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

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

Everyone agrees: Learning a foreign language is an amazing (if hard) and fulfilling process. By learning to speak, understand others, and think in a language different from our own, not only do we add a new skill to our repertoire, but we can also change the way we see the outside world and our relationship to it. Now for the question at hand: How long does it take to learn Arabic, and is it worth it? Well, consider the fact that there are more than ten words for "love" in Arabic—and over 100 words for "camel"! I mean, these facts will certainly have an impact on the way you think about your love life…and about those amazing desert creatures! Learners of Arabic would all love to dedicate endless hours to studying the language and... Show more

Proverbs are popular sayings that provide a little dose of wisdom, a truth that is sometimes so obvious that it’s overlooked.  Can you think of a proverb in your native language that touched you in an important moment of your life? The Arabic language is so rich and so widely used that it offers countless idiomatic sayings and expressions. If you want to sound like a native speaker, you’d better learn some of these Arabic proverbs yourself! Doing so is a great way to let your language skills shine, and it will help you better understand the culture so you can fit right in! As they say, "There is no time like the present"! Learn the thirty most used Arabic proverbs now and you’ll be certain to leave a good impression!  Keep in... Show more

Some people say that you can study a language and never learn the grammar. They’ve got some compelling points.  But the thing is, after enough time, your brain really will pick up a lot of the patterns of a language and you’ll be able to use it correctly and automatically. The key concept here is "enough time," though. As it happens, most people don’t have three years from the beginning of their studies to when they want to use it. This is especially true of Arabic, whose grammar is different from that of English in several key ways. Why wait for your brain to trial-and-error its way into Arabic grammar when you can just learn the main differences yourself? That’s why, in this article, we’re going to tell you just what to look... Show more

"You’re learning Arabic? Wow, I could never do that!" You’ve probably heard that sentiment, or something like it, dozens of times. Or perhaps you’ve become intimidated hearing it said to other people.  For English-speakers, Arabic has a reputation for being an incredibly tough language to learn. Nobody offers Arabic classes in middle school, and nobody talks about picking up Arabic from watching cartoons. But does Arabic deserve such a reputation? Is Arabic hard to learn? Could it be that there’s more to a language than its perceived difficulty? Let’s find out! Table of Contents Is Arabic Really the Hardest Language? Why Arabic is Hard to Learn Why Arabic is Easier Than You Think What Every New Arabic Learner... Show more

Wouldn’t it be fantastic to speak flawless Arabic? It’s a language that flummoxes students around the world daily. Even in Arabic-speaking countries, people are divided on what’s really "correct" and "proper" Arabic. The truth is, you really don’t have to speak Arabic by the book in order to show your respect for the cultures and languages of Arab people. A little really does go a long way! In this article, you’ll see some of the most common mistakes Arabic speakers make when learning the language, as well as the best ways to overcome them. Table of Contents Pronunciation Vocabulary Mistakes Word Order Mistakes Arabic Grammar Mistakes Uniquely Arabic Mistakes The Biggest Mistake Conclusion 1.... Show more

You can learn quite a bit of a language through questions. Whether you’re traveling or hanging out in your hometown, any conversation you have with a native speaker in Arabic is going to involve a little bit of Q-and-A. In fact, this is especially true for Arabic, since it’s a language not as commonly learned by foreigners. People are going to be rather curious about you as, in all likelihood, you’re going to be the first Arabic-speaking foreigner they’ve ever met. Check out these common Arabic questions and answers, so that you have a leg up when the conversation starts! Table of Contents What’s your name? Where are you from? Do you speak Arabic? How long have you been studying Arabic? Have you been to ___? ... Show more

Did you know that language is really just patterns? Even the most complex languages, like Arabic, can be described with a long, long list of rules and patterns. Of course, we’re talking about multiple research teams working for decades to really tease out all the patterns of a natural language. There are always some unusual things that crop up and extend the research by a couple of years. Fortunately, the inconsistencies and the exceptions don’t detract from one simple ground truth: to speak Arabic well, you need to master key Arabic sentences and sentence patterns. That’s one of the best ways to start speaking Arabic quickly, too. Once you have a deep knowledge of a single sentence pattern, you can use that understanding to... Show more

Can you say anything in Arabic—anything at all? If you’re on this website, I should hope so! But how accurately can you describe what you see, and even more importantly, what people are doing? This is a job for adverbs. Adverbs modify verbs and nouns, and in Arabic, you may be surprised how they end up coming together. Knowing just the right adverb in Arabic can take a sentence from okay to amazing, and enhance clarity. Right here, we have 100 Arabic adverbs just for you. Check them out! Table of Contents Arabic Adverbs of Time Arabic Adverbs of Place Arabic Adverbs of Manner Arabic Adverbs of Degree Arabic Adverbs for Wishes, Hopes, and Probability Get in Touch with Your Emotions Personality... Show more