Being located on the Arabian Peninsula and also the home to the holiest cities in Islam, you guessed it, the official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic. There are three main dialects spoken through the country, Hejazi (west coast i.e. Jeddah), Nadj (Riyadh) and Gulf (Dammam and Gulf region). These dialects are considered some of the most clear in all of the Arabic speaking world.
If you didn’t know already there is not one unifying Arabic that is spoken across the Middle East and North Africa. In fact, spoken versions of Arabic are wildly different to the point where they are sometimes unintelligible amongst native speakers. While there exists a standardised version of Arabic called Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), this is not really used as a spoken medium. The written version of MSA is largely understood by all in the Arabic speaking world. If you’re looking to study the most clear and ‘pure’ form of Arabic, Saudi Arabia should be high on your list.
In addition to Arabic, due to Saudi Arabia’s huge migrant worker population you will hear many languages from South Asia as well as Tagalog. English is also widely spoken by younger people in main cities such as Jeddah. In Rural areas however it will be best if you bust out the phrase book!
What script is Arabic written in?
This is a pretty easy trivia question. The answer of course is Arabic script. Most of you will have come across it before.
Arabic numerals
Despite the fact that we also use ‘arabic’ numerals in most of the rest of the world, the original are different and can be confusing, however there are similarities since it is where we ultimately got our numbering system from.
English in Saudi Arabia
Amongst the huge numbers of expats, English is the main language of communication. Workers from all over Africa, the subcontinent and Asia come to Saudi Arabia to make money as well as plenty of professionals from Europe, North America and Australia. Amongst the growing middle class and young people, you’ll also have no issues communicating in English. However, there is still a large percentage of the population that does not speak English. Especially in small towns and rural areas you’ll find next to no English at all.
Arabic phrases
|
English |
(Arabic) العربية |
|
Welcome |
(ahlan wa sahlan) أهلاً و سهلاً |
|
Hello (General greeting) |
(as-salām 'alaykum)
السلام عليكم
|
|
Hello (on phone) |
('āllō) آلو |
|
How are you? |
m - (kayfa ḥālak)
كيف حالك؟
|
|
Reply to 'How are you?' |
أنا بخير شكرا و أنت؟
|
|
Long time no see |
(lam naraka mundhu muddah) لم نرك منذ مدة |
|
What's your name? |
m - (mā ismak?)
ما اسمك؟
|
|
My name is ... |
(... ismee) ... اسمي |
|
Where are you from? |
m - (min ayn anta?)
من أين أنت؟
|
|
I'm from ... |
(anā min ...) أنا من ... |
|
Pleased to meet you |
m (motasharefon bema'refatek)
متشرف بمعرفتك
|
|
Good morning
|
(ṣabāḥul kẖayr) صباح الخير |
|
Good afternoon
|
(masā' al-khayr) مساء الخير |
|
Good evening
|
(masā' al-khayr) مساء الخير |
|
Good night |
(tuṣbiḥ 'alā khayr)
تصبح على خير
|
|
Goodbye
|
m - (tosbeho ‘ala khair) تصبح على خير
|
|
Good luck! |
(bit-tawfīq) بالتوفيق! |
|
Have a nice day |
(atmna lk ywma tyba) اتمنى لك يوما طيبا |
|
Bon appetit /
|
(bil-hanā' wa ash-shifā')
بالهناء والشفاء /
بالهنا والشفا
|
|
Bon voyage /
|
happy journey
(riḥlah saʿīdah)
رحلة سعيدة
|
|
Do you understand? |
m (hal tafhamu?) هل تفهمُ؟
|
|
I understand |
(ana afham) أنا أفهم |
|
I don't understand |
(lā afham) لا أفهم |
|
I don't know |
(la a‘lamu) لاأعلم |
|
Please speak more slowly |
(takallam bibuṭ' min fadlak/ik) تكلم ببطء من فضلك |
|
Please say that again |
m (a'id min fadlak!)
أعد من فضلك
|
|
Please write it down |
m - (uktubhā min fadlak)
أكتبها من فضلك
|
|
Do you speak Arabic? |
(hal tatakallam al-lughah al-'arabīyah?) هل تتكلم اللغة العربية؟ |
|
Yes, a little
|
(na'am, qalīlan) نعم, قليل |
|
Do you speak a language
|
هل تتحدث لغة أخرى بجانب العربية؟
|
|
How do you say ... in Arabic? |
كيف تقول كلمة ... بالعربية؟
|
|
Excuse me |
to attract attention
- (min faḍlak/ik)
من فضلك!
|
|
How much is this? |
m - (bikam hādhā?)
بكم هذا؟
|
|
Sorry |
(āsif!) أسف |
|
Please |
(mīn fāḍlīkā) من فضلك |
|
Thank you |
(shukran)
شكرا
|
|
Reply to thank you |
(al'afw) ألعفو |
|
Where's the toilet / bathroom? |
(ayn al-ḥammām?) أين الحمّام؟ |
|
Would you like to dance with me? |
>m (hal tuħibb an tarqus̱?)
هل تحبْ أن
ترقص؟
|
|
Do you come here often? |
(sg/m) هل تأتي هنا غالبا؟
|
|
I love you |
(ana ouḥibouk) أنا أحبك
|
|
Go away! |
(ib'd!) ابعد! |
|
Leave me alone! |
m - (utrukni)
اتركني
|
|
Call the police! |
(Iṭṭasil bish-shurṭah) اتصل بالشرطة! |
|
My hovercraft is full of eels |
(ḥawwāmtī mumtil'ah bi'anqalaysūn) حَوّامتي مُمْتِلئة بِأَنْقَلَيْسون |
