Common Arabic Words in English

March 17, 2024
common-arabic-words-in-english

If you do not have a good collection of common vocabulary, you will not be able to speak or understand the Arabic language. Vocabulary is like mosaic pieces, without which a painting cannot be executed. You must make a real effort to learn Arabic. There is no magic trick or secret formula for learning common vocabulary. Choose the method that suits your mood and suits your needs, while being patient and persistent and rewarding yourself when you reach your goals. Nowadays, you can learn common vocabulary through online Arabic lessons, in fun and useful ways. When you learn common vocabulary in everyday life, you can use it to communicate with others, express yourself, and fulfill basic needs. It is necessary to know common vocabulary when going shopping, or when dealing with some matters in government departments, schools, the hospital, and others. In this article, we are providing a comprehensive guide for the most common Arabic words in English.

Common Arabic words in English

A list of some Arabic words in English divided into categories to make it easier for you, as follows:

Pronouns

Personal Pronouns

To start composing basic sentences in Arabic, you’ll probably need to master personal pronouns. Here’s a list of the most essential personal Arabic pronouns in English:

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words

I

ʾanā

أنَا 

you

ʾanta

أَنتَ

you

ʾanti

أَنتِ

he

huwa

هُوَ

she

hiya

هِيَ

it

huwa / hiya

هُوَ/هِيَ

we

naḥnu

نَحنُ

they

hum

هُم

him

h-

her

hā-

-ها

us

nā-

-نا

them

hum-

-هم

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns are the tools you use to refer to objects and people in your conversations. Learning these will be of great use for your interactions. Here’s a list of the Arabic demonstrative pronouns in English:

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words

this

haḏihi / haḏā

هَذِهِ / هَذا

that 

dāka / ḏalik

ذاكَ / ذَلِك

these

haʾulāʾ/ haḏihi

هَؤُلاء / هَذِهِ

those

ʾūlaʾik / tilk

أولَئِك / تِلك

Interrogative Pronouns (WH Questions)

Interrogative pronouns are building blocks for questions. Here’s a list of Arabic interrogative pronouns in English:

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words

who

man

مَن

whom

man

مَن

whose

liman

لِمَن

what

māḏā

ماذا

which

ayy

أَيّ

Interrogative Adverbs

Along with interrogative pronouns, Here's a list of Arabic interrogative adverbs in English, which serve a similar purpose.

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words

when

matā

مَتى

where

ʾayna

أَيْنَ

why

limāḏā

لِماذا

how

kayfa

كَيْفَ

Numbers

Numerals in English

Numerals in Arabic

English

Romanizations

Arabic Words

0

٠

zero

ṣifr

صِفر

1

١

one 

waḥid

وَاحِد

2

٢

two

ʾiṯnān

إثنان

3

٣

three

ṯalāṯah

ثلَاثَة

4

٤

four

ʾarbaʿah

أَربَعَة

5

٥

five

ḫamsah

خَمسَة

6

٦

six

sittah

سِتَّة

7

٧

seven

sabʿah

سَبعَة

8

٨

eight

ṯamāniyah

ثَمانِيَة

9

٩

nine

tisʿah

تِسعَة

10

١٠

ten

ʿašarah

عَشَرَة

Nouns

Nouns are probably the first basic Arabic vocabulary words you start learning as a beginner. They’re one of two key components in a sentence (together with verbs) Here is a list of beginner-level Arabic nouns in English. 

