Life in KSAEducationSaudi Arabia

Essential Arabic for Expats: Words, Phrases, and Pronunciation

For expatriates living in Saudi Arabia, knowing a few basic Arabic words can significantly improve daily interactions and help in various situations, from shopping to office work. Arabic can seem complex at first, but familiarizing yourself with basic phrases will be incredibly helpful and enhance your experience living in the Kingdom. This guide provides practical Arabic vocabulary with pronunciation tips to make learning accessible and user-friendly.

Arabic Numbers (0 to 9)

Arabic numbers are widely used in daily life and are helpful for transactions, directions, and general communication. Below is a table listing the Arabic numbers from 0 to 9, their pronunciations, and their English equivalents.

English NumberTransliterationArabic Numeral
0sifr٠
1wahid١
2ithnayn٢
3thalatha٣
4arba’a٤
5khamsa٥
6sitta٦
7sab’a٧
8thamanya٨
9tis’a٩

Common Greetings and Phrases

Understanding basic greetings and polite phrases in Arabic can go a long way in showing respect and friendliness. Here are some common phrases you’ll hear and use often in Saudi Arabia.

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English MeaningArabicPronunciation
Helloمرحباmarhaban
Good morningصباح الخيرsabah al-khayr
Good eveningمساء الخيرmasa’ al-khayr
How are you?كيف حالك؟kayfa haluk?
Fine, thank youبخير، شكراbikhayr, shukran
Goodbyeمع السلامةma’a as-salama
Thank youشكراshukran
Yesنعمna’am
Noلاla
Pleaseمن فضلكmin fadlak (m) / min fadlik (f)

Shopping and Market Vocabulary

Shopping in Saudi Arabia often involves a few essential Arabic words to ask for prices, seek discounts, and communicate with shopkeepers. Here’s a handy list of words and phrases to make your shopping experience smoother.

English MeaningArabicPronunciation
How much is it?كم السعر؟kam as-si’r?
Discountخصمkhasm
Expensiveغاليghali
Cheapرخيصrakhees
Do you have…?هل لديك…؟hal ladayka…?
Whereأينayn
I want…أنا أريد…ana ureed…
Cashنقديnaqdi
Cardبطاقةbitaqa
Receiptإيصالisal
Bagحقيبةhaqiba

At the Airport

English MeaningArabicPronunciation
Passportجواز السفرjawaz as-safar
Where is the gate?أين البوابة؟ayn al-bawab?
Boarding passبطاقة الصعود للطائرةbitaqat as-suud lil-ta’irah
Baggage claimاستلام الأمتعةistilam al-amti’a
Customsالجماركal-jamarek
Securityالأمنal-amn
Arrivalsالقادمونal-qadimun
Departuresالمغادرونal-mughadirun
Check-inتسجيل الوصولtasjil al-wusul
Where is the restroom?أين الحمام؟ayn al-hamam?

Hotel and Accommodation Vocabulary

English MeaningArabicPronunciation
Roomغرفةghurfa
Keyمفتاحmiftah
Reservationحجزhajz
Receptionاستقبالistiqbal
Check-inتسجيل الدخولtasjil ad-dukhul
Check-outتسجيل الخروجtasjil al-khuruj
Room serviceخدمة الغرفkhidmat al-ghuraf
Laundryغسيلghaseel
Billفاتورةfatura
Bedسريرsareer
Elevatorمصعدmas’ad
Luggageأمتعةamti’a

Office and Work Environment Vocabulary

English MeaningArabicPronunciation
Meetingاجتماعijtima’a
Bossرئيسra’ees
Colleagueزميلzameel
Officeمكتبmaktab
Documentوثيقةwatheqa
Fileملفmilaf
Computerكمبيوترcomputer (kompyooter)
Deskمكتبmaktab
Chairكرسيkursi
Phoneهاتفhatif
Scheduleجدولjadwal
Reportتقريرtaqreer

Banking and Financial Terms

English MeaningArabicPronunciation
Bankبنكbank
Accountحسابhesab
Depositإيداعeeda’a
Withdrawسحبsahb
ATMصراف آليsarraf aali
Credit cardبطاقة ائتمانbitaqat i’timan
Debit cardبطاقة خصمbitaqat khasm
Balanceرصيدraseed
Exchange rateسعر الصرفsa’er as-sarf
Transferتحويلta’hweel
Loanقرضqard
Interestفائدةfa’ida
Checkشيكsheelk

Public Places and Directions

English MeaningArabicPronunciation
Where is…?أين…؟ayn…?
Nearقريبqareeb
Farبعيدba’eed
Leftيسارyasar
Rightيمينyameen
Straightمباشرةmubasharatan
Streetشارعshar’e
Buildingمبنىmabna
Hospitalمستشفىmustashfa
Pharmacyصيدليةsaydaliya
Mallمولmawl
Police stationمركز الشرطةmarkaz ash-shurta
Bus stationمحطة الحافلاتmahatta al-hafilat
Train stationمحطة القطارmahatta al-qitar
Airportمطارmatar
Marketسوقsouq
Mosqueمسجدmasjid
Hotelفندقfunduq

Cultural Etiquette and Social Phrases

English MeaningArabicPronunciation
Welcomeأهلا وسهلاahlan wa sahlan
Congratulationsمبروكmabrook
Pleaseمن فضلكmin fadlak (m) / min fadlik (f)
Excuse meعفواafwan
Thank youشكراshukran
May God bless youالله يبارك فيكAllah yebarik feek
Good luckحظ سعيدhath sa’eed
Happy Birthdayعيد ميلاد سعيدeid milad sa’eed
Get well soonسلامتكsalamtak (m) / salamtik (f)
My condolencesالبقاء للهal-baqaa’ lillah
With God’s will (Inshallah)إن شاء اللهinshallah
God willing, you’ll be rewardedجزاك الله خيراjazak Allah khayran
Peace be upon youالسلام عليكمas-salamu alaykum
And peace upon you (reply)وعليكم السلامwa alaykum as-salam
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