Basic Arabic conversation for beginners – 2023
Now let’s learn some basic Arabic conversation. This lesson will teach you how to introduce yourself, as well as simple words and phrases like yes, no, excuse me and I don’t understand. Learn these and you’ll be ready to conduct short conversations in Arabic.
Conversation (1):
meeting someone new :
| Arabic | English | Pronunciation | |
| Mohammad | مرحبا، كيف حالك ؟ | hello, how are you? | Marhaban, kayfa halook? |
| David | مرحبا, أنا بخير | hi, I am fine. | marhaban, ana be-khayer |
| Mohammad | هل انت جديدٌ هنا؟ لم أراك من قبل | are you new here? I’ve not seen you before. | hal anta jadeedun huna? lam araka min kabl |
| David | انا طالب جديد.لقد وصلت البارحة | yes, I’m a new student. I just arrived yesterday. | ana ttaleb jadeed. lakad wasaltu albariha |
| Mohammad | انا محمد, تشرفت بلقائك | I’m Mohamad, it’s nice to meet you. | ana mohamad tasharaftu beleka-ek |
| David | انا دايفد, تشرفت بلقائك ايضا. هل باستطاعتك فهمي بالعربية.لازلت اتعلم | I’m David, nice to meet you too. Can you understand my Arabic? I’m still learning. | ana David, tasharaftu beleka-ek aydan. hal be-estita-atika fahmi be-alarabya. lazeltu ata-alam |
| Mohammad | نعم باستطاعتي فهمك بوضوح.ماذا تفعل هنا؟ | Yes, I can understand you, you speak very clearly. What are you doing here? | Naam bi istitaati fahmuka bi woduh.maza tafaalu huna? |
| David | انا ادرس علوم الحياة. سوف ابقى هنا لمدة سنتٌن. | I am studying biology. I will be here for two years. | ana a’dros ulum al-haya. sawfa abka huna li-modat sanatayn. |
| Mohammad | رائع، انا أيضا ادرس علوم الحياة. هل التقيت باحد غيري ؟ | Great. I’m also studying biology. Have you met anyone else yet? | Ra’ee. Ana aydan adros ulum a’l haya. hal Iltakayta bi ahadin ghayre? |
| David | لا انت فقط | no just you | La a’nta fakat |
| Mohammad | هل تريد ان تاتي معي لنشرب القهوة؟ سوف اقابل اصدقائي.سيسعدون بمقابلتك | Do you want to come and have some coffee with me? I am going to meet my friends. They would love to meet you. | Hal torid an ta-tia mai li nashrab al-kahwa? Sawfa okabilu asdika’e. Sa-yasadun bi mukabalatik |
| David | ذلك سيكون رائعا، شكرا جزيلا | That would be great, thank you. | Thalika sayakunu ra-ian, shukran jazilan |
Conversation (2):
Ordering at the restaurant:
| Arabic | English | Pronunciation | |
| Waiter | مرحبا، انا سوف اكون مساعدكم لليوم.هل ترٌدون البدء بالمشروبات. | Hello, I’ll be your waiter today. Can I start you off with something to drink? | marhaban, ana sawfa akono musaaidakom lilyawm. hal turidona al badi’ bilmashrubat |
| Ahmad | نعم.أريد الشاي البارد، من فضلك. | Yes. I’ll have iced tea, please. | naam orid ash-shaay albarid min fadlik |
| Fatima | و انا أريد الليمون الطازج. | And I’ll have fresh lemon. | Wa ana orid al-laymun at-tazaj |
| Waiter | حسنا.هل انتم جاهزون للطلب ام تريدون بعض الوقت. | OK. Are you ready to order, or do you need more time? | Hasanan. Hal antum jahizun li-talab am turidona baada al-wakt |
| Ahmad | اظن اننا جاهزون. سوف احصل على الشاورما مع بعض البطاطس المقلية. | I think we’re ready. I’ll have the shwarma and some fries. | Athun an-nana jahizun. sawfa ahsulu ala Ashawarma maa baad al-batatis al-maklya |
| Fatima | و انا سوف احصل على السمك، مع البطاطس و السلطة. | And I’ll just have the fish, with potatoes and a salad. | Wa ana sawfa ahsulu aala as-samak, maa al-batatis wa asalata |
| Waiter | استمتعوا بطعامكم .ساكون هنا اذا احتجتم أي شيء | enjoy your food. I’ll be right here if you need anything. | Istamtio bi taamikom. sa-akonu hona Itha Ihtajtom aya shay’ |
| Fatima | حسنا شكرا لك | ok thank you. | hasanan shukran lak |