Time

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words 

hour 

sāʿah

ساعَة 

minute

daqīqah

دَقيقَة

morning

ṣabāḥ

صَباح 

afternoon

baʿd al-ẓuhr

بَعد الظُهر

evening

masāʾ

مَساء

day

yawm

يَوْم 

month

šahr

شَهر 

year

sanah

سَنَة 

Monday

al-ʾiṯnayn

الإثنَيْن

Tuesday

al-ṯulāṯāʾ

الثُلاثاء

Wednesday

al-ʾarbaʿāʾ

الأَربَعاء

Thursday

al-ḫamīs

الخَميس

Friday

al-ǧumʿah

الجُمعَة

Saturday

al-sabt

السَبت

Sunday

al-ʾaḥad

الأَحَد

People

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words 

butcher

ǧazzār

جَزّار

woodman

ḥaṭṭāb

حَطّاب 

police officer

ḍābiṭ šurṭah

ضابِط شُرطَة

doctor

ṭabīb

طَبيب

nurse

mumarriḍah

مُمَرِّضَة

firefighter

raǧul ʾiṭfāʾ

رَجُل إطفاء

teacher

mudarris

مُدَرِّس

father

ʾab

أَب

mother

ʾum

أُم

sister

ʾuḫt

أُخت 

brother

ʾaḫ

أَخ

.Mr

al-sayyid

السَيِّد 

Ms.al-sayyidah
السَيِّدَة

Places

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words 

hospital

mustašfā

مُستَشفى

supermarket

sūbar mārkit

سوبَر ماركِت

school

madrasah

مَدرَسَة

downtown

wasaṭ al-madīnah

وَسَط المَدينَة

university

ǧāmiʿah

جامِعَة

city hall

ǧihāz al-madīnah

جِهاز المَدينَة

main square

al-maydān al-raʾīsī

المَيْدان الرَئيسي

bank

al-bank

البَنك

museum

al-matḥaf

المَتحَف

restaurant

al-maṭʿam

المَطعَم

café

al-maqhā

المَقهى

police station

markazu l-šurṭah

مَركَز الشُرطَة

train station

maḥaṭṭaẗu l-qiṭār

مَحَطَّةُ القِطار

bus station

maḥaṭṭaẗu l-ḥāfilāt

مَحَطَّةُ الحافِلات

School Tools & Essentials

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words 

pen

qalam

قَلَم

notebook

daftar mulāḥaẓāt

دَفتَر مُلاحَظات 

computer

kumbīūtar

كُمبيوتَر

pencil case

maqlamah

مَقلَمَة

headphones

sammāʿāt

سمّاعات

mouse

faʾrah

فأرَة

keyboard

lawḥaẗu mafātīḥ

لَوْحَةُ مَفاتيح

wifi

waī fāī

واي فاي

charger

šāḥin

شاحِن

cable

silk

سِلك

backpack

ḥaqībaẗu ẓahr

حَقيبَةُ ظَهر

desk

maktab

مَكتَب

copybook

kurrāsah

كُرّاسَة

Body Parts

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words 

eye

al-ʿayn

العَيْن

nose

al-ʾanf

الأَنف

ear

al-ʾuḏun

الأُذُن

face

al-waǧh

الوَجه

arm

al-ḏirāʿ

الذِراع

chest

al-ṣadr

الصَدر

cheek

al-ḫad

الخَد

forehead

al-ǧabhah

الجَبهَة

mouth

al-fam

الفَم

chin

al-ḏaqn

الذَقن

armpit

al-ʾibiṭ

الإبِط

abdomen

al-baṭn

البَطن

leg

al-sāq

الساق

toe

ʾaṣābiʿ al-qadam

أَصابِع القَدَم

finger

ʾiṣbaʿ

إصبَع

ankle

al-kāḥil

الكاحِل

hip

al-wirk

الوِرك

forearm

al-sāʿid

الساعِد

elbow

al-kūʿ

الكوع

wrist

al-miʿṣam

المِعصَم

Food

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words 

vegetables

ḫuḍrawat

خُضرَوات

fruit

fawakih

فَوَاكِه

meat

laḥm

لَحم

milk

ḥalīb

حَليب

egg

bayḍ

بَيْض

coffee

qahwah

قَهوَة

yogurt

zabādī

زَبادي

bread

ḫubz

خُبز

meat

laham

لَحَم

pie

faṭīrah

فَطيرَة

rice

aruz

أرز

chicken

daǧāǧ

دَجاج

juice

ʿaṣīr

عَصير

sausage

suǧuq

سُجُق

Verbs

The following list covers the most essential Arabic verbs in English in a variety of categories. They can be used to form more complete sentences in Arabic. 

