How good is your arabic? Before you embark on your journey to learn this fascinating language, here are some practical tips to help you get started:
Speak it: You learn to speak by speaking. There is just no other way of doing it! Jump in there and go for it.
Use it or Lose it: Study, read, listen, talk, write, drill, chant, sing. Listen to Emirati songs, watch Emirati movies, browse Emirati magazines, newspaper and websites. Go to authentic Emirati Arabic speakers and try to speak with them in their local dialect as much as possible. Keep the conversation going!
Arabs place great importance on greetings, often greeting each other with a number of phrases and fixed responses enquiring about each other’s health, wellbeing and family. As a courtesy, its is important for visitors to learn the basics of how to say hello and goodbye when in their company.
*Indicates if you’re speaking as a female or when you’re speaking to a female.
Courtesies/ Responses
- Peace be upon you assam a’laykum
- And upon you be peace wa’alaykum salam
- Good Morning sabah al khair
- May your morning be bright sabah al noor
- Good afternoon/ evening massa al khair
- May your afternoon/ evening be bright massa al noor
- Welcome marhaba or tafaddal/ *tafaddali
- Goodbye (Go in peace) ma’a salaamah
- May God protect you Allahyehmik/ *Allah yehmiki
- How are you? Kaif halak?/ *kaif halik
- And you? wa ant?/ *wa anti
- Thank God al hamdu lilah
- Thanks shukran
- Welcome (in response to ‘thank you’) a’fwan
- Please min fadlak/ *min fadlik
- Yes/No na’am or aiwa/la
- I’m sorry ana mutaassef/ *ana mutaassefa
- Congratulations mabrook