ArabicPod101.com Blog

Let’s face it. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is probably one of the most (if not the most) difficult languages to learn. A new script, complex grammar, and very intricate conjugation rules that even native speakers struggle to master... But I’m going to let you in on a secret. There is one way you can make HUGE progress towards mastery in MSA (or any other Arabic dialect) with little to no effort. A method you can use while driving, lying in bed, traveling, hiking, walking around town, or even relaxing in the park. Enter Arabic podcasts. Podcasts bring you the best Arabic-language audio content out there, all condensed into straight-to-the-point clips that both educate and entertain. To help you get started, we’ve... Show more

Arabic is the richest language in the world. With 12,300,000 words, Arabic blows other languages out of the water. Luckily, with the rise of technology, people tend to take a lazier approach to everything—including communication. As fewer and fewer words are being used, the number of words that language learners need to memorize continues to reduce.  Starting out with Arabic could be a little bit difficult, especially when you’re presented with a new script and totally different sentence structures than what you’re used to in your native language. Assuming you’ve passed the beginner level, your next step is to learn some intermediate Arabic words and phrases to help you press forward.  Learning vocabulary is the most... Show more

If you study world countries, you’ll realize just how unique each one is.  So many things are different from one country to another: the economy, language, culture, resources, size, and the list goes on. But within these differences, we can always find commonalities that bring countries closer together. It could be the way we use technology, our ethical beliefs… It could even be something more interesting—and fun—like animals!  Learning the names of animals in Arabic will make your conversations with native speakers much more engaging and fun. Wherever you go, people will have pets, and everyone has stories to share about their favorite animals.  But in order to engage in these conversations, you’ll need the right vocabulary.... Show more

You may have encountered the statistic that more than 90 percent of our communication is based on body language. While the accuracy of this number is debatable, it’s not far-fetched. Body language and other subtle communication cues allow us to think less about what to say and make conversations easier. But what about...the dreaded phone call?  When you get a sudden call from a delivery guy, an unknown number, or even an old friend, you probably hesitate to pick up. Normally, the call goes smoothly—unless the caller starts talking in Arabic and you remember that you’re in an Arabic-speaking country. That’s where learning some Arabic phone call phrases will come in handy for you. Below, we’ve compiled a list of more than... Show more

Remember back when you had to grab a giant dictionary every time you wanted to find or translate one word? Back when you had to say the alphabet from A all the way to that first letter of the word you were looking up…only to never find it or to take forever doing so? We’re all happy those days are behind us, and that we now enjoy the luxury of Google Translate and the internet. Still, learning new words in a foreign language like Arabic is difficult if you lack proper systems and strategic learning methods. So, what’s a strategic way to learn new basic Arabic words for beginners? According to statistics, learning 1000 words covers 85.5% of conversation in a given language. Technically, this means you’ll be able to speak... Show more

Imagine if people were like programmed robots. No typos. No slips of the tongue. No blemishes. Just plain perfection. That would make everything pretty boring, wouldn’t it? Filler words are one of those imperfections that make human interactions unique.  Without further ado, let’s get right into the top Arabic filler words and how to use them. Table of Contents What are filler words and why do we use them? The Top Arabic Filler Words Pros and Cons of Filler Words Conclusion 1. What are filler words and why do we use them? Filler words (or "fillers") are the sounds we use to let others know that we have not yet finished talking, even if we’re pausing for a few seconds. They help remove... Show more

Imagine going to see the same movies on every single date with your partner. Pretty boring, right? Point is, creativity is key to every love relationship. Bringing new things to the table is what keeps a relationship alive and as exciting as when it began. That’s where learning expressions in your partner’s native language comes into play. Being one of the best ways to show your acceptance, involvement, and appreciation of your partner, learning some Arabic love phrases and discovering how to express your love in Arabic can take your relationship to a whole new level. Not only because it’s your partner’s native tongue, but also because Arabic is one of the best languages for expressing romantic feelings. Having a hard... Show more

I get it, when learning a language we always want to be positive and say Yes! to everything that comes our way. New experiences, new skills, more language practice… However, we need to learn how to say no as well. And not just that, but also how to use negative sentences. If you want to master negation in Arabic, keep reading. In this article, we’ll look at how to...  ...form negative sentences in Arabic (for both nominal and verbal sentences)....answer yes-or-no questions correctly and politely....use other common negative expressions such as "never," "no one," and "nowhere."  Sure, sometimes saying no isn’t easy…especially for us people-pleasers. But I assure you it will be (at least from a language-learning point of view!),... Show more

Are you thinking of learning the Arabic language, but need a little extra motivation to get started? Then you’re in the right place.  Here, we’ll answer the question: "Why learn Arabic?" and present you with the top 10 reasons to learn Arabic in today’s globalized world.  Did you know, for example, that Arabic is the official language of the Arab League? In Arabic, this is called جامِعَة الدِوَل العَرَبِيَّة‎ (ǧāmiʿat al-diwal al-ʿarabiyyah‎) and it consists of 22 countries, from North Africa to the Arabian Peninsula (called شِبْهُ الْجَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِيَّة‎ ).  For this reason, it’s an incredibly rich and complex language, a great challenge for whoever feels attracted to studying it.  Arabic is not an easy language to... Show more

What is a verb?  Along with nouns, verbs are the most important part of any sentence. They are the words we use to describe an action (يُغَنّي - he sings), a state of being (يوجَد - he exists), or an occurrence (يُطَوِّر - he develops), and they usually agree with the subject, which is who or what performs the action described.  Basically, every sentence needs a verb to be complete—and this is why it’s so important to get them right when learning a foreign language! This includes using the right tenses, hence this article on tenses in the Arabic language.  We’ll admit that Arabic verbs are one of the most challenging aspects of learning this beautiful and complex language, but don’t worry. In this article, we’ll have a look... Show more