However, I’d definitely say that all Arabs can understand one another, more or less. peculiar pronunciation of certain words and letters such as coffee and the dialects of Arabic, most of the writing and reading, spelling, grammar and Learn also the words roots and where they are used. This form of Arabic is what is taught in schools Spoken by some 20 million people along the eastern border of the Mediterranean Sea, Levantine Arabic is one of the major dialects of the Arabic language. of Africa thanks to its prevalent use in Arabic movies, television shows, The Arabic language is classified into three different forms: Classical Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic and Dialectal (Colloquial) Arabic. The varieties (or dialects or vernacular languages) of Arabic, a Semitic language within the Afroasiatic family originating in the Arabian Peninsula, are the linguistic systems that Arabic speakers speak natively. This form of Arabic is so widely spoken that it has developed its own When it comes to spelling, punctuation and grammar, most dialects of Arabic come from Modern Standard Arabic. This is usually referred to as Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), Standard Arabic or Literary Arabic. It is noticeably slower and more The interest in learning and […] Smart Institute has teachers specialized in teaching colloquial dialects of Arabs in the best ways and means through the international network. There are three main ethnic groups in Iraq: Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen. His point number one. Arabic has different dialects across regions, but you can also find multiple dialects spoken in the same country. On the contrary, it is also closely linked to the Khaleeji (Gulf) dialect, but it has its own distinct vocabulary. INTRODUCTION TO ARABIC DIALECTS! He or she said if you’re focusing on Modern Standard Arabic you’re going to mess up your Arabic because there are so many different versions or dialects. The spoken dialect is still considered Arabic, but with a strong Berber (a branch of the Afroasiatic language family), French and Spanish influence. throughout the Arab world. bonjour (good morning), bonsoir (good evening) and bonne nuit (good night) are very commonly used. I opened this group, because I would like to create a place of discussion about arabic dialects. About the Author: Randa A. Although arabiconline.eu uses Modern Standard Arabic, it is important to know some of the most important greetings in different Arabic dialects. such as Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria. Some dialects might be harder to understand; Moroccan, a North African dialect is known to be extremely different from other Arabic varieties. I once read a theory, that Arabization is a process that is still going on and Arabic dialects my still be in part Aramaic. United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Egypt), Levantine, and Arabian/Iraqi. Cookies and other technologies may be used, by us or by third parties, to personalize and improve your experience, perform analytics, and advertise our services and products. vocabulary found in MSA, though there are noticeable unique characteristics It is rarely used in spoken interpersonal communication—this is the realm of the dialect. The wide expanse of coverage of Arabic language generally created the dialectical differences, together with the influences from other languages from neighboring and conquered areas. – إزيك  (f) – How are you? https://saioi.net/blog/dialects-of-arabic-which-one-should-you-learn The dominant ethnic group is, however the Arabs. Tunisia lebes al Hamdu lilleh. Arabic dialect. Mesopotamian 6. Syria and Turkey contain vocabulary and linguistic elements borrowed from other – إزيك  (m) ; ezzayyek? dialect is a good one to learn first. Levantine dialect has unique lexical, phonological and grammatical characteristics Hence, there are extensive borrowings from the Turkish and Persian languages. This language is often not spoken in everyday life, If you want to learn Arabic Arabic Dialect Identification Omar F. Zaidan Microsoft Research Chris Callison-Burch University of Pennsylvania The written form of the Arabic language, Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), differs in a non- trivial manner from the various spoken regional dialects of Arabic – the true “native languages” of Arabic speakers. of the Muslim religion. They are taught so Arabic students can write and read speak. There are different Arabic dialects including Egyptian and Levantine Arabic. Although communicating in one’s own dialect is ideal, yet I sometimes feel the need to ‘adjust’ my spoken Arabic with speakers of a different dialect. Andalusian In each of this main group are several sub-regional dialects, which, when compiled could be around 33. Classical Arabic (CA) or Quranic Arabic … Copyright © Arab Academy. Note: Shukran is used in all Arabic dialects; however, merci (borrowed from French) in Egypt is more common. Here are a few words and phrases in the Emirati dialect that you can practice pronouncing: kaif Halak? I agree. However, the The rest of the Arab countries use ana; أنا. music, books and news media. It maintains many classical features that are not used in other parts of the … Of all dialects, Egyptian, or Masri is by far the most widely used and understood Arabic dialect across the majority of the Arab-speaking nations. Egyptian Arabic has numerous differences in comparison to Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). However, these two regions are home to a wide range of dialects. broadcasts and television programs. Please also check out our in-depth guides on Moroccan, Egyptian, and Levantine Arabic dialects. Dialectal Arabic, on the other hand, is the informal language that Arabs use to communicate in their daily lives. In this post I will talk about how to say “wait” in different Arabic dialects. If you hear a Lebanese person speaking, you’ll most likely hear some French words and phrases! (f) – كيفيك؟  – How are you? countries such as Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. measured, making it clearer to understand. Haseb – حاسب  (m) ; Hasbi – حاسبي  (f) – Look out! In fact, the majority of Arabs are somehow able to manipulate the way they speak – thanks to pan-regional TV channels and programs, of course. I think the main thing about Arabic is the chances are that whatever your perception of Arabic is, it's almost certainly very, very different from what an Arabic person or the locals in Arabic countries conceive of Arabic as being. Exploring Different Dialects in Different Arabic-Speaking countries. It is easier to learn than Classical Get Your FREE Arabic Language E-Book here (Org. –  كيف حالك؟ (m) ; kaif Halich? HOW TO SAY "VERY" & "A LOT" IN 10 DIFFERENT ARAB COUNTRIES! Written vs. spoken Arabic – the differences. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the most commonly used nearly every Arab speak on the street. Arabic, getting a good grasp of Modern Standard Arabic and the Egyptian Arabic In this article, we give an overview of how Arabic dialects are different from Modern Standard Arabic, and how they differ among one another. All rights reserved |. It is the language of writing and formal speaking. This Arabic dialect varies widely from MSA used in other Arabic People tend to mix the three languages when speaking. Likewise, many of the features that characterize (or distin… Algeria weshrake? There are three major dialectical groups of spoken Arabic: North African (excl. Those dialects, in turn, differ quite a bit from each other. This form of Arabic is seen as closest Arabic vs. She is passionate about nature, learning languages, and exploring different cultures. Egypt has dominated the Arab cinema from as early as the mid 1920’s spreading its films and dramas extensively across the Arab countries. When it comes to spelling, punctuation and grammar, most dialects of … punctuation come from Modern Standard Arabic. However, in many areas, the differences in regional dialects may make one Arabic speaker nearly incomprehensible to another. If you’ve studied some MSA before Let’s look at how the dialect is different: kifak? Randa speaks English, Arabic, and some Spanish. This Arabic dialect, which is mostly spoken Iraq, Iran, Generally, Moroccans tend to find it easier to converse in French when communicating with others. / shu akhbaarak? This dialect is commonly spoken in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, language to learn. MSA is the standard form of Arabic that nearly all native speakers uniformly understand. (m) – كيفك؟ ; kifik? Home / Learn Different Arabic Dialect ... It’s the dialects are spoken by the general public in the street, shops and markets. This dialect of Arabic is spoken very fast and requires much If one is new to learning Arabic Dialects by Region. If you’re interested in learning Arabic, this zayn – زين (m) ; zayna – زينة (f)  – I’m Okay. Arabic, but is less formal. Learn the different ways of saying "I want" and "I need" in different Arabic dialects. both in Arabic countries and abroad in language schools as it is the current All Rights Reserved. Egyptian 4. The basics of the language are fundamentally the same, yet Arabic dialects are not mutually intelligible because each Arab country has its own dialect. MSA is the Arabic you will hear This Arabic dialect is the common form of Arabic spoken in version as it is concise, uses modern words and language that Arabs now the country of Sudan. What are the different Arabic dialects? Arab Academy is a world-recognized online Arabic language common dialects of Arabic you will most likely hear spoken: This form of Arabic is the most widely spoken dialect, not Maghrebi 2. This dialect of Arabic is spoken by various tribes within Mashriqi Arabic is spoken everywhere else. Languages including Farsi (Persian), Urdu, Indian and English all had a linguistic influence over the years on the Gulf dialects, including Emirati. Firstly, it’s not the “Arab” language - it is Arabic. However, in many areas, the differences in regional dialects may make one Arabic speaker nearly incomprehensible to another. There are different dialects of Arabic that are spoken Koran is written in and is taught to Muslim children. Mo… Spoken Arabic has many variants and dialects. Modern Standard kowayyes, shukran – ًكويس شكرا (m) kowayyesa, shukran – ًكويسة شكرا (f) – I’m doing good, thanks! From Mesopotamia to the Ottoman Empire, Iraq’s history and multicultural inheritance heavily influenced its spoken dialect. Let’s look at how 5 unique dialects differ from around the Arab world. because his area is also multicultural. It additionally has been impacted by various different dialects, including Coptic, Turkish, French, and English. There are considerable variations from region to region, with degrees of mutual intelligibility(and some are mutually unintelligible). While there are multiple differences in these spoken Similar to Egyptian Arabic, this dialect Generally, the dialects could be classified into seven main regional varieties: 1. and French. It is also encouraged that students learn a specific dialect of a country they are interested in or will be travelling to for work or vacation. Similar to other languages, there are different dialects of Arabic that are spoken in different regions and countries throughout the Arabic world. Tunisia esh nahwelak, lebes? It is the national working language in Lebanon, though. So take this opportunity to learn new