ArabicSpeaker

MARHABA! Welcome to Arabic for Beginners...

2012-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader,
Congratulations and welcome to Arabic for Beginners! Your first and most important task is to get familiar with the Arabic Alphabet script; She's a real beauty, but she'll tear your head off if you don't respect her. Learn to love the individual letters and how to write them. All the rest (vocabulary, grammar and the like) will follow in due time.

Starting January 1st, 2012 I'll post a new Arabic Alphabet letter each day.

Each post is presented as a "Letter-of-the-day" calendar page that you can print and hang on your wall. right-click on the calendar page and "save as..." to download and print each day's lesson. Not only are they great conversation pieces and learning tools, they're also great looking.

Today's Arabic Numeral is fifteen ١٥ pronounced "khams-tashar"

2012-02-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic Numeral is fifteen ١٥ pronounced "khams-tashar".
Remember that the suffix "teen" is to ten in english as "ashar" اشر is in arabic.

Yesterday's Arabic Numeral was fourteen ١٤ pronounced "arba-tashar".

Today's Arabic Numeral is fifteen ١٥ pronounced "khams-tashar".
Tomorrow's Arabic Numeral is sixteen ١٦ pronounced "sit-tashar".

Today's Arabic Numeral is fourteen ١٤ pronounced "Arba-tashar"

2012-02-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic Numeral is fourteen ١٤ pronounced "Arba-tashar".
Remember that the suffix "teen" is to ten in english as "ashar" اشر is in arabic.

Yesterday's Arabic Numeral was thirteen ١٣ pronounced "tala-tashar".

Today's Arabic Numeral is fourteen ١٤ pronounced "arba-tashar".
Tomorrow's Arabic Numeral is fifteen ١٥ pronounced "khams-tashar".

Today's Arabic Numeral is thirteen ١٣ pronounced "Tala-tashar"

2012-02-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic Numeral is thirteen ١٣ pronounced "Tala-tashar".
Remember that the suffix "teen" is to ten in english as "ashar" اشر is in arabic.

Yesterday's Arabic Numeral was twelve ١٢ pronounced "It-nashar".

Today's Arabic Numeral is thirteen ١٣ pronounced "Tala-tashar".
Tomorrow's Arabic Numeral is fourteen ١٤ pronounced "Arba-tashar".

Today's Arabic Numeral is twelve ١٢ pronounced "It-nashar"

2012-02-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic Numeral is twelve ١٢ pronounced "It-nashar".
Remember that the suffix "teen" is to ten in english as "ashar" اشر is in arabic.

Yesterday's Arabic Numeral was eleven ١١ pronounced "khi-dashar".

Today's Arabic Numeral is twelve ١٢ pronounced "It-nashar".
Tomorrow's Arabic Numeral is thirteen ١٣ pronounced "Tala-tashar".

Today's Arabic Numeral is eleven ١١ pronounced "khi-dashar"

2012-02-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic Numeral is eleven ١١ pronounced "khi-dashar".
Remember that the suffix "teen" is to ten in english as "ashar" اشر in arabic.

Yesterday's Arabic Numeral was ten ١٠ pronounced "Ashara"

Today's Arabic Numeral is eleven ١١ pronounced "khi-dashar"
Tomorrow's Arabic Numeral is twelve ١٢ pronounced "It-nashar"

Today's Arabic Numeral is ten ١٠ pronounced "Ashara"

2012-02-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today we come across Zero for the first time. Many readers said that starting with zero throws off the day/count correlation confusing them.
Today's Arabic Numeral is ten ١٠ pronounced "Ashara"
zero is pronounced "Sifr" and written as a small diamond ٠

Yesterday's Arabic Numeral is nine ٩ pronounced "Tisa"

Today's Arabic Numeral is ten ١٠ pronounced "Ashara"
Tomorrow's Arabic Numeral is eleven ١١ pronounced "khi-dashar"

Today's Arabic Numeral is nine ٩ pronounced "Tisa"

