Arabic for Beginners

I do not go one day without questioning why I chose to learn Arabic... I began with the noble journey of wanting a "critical language" under my belt, also known as a language the government deems of utmost importance to learn if you are interested in foreign affairs. I chose the region that pertained closest to my interests, which happened to be the Middle East and Arab World. I initially wanted to learn Farsi (because it's much easier than Arabic), but it's not a well known program at my school, so I opted for Arabic.

I would say that it was simultaneously the best and worst decision of my life. There is a statistic one of my American professors told me about learning foreign languages, where it takes about 600 hours of classroom time to learn Spanish proficiency, but it takes about 2200 hours of classroom time to learn Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) proficiently. The dedication is tremendous. And that's just MSA. MSA is not spoken Arabic. It is the Arabic that's written in the Quran and in the newspaper, and what's heard on the news like Al-Jazeera. You can speak MSA to people and they will most likely understand you, but they will mostly likely respond to you in spoken Arabic... which you don't learn in an MSA class. Spoken Arabic has a wide range of dialects... Egyptian is different from Levantine Arabic and Palestinian Arabic is different from Gulf Arabic. The differences are so vast that sometimes Arabs speaking Arabic can't understand each other. It's majnuun (crazy).


Even after two years, my homework is still full of red marks. I think I was 1 for 14 on this one.

The difference between MSA and spoken Arabic is comparable to the difference between Shakespearean English and today's English. You can imagine how awkward it is for me to speak. Luckily, since I've been in Oman, I've picked up a LOT of spoken Arabic, and am able to converse much better now. We practice with memory games, and my team is called Team Harry Potter, which my teacher endearingly calls "Harrr-ie Booter".

One of the biggest issues with Arabic Language Education in the US is that it is standardized in just about ever school. We all use the same book "Al-Kitaab" (literally translates to "the book"), and the vocabulary is directed towards those intending to work in the military. I could say "My father works for the United Nations" before I knew how to say "Where's the bathroom?"

This is why it's almost necessary to study abroad to actually learn how to speak Arabic.

It is in Oman where I learned body parts, as shown by this beautiful drawing done with my conversation partner. I learned fruits and household items and clothes and so many USEFUL things to speak to people in Arabic with.

 I love this photo. In green is Ahmed's attempt to spell body parts in English... he says spelling is too hard because there are no rules. I whole heartedly agreed. Spelling in Arabic is not too difficult, but pronunciation, reading, grammar, distinguishing between words, etc, is WAY harder than English.

I have picked up a lot of slang here, in Arabic and in hand gesture, and am finding that my language barrier broke first with this 'slang'. English phrases slip in to Arabic sentences and Arabic too often slips in to my English (which I suppose is a good thing when you go to school to learn Arabic). Here are a few words to help you fit in in Oman. Note: if you said this to someone in a different Arabic speaking country, they'd probably only understand 'The Allahs".

The Allahs: Words with the basis of Allah, from the Qur'an, used in everyday language

In-sha-allah- literally translates to "God Willing", Inshallah is used when describing ALL events in the future to mean "hopefully".  In some contexts it could me "I would literally rather do anything else but if I'm forced to do it I will because God probably willed it". When said by mothers to children, it usually means "Hahahaha, yeah right."

Ma-sha-allah- is used when you're giving someone a compliment but you don't want it to sound like you're envious of them, you say it AFTER the compliment to indicate that it was a blessing from God that made something so lovely, and it is NOT you wishing it had happened to you.

Bis-millah- "In the name of God", this is said before things that require luck, like before a test, or if you get in a taxi.

Al-ham-duhli-lah- translates to "Praise be to God", pretty much used for any time you're thanking God; like if the humidity is only 40%, alhamdulillah. If you pass your grammar test, alhamdulillah. When you trip but don't fall into the garbage that lines the street, alhamdulillah. You get the picture.


Other important things to know:

"Salaam Allaykum"- hello! Should be responded to with "Wa allaykum assalaam".

"Mafi Mushkila"- means "not a problem". Nothing is a problem in Oman. They are all so darn nice, nothing is ever a problem. "Can you drive me two hours away to my friend's house?" "Mafi Mushkila".

"Ay-wah"- means yes in Omani Arabic. I spent about two weeks wondering what this meant before i realized it was slang for "naam".

"Ya-nee"- means "like". Used as a filler word. When you don't know what this word means you spend the entire conversation wondering what it could possibly mean.

"Ana taliba faqiira"- "I am a poor student" *used with pouting eyes*, especially used when bargaining at the market or bargaining with a taxi driver.

"Khalas"- means "finished". Used when you are finished with something. Can be used to signal that you're finished with your homework or finished shopping, but is typically used when saying "I am so done with you". When people are staring at you, glare and say "Khalas". When a taxi follows you as you're walking down the street, you shoo them with your hands and yell "Khalas". It's my favorite word.

See, now you know Arabic. But think twice before you pick a language to learn. Arabic is not for the faint-hearted.