| Ahmad | هل بإمكاننا الحصول على الحساب لو سمحت. | can we have the check, please. | Hal bi Imkanina al-hosol ala al-hisab law samahit |
| Waiter | هذا الحساب، امل انكم استمتعتم بالطعام. | here is the check, I hope you enjoyed the food. | Hatha al-hisab , amolo an-nakum Istamtaatum bi-ataam |
Conversation (3):
Asking for directions:
| Arabic | English | Pronunciation | |
| Aisha | مرحبا هل لديك بعض الوقت؟ | hello, do you have a moment? | Marhaban hal ladayki baada al-wakt? |
| Julia | بالطبع، كيف بامكاني مساعدتك؟ | Certainly, how can I help you? | Bi-ataba, kayfa bi Imkani musa-adatuki? |
| Aisha | انا ذاهبة الى الفندق هل بامكانك ان تدليني على الطريق ؟ | I’m driving to the hotel. Could you give me directions? | Ana thahiba Ila al-funduk. Hal bi imkaniki an tadulini ala at-tarik? |
| Julia | بالتأكيد. اولا خذي يمينك ، و قودي لمسافة ثلاثة أميال، ثم اتجهي الى اليمين | Sure. First take your left, and drive for 3 miles than take the second right. | Bit-takeed. Awalan khothi yaminaki, wa kodi limasafat thalathat amyal, thuma Itajihi Ila al-yamin |
| Aisha | كم يبعد من هنا ؟ | How far is it from here? | Kam yabodo min huna? |
| Julia | تقريبا عشرين ميل من السهل الوصول اليه | It’s about twenty miles. It’s very easy to get to. | Takreeban ishreen meel min as-sahl al-wosolo ilayh |
| Aisha | تابعي | go on. | Tabii |
| Julia | اكملي على الطريق العام ثم التفتي الى اليسار ,واركبي الجسر. من هناك بامكانك ان تسالي احدا ليساعدك | Continue on the main street for about 10 miles and then turn left and take the bridge. From there you can ask anyone to guide you. | Akmili ala atarik al-am thuma Iltafiti Ila al-yasar wa irkabi al-jisr. Min honak bi Imkaniki an tas-ali ahadan li yousaidaki |
| Aisha | كم من الوقت احتاج للوصول؟ | how long does it take? | Kam mina al-wakt ahtajo lil wosol? |
| Julia | اذا لا يوجد زحمة 20 دقيقة ، واذا هناك زحمة 25 دقيقة | If there’s no traffic, about 25 minutes. In heavy traffic, it takes about 45 minutes. | Itha la yujado zahma (Kamsa wa ishreen)25 dakika. wa Itha honak zahma (khamsa wa arba-oon)45 dakika |
| Aisha | حسنا شكرا جزيلا | ok thank you so much. | Hasanan shukran jazilan |
| Julia | اهلا بك في كل وقت | you’re welcome anytime. | Ahlan biki fi kul-li wakt |
Most used words in a conversation:
| Arabic | English | Pronunciation |
| مرحبا | hello | marhaban |
| لقد تشرفت بقائك | Nice to meet you | Lakad tasharaftu bi lika-ek |
| كيف حالك | How are you | Kayfa halook |
| كم عمرك | How old are you | Kam omruk |
| من أين انت | Where are you from | Min ayna anta |
| انا بخير | I am fine | Ana bi khayr |
| صباح الخير | Good morning | Sabaho al-khayer |
| ما اسمك | What is your name | Ma ismuk |
| اسمي | My name is | Ismi |
| شكرا | Thanks | shukran |
| من فضلك | please | Min fadlk |
| اعتذر | sorry | A-atathir |
Note: in the Arabic language, we don’t say my name is Ali we say my name Ali (Ismi Ali) directly without saying (is) like English.
Conversations are the way people and nations communicate and interact with each other. Conducting conversations is also essential while learning a new language and lets you make really quick progress especially when you are speaking to a native speaker.
Related Lessons
1- How do I start a conversation in Arabic?
You can start with a greeting word or expression. For example the most common one in: السلام عليكم assalamu alaikum, and it means “peace upon you”.
2- Is the Arabic language useful?
Yes, as it is spoken in over 20 countries with about 300 million native speakers.
3- Is Arabic conversation hard to learn?
Arabic conversation is not hard, but the pronunciation may be challenging for you.
