (to a male) /sa-ʔataḥaddaṯ maʕaki lāḥiqan/ (to a female) |
| Nice to have met you! in Arabic | سعدت بلقائك | /saʕidtu biliqāʔik/ (to a male) /saʕidtu biliqāʔiki/ (to a female) |
How do I introduce myself in Arabic?
When travelling in Egypt, sooner or later you will come into contact with local people. Naturally, you’ll want to introduce yourself in Arabic and know who you’re talking to.
| English | Arabic | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| My name is Jonas. | اسمي يوناس | /ʔismi yūnās/ |
| What is your name? | ما اسمك؟ | /mā ismuka?/ (to a male) /mā ismuki?/ (to a female) |
| What is your surname? | ما اسم عائلتك؟ | /mā ismu ʕāʾilatika?/ (to a male) /mā ismu ʕāʾilatiki?/ (to a female) |
| What is your first name? | ما اسمك الأول؟ | /mā ismuka al-ʔawwal?/ (to a male) /mā ismuki al-ʔawwal?/ (to a female) |
| What is your surname? | ما اسم العائلة؟ | /mā ismu al-ʕāʾilah?/ |
If you want to tell people where you come from, the following sentences are useful:
| English | Arabic | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| Where do you come from? | من أين أنت؟ | /min ʔayna ʔanta?/ (to a male) /min ʔayna ʔanti?/ (to a female) |
| I am from London. | أنا من لندن | /ʔanā min landan/ |
| Are you from Birmingham? | هل أنت من برمنغهام؟ | /hal ʔanta min birminghām?/ (to a male) /hal ʔanti min birminghām?/ (to a female) |
| No, I’m from Madrid. | لا، أنا من مدريد | /lā, ʔanā min madriid/ |
| Great, I’m from Madrid too. | رائع، أنا من مدريد أيضًا | /rāʔiʕ, ʔanā min madriid ʔayḍan/ |
| Where do you live? | أين تعيش؟ | /ʔayna taʕīʃ?/ (to a male) /ʔayna taʕīʃīn?/ (to a female) |
| I live in Berlin. | أعيش في برلين | /ʔaʕīʃ fī barlīn/ |
If you have problems with your Arabic, it is good to know which languages are still spoken:
| English | Arabic | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| Do you speak English? | هل تتحدث الإنجليزية؟ | /hal tataḥaddaṯ al-ʔinǧlīziyyah?/ |
| Yes, I speak English. | نعم، أتكلم الإنجليزية | /naʕam, ʔatakallam al-ʔinǧlīziyyah/ |
| Yes, I speak some English. | نعم، أتكلم القليل من الإنجليزية | /naʕam, ʔatakallam al-qalīl min al-ʔinǧlīziyyah/ |
| No, I do not speak any English. | لا، لا أتكلم الإنجليزية | /lā, lā ʔatakallam al-ʔinǧlīziyyah/ |
| I only speak English. | أنا أتكلم الإنجليزية فقط | /ʔanā ʔatakallam al-ʔinǧlīziyyah faqaṭ/ |
| I understand some Arabic. | أفهم بعض العربية | /ʔafham baʕḍ al-ʕarabiyyah/ |
Useful sentences with ‘I am…’
The following sentences will help you orientate yourself in Arabic and express your wishes and concerns:
| English | Arabic | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| I am English. in Arabic | أنا إنجليزي | /ʔanā ʔinǧlīzī/ (male) /ʔanā ʔinǧlīziyyah/ (female) |
| I am injured. in Arabic | أنا مصاب | /ʔanā muṣāb/ (male) /ʔanā muṣābah/ (female) |
| I am here. in Arabic | أنا هنا | /ʔanā hunā/ |
| I am hungry. in Arabic | أنا جائع | /ʔanā ǧāʔiʕ/ (male) /ʔanā ǧāʔiʕah/ (female) |
| I am thirsty. in Arabic | أنا عطشان | /ʔanā ʕaṭšān/ (male) /ʔanā ʕaṭšānah/ (female) |
| I am a single person. in Arabic | أنا أعزب | /ʔanā ʔaʕzab/ (male) /ʔanā ʔānisa/ (female, polite) |
