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- | -ه |
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!