2012-02-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic Numeral is nine ٩ pronounced "Tisa"

Yesterday's Arabic Numeral was eight ٨ pronounced "Tamænya"

Today's Arabic Numeral is nine ٩ pronounced "Tisa"
Tomorrow's Arabic Numeral is ten ١٠ pronounced "Ashara"

Today's Arabic Numeral is eight ٨ pronounced "Tamænya"

2012-02-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic Numeral is eight ٨ pronounced "Tamænya"

Yesterday's Arabic Numeral is seven ٧ pronounced "Saba"

Today's Arabic Numeral is eight ٨ pronounced "Tamænya"
Tomorrow's Arabic Numeral is nine ٩ pronounced "Tisa"

Today's Arabic Numeral is seven ٧ pronounced "Saba"

2012-02-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic Numeral is seven ٧ pronounced "Saba"

Yesterday's Arabic Numeral was six ٦ pronounced "Sitæ"

Today's Arabic Numeral is seven ٧ pronounced "Saba"
Tomorrow's Arabic Numeral is eight ٨ pronounced "Tamænya"

Today's Arabic Numeral is six ٦ pronounced "Sitæ"

2012-02-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic Numeral is six ٦ pronounced "Sitæ"

Yesterday's Arabic Numeral was five ٥ pronounced "Khamsæ"

Today's Arabic Numeral is six ٦ pronounced "Sitæ"
Tomorrow's Arabic Numeral is seven ٧ pronounced "Saba"

Today's Arabic Numeral is five ٥ pronounced "Khamsæ"

2012-02-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic Numeral is five ٥ pronounced "Khamsæ"

Yesterday's Arabic Numeral was four ٤ pronounced "Arba"

Today's Arabic Numeral is five ٥ pronounced "Khamsæ"
Tomorrow's Arabic Numeral is six ٦ pronounced "Sitæ"

Today's Arabic Numeral is four ٤ pronounced "Arba"

2012-02-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic Numeral is four ٤ pronounced "Arba"

Yesterday's Arabic Numeral is three ٣ pronounced "Talatæ"

Today's Arabic Numeral is four ٤ pronounced "Arba"
Tomorrow's Arabic Numeral is five ٥ pronounced "Khamsæ"

Today's Arabic Numeral is three ٣ pronounced "Talatæ"

2012-02-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic Numeral is three ٣ pronounced "Talatæ"

Yesterday's Arabic Numeral was two ٢ pronounced "Itnæn"

Today's Arabic Numeral is three ٣ pronounced "Talatæ"
Tomorrow's Arabic Numeral is four ٣ pronounced "Arba"

Today's Arabic Numeral is two ٢ pronounced "Itnæn"

2012-02-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic Numeral is two ٢ pronounced "Itnæn"

Yesterday's Arabic Numeral was one ١ pronounced "wahad"

Today's Arabic Numeral is two ٢ pronounced "Itnæn"
Tomorrow's Arabic Numeral is three ٣ pronounced "Talatæ"

Today's Arabic Numeral is one ١ pronounced "wahad"

2012-02-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic Numeral is one ١ pronounced "wahad"

Today's Arabic Numeral is one ١, pronounced "wahad"

Tomorrow's Arabic Numeral is two ٢, pronounced "Itnæn"

Today's Arabic Lesson; January review

2012-01-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Congrats! You made it through the whole month of january and what I think is the hardest part of Arabic for beginners; learning the Arabic Script.

Keep practicing writing your letters and use today's calendar page as a review tool as we move forward through the year.

Tomorrow we begin learning numbers.
If you really want to blow someone's mind (or confuse them) try explaining that in the english-speaking world we are using Arabic numerals, and the Arab-speaking world uses Indian numeral forms.

Today's Arabic lesson is the vowels

2012-01-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic lesson is the 3 diacritic vowels, "ah", "ee" and "oo".
"Diacritics" are marks or symbols above or below the letters that signify the vowel sounds.