| I need help! in Arabic | أحتاج إلى مساعدة! | /ʔaḥtāǧ ʾilā musāʕadah/ |
| I am tired. in Arabic | أنا متعب | /ʔanā mutʕab/ (male) /ʔanā mutʕabah/ (female) |
| I am happy. in Arabic | أنا سعيد | /ʔanā saʕīd/ (male) /ʔanā saʕīdah/ (female) |
| I am sad. in Arabic | أنا حزين | /ʔanā ḥazīn/ (male) /ʔanā ḥazīnah/ (female) |
| I am in love. in Arabic | أنا واقع في الحب | /ʔanā wāqiʕ fī al-ḥubb/ |
| I am ill. in Arabic | أنا مريض | /ʔanā marīḍ/ (male) /ʔanā marīḍah/ (female) |
| I am ready. in Arabic | أنا جاهز | /ʔanā ǧāhiz/ (male) /ʔanā ǧāhizah/ (female) |
| I am busy. in Arabic | أنا مشغول | /ʔanā maʃġūl/ (male) /ʔanā maʃġūlah/ (female) |
| I am lost. in Arabic | أنا تائه | /ʔanā tāʔih/ (male) /ʔanā tāʔihah/ (female) |
| I am a tourist. in Arabic | أنا سائح | /ʔanā sāʔiḥ/ (male) /ʔanā sāʔiḥah/ (female) |
| I am new here. in Arabic | أنا جديد هنا | /ʔanā ǧadīd hunā/ (male) /ʔanā ǧadīdah hunā/ (female) |
| I am confident. in Arabic | أنا واثق | /ʔanā wāṯiq/ (male) /ʔanā wāṯiqah/ (female) |
| I am proud. in Arabic | أنا فخور | /ʔanā faḫūr/ (male) /ʔanā faḫūrah/ (female) |
| I am a teacher. in Arabic | أنا معلم | /ʔanā muʕallim/ (male) /ʔanā muʕallimah/ (female) |
| I am late. in Arabic | أنا متأخر | /ʔanā mutaʔaḫḫir/ (male) /ʔanā mutaʔaḫḫirah/ (female) |
| I am 30 years old. in Arabic | عمري ثلاثون سنة | /ʕumrī ṯalāṯūn sanah/ |
| I am in a hurry. in Arabic | أنا مستعجل | /ʔanā mustaʕǧil/ (male) /ʔanā mustaʕǧilah/ (female) |
| I am happy. in Arabic | أنا سعيد | /ʔanā saʕīd/ (male) /ʔanā saʕīdah/ (female) |
| I am surprised. in Arabic | أنا مندهش | /ʔanā mundahiʃ/ (male) /ʔanā mundahiʃah/ (female) |
| I am angry. in Arabic | أنا غاضب | /ʔanā ġāḍib/ (male) /ʔanā ġāḍibah/ (female) |
Apologising in Arabic
Here’s how to apologise to a Arabic speaker:
| English | Arabic | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| I apologise. | أعتذر | /ʔaʕtaḏir/ |
| Sorry, that was not the intention. | آسف، لم تكن تلك هي النية | /ʔāsif, lam takun tilka hiya an-niyyah/ |
| Sorry, I did not do it on purpose. | آسف، لم أفعل ذلك عن قصد | /ʔāsif, lam ʔafʕal ḏālika ʕan qaṣd/ |
| Sorry, that was very clumsy of me. | آسف، كان ذلك تصرفًا أخرق مني | /ʔāsif, kāna ḏālika taṣarrufan ʔaḫraq minnī/ |
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Useful signs and notices in Arabic
Useful signs and messages in Arabic that you will often see.
| English | Arabic | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance in Arabic | مدخل | /madḫal/ |
| Toilet in Arabic | مرحاض | /mirḥāḍ/ |
| Exit in Arabic | مخرج | /maḫraǧ/ |
| Attention! in Arabic | انتباه! | /intiˈbāh/ |
| Police in Arabic | الشرطة | /aʃ-ʃurṭah/ |
| Emergency services in Arabic | خدمات الطوارئ | /ḫidamāt aṭ-ṭawāriʔ/ |
| Fire brigade in Arabic | فرق الإطفاء | /firaq al-ʔiṭfāʔ/ |
| Passage forbidden. in Arabic | ممنوع المرور | /mamnūʕ al-murūr/ |
| Caution! in Arabic | تحذير! | /taḥḏīr/ |
| This building is under video surveillance. in Arabic | هذا المبنى تحت المراقبة بالفيديو | /hāḏā al-mabnā taḥta al-murāqabah bi-l-fīdiyū/ |
Numbers to 25 in Arabic
Counting in Arabic is not that difficult. Here are the numbers in Arabic from 1 to 25.