words. dialects are based off either the Modern Standard Arabic or Classical For e.g. Below are the most This is largely due to the area’s Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) fuS-Ha; فصحى is the “official” Arabic taught in schools and universities, used in books, magazines, media, legal documents, etc. Below are some examples: ezzayyak? and expressions and the simplification of verbs are also unique features of the Please take a moment to review our terms and conditions and privacy policy. The Emirati Arabic dialect or Al Ramsa Al Emaratia is a branch of the Gulf dialects family spoken in the United Arab Emirates. Syria / Palestine mabsuuT, al-Hamdu lillah. Yemeni Arabic … Several other factors are of concern to this development. Depending on the social context and one’s location, the Levantine dialect. Masri is comprehensible for many Arabs due to the huge influence and historical presence of Egyptian media industry; be it music, movies or drama. Levantine Arabic is a general term used to describe the spoken dialects used by people along the Eastern Mediterranean Coast of Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine. That said, the term dialects is used, for the sake of simplicity, throughout Arabic vs. Arabic to refer to all of the 15 varieties presented in the tables, often including MSA. Levantine 7. comprehension of this Arabic dialect by watching Arabic television, movies or Levantine Arabic is the second language courses for all ages and ability levels in Modern Standard Arabic so they can read the Koran. been heavily influenced by the area’s history of European colonization with Second point - it depends. several loan words and word pronunciation from romantic languages like Spanish including a different grammar and sentence structure in its writing and a Learning the Modern Standard version of Arabic is highly recommended for new Arabic language learners. As always the words are standard Arabic but are popular in some dialects more than others. Loves experimenting and being creative with food and recipes. dialect are good starting places from which to build proficiency in a different An example of this is the pronunciation of the letter jeem in only by 60 million people in Egypt, but also across the Middle East and parts Because of the vast array of speakers, Yemeni Arabic can be subdivided into many different dialect groups. dialect of Arabic. The dialect is so unique due to the multilingualism in the country. Many aspects of the variability attested to in these modern variants can be found in the ancient Arabic dialects in the peninsula. MSA has a special function in Arab society. Learn the different ways of saying "I want" and "I need" in different Arabic dialects. also closely follows the vocabulary of Modern Standard Arabic. to MSA as it has fewer loan words from other languages than other dialects. in “jay.” The North African Arabic dialect also has some elements of the Berber Arabic. Certain Arabic dialects like the variants that are spoken in Lebanon have more influence of Aramaic than others. mneeH (m) – منيح ; mneeHa (f)  – منيحة – Good, eza bit reed (m) – إذا بتريد  ; eza bet reedeh (f) – إذا بتريدي – Please. Many Muslims are taught Classical Arabic at a young age Many Arabic learners learn a word, for example “أريد” which means “I want”. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. the other dialects build upon. MSA is the mother tongue of no one: It is the language taught in schools and spoken formally, the language of the elite and the cultured. By clicking “I agree” below, you agree to our terms and conditions and consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. Arabic framework. Egyptians are known for being loud, yet when they tend to tell a secret they whisper it. The dialects here have Classical Arabic. An introduction to Arabic dialects The percentage of individuals interested in finding to talk and comprehend Arabic has risen considerably in the latest years. At the end of the day, “continuum understanding” plays a big role. Learn also the words roots and where they are used. Pick up on some common words and phrases unique to the Iraqi dialect from the list below: The Lebanese dialect is a branch of the Levantine Arabic spoken in Lebanon. Classical Arabic (CA) or Quranic Arabic is more common in literature and writing. What are the differences between the Arab dialects? largest Arabic dialect spoken and is also featured in Arabic films, Arab news It is somewhat comparable to the Syrian, Jordanian, Palestinian Arabic dialects spoken in the rest of the Levant region. I’m fine, thanks be to God. You can even start practicing your languages in and of themselves, but are foundations for basic Arabic upon which dialects in the form of pronunciation and vocabulary. Many tribes have different dialects of the Sudanese dajaal (chicken) which is pronounced like the “j” in “bonjour” instead of “j” Sudanese 3. This means that wherever you go in the Arabic-speaking world, you might face some new challenges as you try to come to grips with the local dialect. There are even more individuals who prefer doing business partnership in the Middle East and Mediterranean countries. Yemeni Arabic is spoken by over 15 million people in Yemen, southwestern Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Djibouti. Classical Arabic is the language of the Koran, the holy book Almost all written Arabic, on the other hand, is in the standardised register. Levantine. foundational version of the Arabic language. Egyptian Arabic uses much of the same Washwasha (وشوشا), a word unique to Egypt, meaning whispering. Levantine dialect can have up to 12 different forms of personal pronouns. Egypt 3aamel eh? All Arabic The Arab world can mainly be divided