Basic Greetings and Polite Expressions

One of the first things you will learn in any new language is how to greet people and express basic courtesies. In Arabic, greetings and polite expressions form a crucial part of daily interactions.

Marhaba (مرحبا) – This is a common way to say “Hello” in Arabic. It is used in both formal and informal settings.

As-salamu alaykum (السلام عليكم) – This phrase means “Peace be upon you” and is a traditional Islamic greeting. The appropriate response is Wa alaykum as-salam (وعليكم السلام), which means “And peace be upon you too.”

Shukran (شكرا) – This means “Thank you.” You might also hear Shukran jazilan (شكرا جزيلا), which means “Thank you very much.”

Afwan (عفوا) – This means “You’re welcome” or “Excuse me,” depending on the context.

Min fadlak (من فضلك) – This phrase means “Please” when addressing a male. When addressing a female, it changes to Min fadlik (من فضلك).

Naam (نعم) – This is the Arabic word for “Yes.”

La (لا) – This is the Arabic word for “No.”

Common Nouns

To build your vocabulary, start with some common nouns that you are likely to encounter frequently. These words are essential for basic communication.

Kitab (كتاب) – This means “Book.”

Bab (باب) – This means “Door.”

Kursi (كرسي) – This means “Chair.”

Bayt (بيت) – This means “House.”

Madrasa (مدرسة) – This means “School.”

Saiyara (سيارة) – This means “Car.”

Qalam (قلم) – This means “Pen.”

Shajara (شجرة) – This means “Tree.”

Ma’a (ماء) – This means “Water.”

Akil (أكل) – This means “Food.”

Numbers

Understanding numbers is crucial for daily activities such as shopping, telling time, and understanding dates. Here are the numbers from 1 to 10 in Arabic:

1 – Wahid (واحد)

2 – Ithnayn (اثنان)

3 – Thalatha (ثلاثة)

4 – Arba’a (أربعة)

5 – Khamsa (خمسة)

6 – Sitta (ستة)

7 – Saba’a (سبعة)

8 – Thamaniya (ثمانية)

9 – Tis’a (تسعة)

10 – Ashara (عشرة)

Basic Verbs

Verbs are the backbone of any language as they allow you to describe actions. Here are some basic verbs that you will find useful:

Yakulu (يأكل) – This means “to eat.”

Yashrabu (يشرب) – This means “to drink.”

Yaktubu (يكتب) – This means “to write.”

Yaqra’u (يقرأ) – This means “to read.”

Yadhhabu (يذهب) – This means “to go.”

Yasma’u (يسمع) – This means “to hear.”

Yara (يرى) – This means “to see.”

Yaf’alu (يفعل) – This means “to do.”

Ya’amalu (يعمل) – This means “to work.”

Yuhibu (يحب) – This means “to love.”

Days of the Week

Knowing the days of the week is important for making plans and understanding schedules. Here are the days of the week in Arabic:

Al-Ahad (الأحد) – Sunday

Al-Ithnayn (الإثنين) – Monday

Al-Thulatha (الثلاثاء) – Tuesday

Al-Arba’a (الأربعاء) – Wednesday

Al-Khamis (الخميس) – Thursday

Al-Jumu’a (الجمعة) – Friday

As-Sabt (السبت) – Saturday

Family Members

Family is an important part of Arabic culture. Knowing the words for different family members can help you connect with people on a personal level.

Ab (أب) – Father

Umm (أم) – Mother

Akhi (أخي) – Brother

Ukhti (أختي) – Sister

Jadd (جد) – Grandfather

Jadda (جدة) – Grandmother

Ibni (ابني) – My son

Binti (بنتي) – My daughter

Colors

Being able to describe colors can be very useful in everyday conversations. Here are some basic colors in Arabic:

Ahmar (أحمر) – Red

Azraq (أزرق) – Blue

Asfar (أصفر) – Yellow

Akhder (أخضر) – Green

Aswad (أسود) – Black

Abyad (أبيض) – White

Bunni (بني) – Brown

Common Phrases

To help you get by in everyday situations, here are some common phrases that you might find useful:

Kayfa halak? (كيف حالك؟) – How are you? (to a male)

Kayfa halik? (كيف حالك؟) – How are you? (to a female)

Ayna (أين) – Where?

Mataa? (متى؟) – When?

Kam? (كم؟) – How much?

Ma ismuka? (ما اسمك؟) – What is your name? (to a male)

Ma ismuki? (ما اسمكِ؟) – What is your name? (to a female)

Ismi (اسمي) – My name is…

Hal tatahaddath al-lughah al-ingliziyah? (هل تتحدث اللغة الإنجليزية؟) – Do you speak English?

La afham (لا أفهم) – I don’t understand.

Momkin (ممكن) – Can you…? or Is it possible…?

Prepositions

Prepositions are small words but they play a big role in sentences. Here are some common prepositions in Arabic:

Fi (في) – In

Ala (على) – On

Taht (تحت) – Under

Amam (أمام) – In front of

Khalf (خلف) – Behind

Ma’a (مع) – With

Bidoon (بدون) – Without

Ila (إلى) – To

Min (من) – From

Ind (عند) – At

Adjectives

Describing things accurately is an important skill. Here are some basic adjectives in Arabic:

Kabeer (كبير) – Big

Sagheer (صغير) – Small

Jameel (جميل) – Beautiful

Qabeeh (قبيح) – Ugly

Saeed (سعيد) – Happy

Hazin (حزين) – Sad

Jadid (جديد) – New

Qadeem (قديم) – Old

Sahl (سهل) – Easy

Sa’b (صعب) – Difficult

Questions Words

Knowing how to ask questions is crucial for learning more about your surroundings and engaging in conversations. Here are some essential question words in Arabic:

Maa? (ما؟) – What?

Man? (من؟) – Who?

Madha? (ماذا؟) – What? (used with verbs)

Ayna? (أين؟) – Where?

Kam? (كم؟) – How much?/How many?

Limaadha? (لماذا؟) – Why?

Kayfa? (كيف؟) – How?

Mataa? (متى؟) – When?

Conclusion

Learning a new language is a journey that requires patience, practice, and persistence. By familiarizing yourself with these essential A1 level Arabic words and phrases, you are laying a strong foundation for your language learning journey. As you practice and use these words in daily conversations, you will find yourself becoming more comfortable and confident in your ability to communicate in Arabic.

Remember, language learning is not just about memorizing words but also about understanding the culture and context in which those words are used. So, take your time, practice regularly, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Every mistake is an opportunity to learn and improve.

Happy learning!