| English | Arabic | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in Arabic | واحد | /wāḥid/ |
| 2 in Arabic | اثنان | /ʔiṯnān/ |
| 3 in Arabic | ثلاثة | /ṯalāṯah/ |
| 4 in Arabic | أربعة | /ʔarbaʕah/ |
| 5 in Arabic | خمسة | /ḫamsah/ |
| 6 in Arabic | ستة | /sittah/ |
| 7 in Arabic | سبعة | /sabʕah/ |
| 8 in Arabic | ثمانية | /ṯamāniyah/ |
| 9 in Arabic | تسعة | /tisʕah/ |
| 10 in Arabic | عشرة | /ʕaʃarah/ |
| 11 in Arabic | أحد عشر | /ʔaḥada ʕaʃar/ |
| 12 in Arabic | اثنا عشر | /iṯnā ʕaʃar/ |
| 13 in Arabic | ثلاثة عشر | /ṯalāṯata ʕaʃar/ |
| 14 in Arabic | أربعة عشر | /ʔarbaʕata ʕaʃar/ |
| 15 in Arabic | خمسة عشر | /ḫamsata ʕaʃar/ |
| 16 in Arabic | ستة عشر | /sittata ʕaʃar/ |
| 17 in Arabic | سبعة عشر | /sabʕata ʕaʃar/ |
| 18 in Arabic | ثمانية عشر | /ṯamāniyata ʕaʃar/ |
| 19 in Arabic | تسعة عشر | /tisʕata ʕaʃar/ |
| 20 in Arabic | عشرون | /ʕiʃrūn/ |
| 21 in Arabic | واحد وعشرون | /wāḥid wa ʕiʃrūn/ |
| 22 in Arabic | اثنان وعشرون | /iṯnān wa ʕiʃrūn/ |
| 23 in Arabic | ثلاثة وعشرون | /ṯalāṯah wa ʕiʃrūn/ |
| 24 in Arabic | أربعة وعشرون | /ʔarbaʕah wa ʕiʃrūn/ |
| 25 in Arabic | خمسة وعشرون | /ḫamsah wa ʕiʃrūn/ |
The colours in Arabic
The most common colours in Arabic with phonetic transcription for pronunciation.
| English | Arabic | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| Red in Arabic | أحمر | /ʔaḥmar/ |
| Blue in Arabic | أزرق | /ʔazraq/ |
| Green in Arabic | أخضر | /ʔaḫḍar/ |
| Yellow in Arabic | أصفر | /ʔaṣfar/ |
| Black in Arabic | أسود | /ʔaswad/ |
| White in Arabic | أبيض | /ʔabyaḍ/ |
| Orange in Arabic | برتقالي | /burtuqālī/ |
| Purple in Arabic | أرجواني | /ʔurǧuwānī/ |
| Pink in Arabic | وردي | /wardī/ |
| Brown in Arabic | بني | /bunnī/ |
Days of the week, months and seasons in Arabic
Of course, you will also need the days of the week in Arabic and the pronunciation of the months and seasons in dialogues and daily communication in Arabic.
| English | Arabic | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| Monday in Arabic | الاثنين | /al-ʔiṯnayn/ |
| Tuesday in Arabic | الثلاثاء | /aṯ-ṯulāṯāʾ/ |
| Wednesday in Arabic | الأربعاء | /al-ʔarbiʕāʾ/ |
| Thursday in Arabic | الخميس | /al-ḫamīs/ |
| Friday in Arabic | الجمعة | /al-ǧumʕah/ |
| Saturday in Arabic | السبت | /as-sabt/ |
| Sunday in Arabic | الأحد | /al-ʔaḥad/ |
| January in Arabic | يناير | /yanāyir/ |
| February in Arabic | فبراير | /fibrāyir/ |
| March in Arabic | مارس | /māris/ |
| April in Arabic | أبريل | /ʔibrīl/ |
| May in Arabic | مايو | /māyū/ |
| June in Arabic | يونيو | /yūnyū/ |
| July in Arabic | يوليو | /yūlyū/ |
| August in Arabic | أغسطس | /ʔuġusṭus/ |
| September in Arabic | سبتمبر | /sibtambir/ |
| October in Arabic | أكتوبر | /ʔuktūbir/ |
| November in Arabic | نوفمبر | /nūfambir/ |
| December in Arabic | ديسمبر | /dīsambir/ |
| Spring in Arabic | الربيع | /ar-rabīʕ/ |
| Summer in Arabic | الصيف | /aṣ-ṣayf/ |
| Autumn in Arabic | الخريف | /al-ḫarīf/ |
| Winter in Arabic | الشتاء | /aʃ-ʃitāʾ/ |
OUR TIP: If you want to learn these Arabic phrases interactively, we recommend the free language course demo from 17-Minute-Language, where you can learn Arabic phrases and dialogues.
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More information about the Arabic Business Course.
Additional links
- Learn Arabic with Mondly
- The different ways of learning languages
- Learning vocabulary successfully
- Motivated language learning
- It is so easy to train your understanding of a language at the same time
- Learning languages quickly? – Is it possible?
- The different types of learners when learning languages
More information about the Arabic Course for Children.