into the Maghreb and the Middle Eastern spheres. letter jeem (G). The dialects that exist are likely to evolve divergently, as the subjective experiences and affairs within each Arabic speaking nation’s borders will set it on a different path. Yemeni Arabic is another great example of Arabic dialects that has maintained many classical practices and tones. Despite the regional dialect similarities, the Lebanese dialect closely resembles the Syrian dialect for the most part. including the personal pronouns such as “I,” “he,” and “she.” Some greetings This article is part of our crash course series on Arabic dialects. Spoken Arabic can be broadly categorized into the following, main dialect groups: North African Arabic (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya), Hassaniya Arabic (Mauritania), Egyptian Arabic, Levantine Arabic (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine), Iraqi Arabic, Gulf Arabic (Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the U.A.E. Choose from one of the many Arabic dialects or learn MSA to be widely understood. Probably, most of them are unknown to Arabic learners, and therefore when they hear Arab use them, they might think that they are not standard Arabic. The Egyptian dialect is different than that of Saudi Arabia and both are different from the Lebanese dialect, which is similar to the Syrian dialect. muliculturalistic history. Egyptian dialect is closer to Levantine, but is more distinct. news broadcast online or on T.V. The Arabic language is classified into three different forms: Classical Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic and Dialectal (Colloquial) Arabic. That explains why most Arabs are to a large extent familiar with the dialect! school, offering Arabic Colloquial Arabic is a collective term for the spoken dialects of Arabic used throughout the Arab world, which differ radically from the literary language. The question remains, can all Arabs understand each other? Different Arabic dialects of the Arabic language are spoken in many different nations and regions around northern Africa and the Middle Eastern nations. dialects despite them also differing from one another. Because of this there are noticeable similarities between languages such as Turkish and Farsi. Learn Different Arabic Dialects. Classical Arabic is what the merci awi – مرسي أوي – Thank you very much! language as well. These foundations are often only found in Many Arabic learners learn a word, for example “أريد” which means “I want”. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. 3. Peninsular or Gulf Arabic also has many different forms and sub-dialects These two foundational versions of Arabic aren’t native This Arabic dialect is spoken in Northern Africa in Across the Arab World Modern Standard Arabic fusHa. In the same way, it is easier to speak with other learners of a … Many Lebanese people are trilingual; fluent in Arabic, French and English. the eastern part of the Middle East along the Mediterranean Sea in countries How are you? Levantine Arabic has unique phonological, lexical, and grammatical features compared to other dialects of Arabic. Copyright © 2021 Eton Institute. Hejazi Arabic (Western Saudi Arabia) Najdi Arabic (Central Saudi Arabia). It isn’t uncommon to find different Arabic dialects within the same country. and Egyptian Arabic as well as Classical Arabic. Iraq is the only country that uses anee; أني for I (first person). –  كيف حالج؟ (f) – How are you? It is the language used in the Holy Quran as well as ancient literary texts from the 7th century AD to the 9th century AD. Price $50): https://matartv.com/ebookLebanese Speaking the Different Arabic Dialects! Whether it’s for school, work or leisure, Arabic is a useful Approximately 20 million people worldwide speak it, and many of them are expatriates of countries from where it is spoken.This dialect doesn’t have any official status in the countries where it is spoken. Arabic. In comparison to Arabic dialects, MSA will sound clearer and more measured. writing, and not spoken. Arabian Peninsula 5. They all have different pronunciations, syntax, grammar and you’re going to make a mess of your Arabic. Want to learn Arabic? Maghrebi Arabic is spoken in North Africa (other than Egypt) Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria, Libya, Mauritania and Western Sahara. Syria / Palestine keefak? concentration to understand. A speaker’s nationality can be recognized by the dialect they speak. Every language evolves individually in different areas. Then there are various Arabic dialects that differ across regions. It has moderate phonological compatibility compared to other dialects. Very loosely, Arabic dialects form two major groups: Maghrebi (Western) Arabic, and Mashriqi (Eastern) Arabic. With that being said, there are a lot of words borrowed from Farsi (Persian), Urdu and Hindi, including “khashugah”, meaning spoon (originally came from Persian) and the word “seeda” taken from Urdu, which means straight (for direction). The main dialectal division is between the varieties within and outside of the Arabian peninsula, followed by that between sedentary varieties and the much more conservative Bedouin varieties. There are also historical influences on the dialect by languages such as French, Italian, Turkish and Greek. and Oman). but rather just read or occasionally recited in religious ceremonies. Different dialects of Arabic. from a high-quality school with native Arabic speaking instructors, contact us Different variants of the Arabic language are spoken in many different nations and regions around the world, most commonly throughout northern Africa and the Middle Eastern nations. The answer is: it depends. at Arab Academy today to learn more or to enroll.