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

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

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

Cairo (القاهرة‎) is the chaotic capital of Egypt, a city that feels like it’s built on contradictions and stuck between timelines. With a population of 22 million living in its metropolitan area, Cairo is the biggest African city and the sixteenth-largest metropolis. But the capital of Egypt is not only vast and chaotic. It’s also one of the richest cities in world history, a place where the past intertwines with the present and where many different cultures mix like nowhere else in the world. In this Cairo travel guide, we’ll show you the best way to navigate this beautiful mix!  In the words of Aldous Huxley: "To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries." So, ignore everyone’s opinion about the... Show more

You’re studying English, right? Or was it Arabic? When you look at certain types of Arabic words, it can be hard to notice the difference.  The English language has left its permanent mark on Arabic, just as it has on many other languages around the world. In every Arabic-speaking country, people at all levels of society mix English with Arabic from time to time. Even people not fluent in English do some mixing now and then. How exactly does this mixing work? What’s involved, and what should an Arabic learner look out for? That’s exactly what you’ll find out in our guide to English words in Arabic! Table of Contents The Basics of English Words Used in Arabic Arablish Examples English Loanwords in Arabic How to... Show more

https://www.youtube.com/embed/I3U8SMjfIdQ Considering the fact that Mother’s Day likely arose from deity worship in Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, it should come as no surprise that we have one day a year where we pamper our mothers.  In this article, you’ll learn about Mother’s Day in Egypt and how this tradition got its start in modern-day Arab countries. Let’s get started. 1. What is Mother’s Day? Odds are, you’re already familiar with the concept of عيد الأم (ʿiyd al-ʾum), or Mother’s Day—this holiday is widespread, celebrated in numerous countries around the world. While exact traditions and connotations may vary from one culture to another, one thing remains constant: Mother’s Day is a time to honor and... Show more

Arabic is a language of learning and a language of the learned.  For centuries, Modern Standard Arabic has been used by the greatest thinkers of the Middle East and North Africa to write novels, essays, plays, and speeches of the highest quality.  When you have a language with such a powerful literary history as Arabic at your fingertips, you want your own Arabic to measure up. But it can be a little difficult if you’re only starting out. In fact, it can be difficult even if you’ve been working on Arabic for a while! Arabic quotes and sayings can be a great way to remedy this, providing you with cultural insight and more opportunities for growth. The ones we’ve compiled here are ideal for more formal situations, where you need to... Show more