Catalog / Arabic Language Basics Cheatsheet
Arabic Language Basics Cheatsheet
A quick reference guide covering essential aspects of the Arabic language, including script, pronunciation, grammar, and basic vocabulary.
The Arabic Script
Arabic Alphabet Basics
|
Arabic is written from right to left. |
Unlike English, Arabic letters change form depending on their position in a word (beginning, middle, end, or isolated). |
|
There are 28 basic letters in the Arabic alphabet. |
Arabic is a cursive script; letters are generally connected. |
|
Some letters do not connect to the following letter. |
Short vowels are often not written but can be indicated with diacritics (tashkeel). |
|
|
|
|
ا |
Alif |
|
ب |
Ba |
|
ت |
Ta |
|
ث |
Tha |
Letter Forms
|
Initial (beginning of word) |
Letter connects on the right side only. |
|
Medial (middle of word) |
Letter connects on both sides. |
|
Final (end of word) |
Letter connects on the left side only. |
|
Isolated (alone) |
Letter does not connect. |
|
Example using the letter 'Ba' (ب): |
|
|
Initial: بـ |
Medial: ـبـ |
|
Final: ـب |
Isolated: ب |
Pronunciation and Vowels
Consonants
|
Many Arabic consonants have no direct equivalent in English. Pay close attention to pronunciation. |
|
Some consonants are emphatic (pronounced deeper in the throat). |
|
Examples:
|
Vowels
|
Short Vowels (indicated by diacritics): |
Long Vowels (letters): |
|
َ (Fatha): Short 'a' sound (like in 'cat') |
ا (Alif): Long 'aa' sound (like in 'father') |
|
ِ (Kasra): Short 'i' sound (like in 'bit') |
ي (Ya): Long 'ee' sound (like in 'see') |
|
ُ (Damma): Short 'u' sound (like in 'put') |
و (Waw): Long 'oo' sound (like in 'food') |
|
Note: |
Diacritics are often omitted in written Arabic, especially in newspapers and books. Learners need to infer the correct vowel sounds from context. |
Basic Grammar
Sentence Structure
|
The basic sentence structure in Arabic is Verb-Subject-Object (VSO), although Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) is also common, especially in Modern Standard Arabic. |
|
Example (VSO): كتب الطالب الدرس kataba al-ṭālibu al-dars Wrote the student the lesson (The student wrote the lesson) |
|
Example (SVO): الطالب كتب الدرس al-ṭālibu kataba al-dars The student wrote the lesson |
Nouns and Articles
|
Arabic nouns have gender (masculine and feminine). |
Feminine nouns often end in ـة (taa marbuta). |
|
Arabic has a definite article: الـ (al-). |
There is no indefinite article (like 'a' or 'an' in English). |
|
The definite article is attached to the beginning of the noun. |
Example:
|
|
Sun and Moon Letters: |
When the definite article precedes a 'sun letter' (e.g., ت, د, ر), the 'l' sound in 'al-' assimilates to the sound of the sun letter. With 'moon letters' the 'l' sound is pronounced. |
Pronouns
|
Arabic pronouns are essential for constructing sentences. Here are some basic pronouns: |
|
Basic Vocabulary
Greetings
|
السلام عليكم (as-salāmu ʿalaykum) |
Peace be upon you (formal greeting) |
|
وعليكم السلام (wa ʿalaykumu s-salām) |
And upon you be peace (response) |
|
مرحبا (marḥaban) |
Hello (less formal) |
|
أهلا (ʾahlan) |
Welcome |
|
صباح الخير (ṣabāḥ al-khair) |
Good morning |
|
مساء الخير (masāʾ al-khair) |
Good evening |
Common Phrases
|
نعم (naʿam) |
Yes |
|
لا (lā) |
No |
|
شكرا (shukran) |
Thank you |
|
من فضلك (min faḍlik) |
Please (to a male) |
|
من فضلكِ (min faḍliki) |
Please (to a female) |
|
إلى اللقاء (ʾilā al-liqāʾ) |
Goodbye |
Basic Questions
|
ما اسمك؟ (mā ismuk?) (m) |
What is your name? (to a male) |
|
ما اسمكِ؟ (mā ismuki?) (f) |
What is your name? (to a female) |
|
كيف حالك؟ (kayfa ḥāluk?) (m) |
How are you? (to a male) |
|
كيف حالكِ؟ (kayfa ḥāluki?) (f) |
How are you? (to a female) |
|
من أين أنت؟ (min ʾayna ʾanta?) (m) |
Where are you from? (to a male) |
|
من أين أنتِ؟ (min ʾayna ʾanti?) (f) |
Where are you from? (to a female) |