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words 

to get up

qāma

قامَ

to eat

ʾakala

أَكَلَ

to drink

šarib

شَرِب

to go

ḏahaba

ذَهَبَ

to work

ʿamila

عَمِلَ

to study

darasa

دَرَسَ

to drive

qāda

قادَ

to ride

rakiba

رَكِبَ

to sleep

nāma

نامَ

to wake up

istayqaẓa

اِستَيْقَظَ

to hang

ʿallaqa

عَلَّقَ

to do laundry

qāma bilġasīl

قامَ بِالغَسيل

to nap

ʾaḫaḏa qaylūlah

أَخَذَ قَيْلولَة

to work out

tamarrana

تَمَرَّنَ

to go out

ḫaraǧa

خَرَجَ

to prepare

ḥaḍara

حَضَرَ

to cook

ṭabaḫa

طَبَخَ

to clean 

naẓẓafa

نَظَّفَ

to wash

ġasala

غَسَلَ

to tidy up

rattaba

رَتَّبَ

to connect

ittaṣala

اِتَّصَلَ

to communicate

tawaṣala

تَوَاصَلَ

to wear

irtadā

اِرتَدى

to take (something) off

ʾazala

أَزالَ

to grab

ʾamsaka

أَمسَكَ

to mix

ḫalaṭa

خَلَطَ

to carry

ḫamala

خَمَلَ

to freeze

ǧammada

جَمَّدَ

to change

ġayyara

غَيَّرَ

to move

naqala

نَقَلَ

to give

ʾaʿṭā

أَعطى

to take

ʾaḫaḏa

أَخَذَ

to do

faʿala

فَعَلَ

to make

ǧaʿala

جَعَلَ

to let

taraka

تَرَكَ

to ask

ṭalaba

طَلَبَ

to smile

ibtasama

اِبتَسَمَ

to find

waǧada

وَجَدَ

to use

istaḫdama

اِستَخدَمَ

to lose

faqad

فَقَد

to come

ʾatā

أَتى

to look

naẓara

نَظَرَ

to hear

samiʿa

سَمِعَ

to smell

šamma

شَمَّ

to talk

taḥaddaṯa

تَحَدَّثَ

to exit

ḫaraǧa

خَرَجَ

to call

ittaṣala

اِتَّصَلَ

to feel

ʾaḥassa

أَحَسَّ

to answer

ʾaǧāba

أَجابَ

to laugh

ḍaḥika

ضَحِكَ

to cry

bakā

بَكى

to steal

saraqa

سَرَقَ

to run

ǧarā

جَرى

to walk

mašā

مَشى

to meet

iltaqā

اِلتَقى

to create

ṣanaʿa

صَنَعَ

to finish

ʾanhā

أَنهى

Adjectives

.Learning Arabic words can help you to describe the world around you,  strengthen your Arabic writing, and allow you to better express yourself

Describing Objects

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words 

big

kabīr

كَبير

small

ṣaġīr

صَغير

long

ṭawil

طَوِيل

short

qaṣīr

قَصير

twisted

multawi

مُلتَوِي

smooth

nāʿim

ناعِم

rough

ḫašin

خَشِن

Describing People

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words 

pretty

ǧamīl

جَميل

handsome

wasīm

وَسيم

tall

ṭawil

طَوِيل

short

qaṣīr

قَصير

disgusting

muṯīr lilišmiʾzāz

مُثير لِلاِشمِئزاز

sociable

iǧtimāʿī

اِجتِماعي

funny

muḍḥik

مُضحِك

beautiful

ǧamīl

جَميل

lovely

rāʾiʿ

رائِع

caring

ʿaṭūf

عَطوف

generous

karīm

كَريم

arrogant

maġrūr

مَغرور

humble

mutawaḍiʿ

مُتَوَاضِع

courageous

šuǧāʿ

شُجاع

weak

ḍaʿīf

ضَعيف

strong

qaweī

قَوي

Describing Emotions

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words 

happy

saʿīd

سَعيد

sad

ḥazīn

حَزين

joyful

mubtahiǧ

مُبتَهِج

weird

ġarīb

غَريب

depressed

muktaʾib

مُكتَئِب

anxious

qaliq

قَلِق

stressed out

mutawattir

مُتَوَتِّر

jolly

mariḥ

مَرِح

Describing Weather

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words 

rainy

mumṭir

مُمطِر 

sunny

mušmis

مُشمِس

humid

raṭib

رَطِب

dry

ǧāf

جاف

arid

qāḥil

قاحِل

frigid

mutaǧammid

مُتَجَمِّد

foggy

ḍabābī

ضَبابي

windy

rīḥī

ريحي

stormy

ʿāṣif

عاصِف

partly cloudy

ġāʾim ǧuzʾiyyan

غائِم جُزئِيّاً

cloudy

ġāʾim

غائِم

calm

hādiʾ

هادِئ

Conjunctions

When you want to link one sentence to another, you use conjunctions. Here’s a list of the most used conjunctions in Arabic:

English Translations

Romanizations

Arabic Words 

and 

wa

و

but

lakin

لَكِن 

then

ṯumma

ثُمَّ

because

liʾanna

لِأَنَّ 

so

wabil-talī

وَبِالتالي


Common phrases to greet someone in Arabic

If you live in an Arab country, or are planning to visit one of them, you must have heard the most famous greeting phrase, which is 'SALAM'. It is an informal word usually used between friends. Other greeting phrases are:

Arabic Words

Romanizations

English Translations

السلام عليكم

assalam alaikum

peace be upon you

وعليكم السلام

wa alaikum assalam

peace be upon you too

صباح الخير

sabah al khayr

good morning

مساء الخير

masa' al khayr

good evening

مرحبًا

marhaban

welcome

تحية طيبة

tahia tayiba

greeting

يومك سعيد

yawmuk saeid

have a good day

أهلًا وسهلًا

ahlan wa sahlan

hello

سُعدت بلقائك

suedt biliqayik

nice to meet you

مع السلامة

mae alsalama

good bye

شكرًا جزيلًا

shukran jazilan

thank you very much

أطيب التحيات

'atyab altahiaat

best regards

إلى اللقاء

'iilaa al liqa'

see you soon

وداعًا

wada’an

farewell

تصبح على خير

tusbih ala khayr

good night

أحلامًا سعيدة

ahlaman saeida

sweet dreams

إن شاء الله

inshaa’Allah

God willing

عيد ميلاد سعيد

eid milad saeid

happy birthday

عيد مبارك

eid mubarak

blessed eid

رمضان مبارك

ramadan mubarak

blessed ramadan

كل عام وأنت بخير

kullu aam wa anta be khayr

may you be well every year


We hope this article has been useful and included the most common and used Arabic words in English, to use as a reference for you. This article is subject to addition and change. If you want to become more fluent in Arabic, don't miss the chance of a free lesson with eArabic. Book a free lesson now

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