For our purposes today, we'll view 3 vowels with the letter "daal" د.

"ah" is a short line above the letter daal like so: دَ

"ee" is a short diagonal line below the letter daal like so: دِ

"oo" is a curly-que sybol above the letter daal like so: دُ

"hamza" ء was yesterday's character.
Today we covered the simple vowels.
Tomorrow, we'll review the whole months of January!

For a thorough explanation of diacritics, see here.

Today's Arabic letter is "hamza" ء

2012-01-29T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "hamza" ء
hamza is the 29th character in the Arabic Script.
She has no English language equivalent.
hamza is a "glottal stop"; like a catch in the throat.

Pronounce the phrase "Uh-Oh". Trying whispering it softly and saying it loudly. Do it several times until you can identify the glottal stop without forcing it.

"ya" ي was yesterday's letter.

"hamza" ء is today's character.

Tomorrow we'll cover the 3 diacritic vowels. "Diacritics" are marks or symbols above or below the letters that signify the vowel sounds "ah", "ee" and "oo".

Today's Arabic letter is "ya" ي

2012-01-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "ya" ي
ya is the 28th and last letter in the Arabic Script. Her English language equivalent is the letter "Y".

"waaw" و was yesterday's letter.

"ya" ي is today's letter.

Tomorrow we'll cover "hamza" ء

Today's Arabic letter is "waaw" و

2012-01-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "waaw" و
waaw is the 27th letter in the Arabic Script. Her English language equivalent is the letter "W", but sometimes the vowel sounds "oo" or uu" depending on where she is in the word.

"haa" ه was yesterday's letter.

"waaw" و is today's letter.

"ya" ي is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "haa" ه

2012-01-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "haa" ه
haa is the 26th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is a regular "H" pronounced from the front of the mouth.

"nuun" ن was yesterday's letter.

"haa" ه is today's letter.

"waaw" و is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "nuun" ن

2012-01-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "nuun" ن
nuun is the 25th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is "N".

"miim" م was yesterday's letter.

"nuun" ن is today's letter.

"haa" ه is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "miim" م

2012-01-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "miim" م
miim is the 24th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is "M".

"laam" ل was yesterday's letter.

"miim" م is today's letter.

"nuun" ن is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "laam" ل

2012-01-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "laam" ل
laam is the 23rd letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is "L".

"kaaf" ك was yesterday's letter.

"laam" ل is today's letter.

"miim" م is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "kaaf" ك

2012-01-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "kaaf" ك
kaaf is the 22nd letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is "K" from the front of the mouth.

"qof" ق was yesterday's letter.

"kaaf" ك is today's letter.

"laam" ل is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "qof" ق

2012-01-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "qof" ق
qof is the 21st letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is "Q" from the back of the mouth.

"faa" ف was yesterday's letter.

"qof" ق is today's letter.

"kaaf" ك is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "faa" ف

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "faa" ف
faa is the 20th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is "F".

"ghayn" غ was yesterday's letter.

"faa" ف is today's letter.

"qof" ق is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "ghayn" غ

2012-01-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "ghayn" غ
ghayn is the 19th letter in the Arabic Script.
Her English language equivalent a rolling "R" sound pronounced from the back of the throat. Practice by rolling your "R" off the tip of your toungue and gradually move it backwards.

"ayn" ع was yesterday's letter.

"ghayn" غ is today's letter.

"faa" ف is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "ayn" ع

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "ayn" ع
ayn is the 18th letter in the Arabic Script. It is an "a" sound pronounced from the back of the throat known as a "Pharyngal Voiced Fricative".
She has no English language equivalent, is one of my all-time favorites, and is one of the more challenging sounds for the uninitiated to make. Best of Luck.

"DHaa" ظ was yesterday's letter.

"ayn" ع is today's letter.

"ghayn" غ is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "DHaa" ظ

2012-01-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "DHaa" ظ
DHaa is the 17th letter in the Arabic Script and the last of the emphatics.
Her English language equivalent is the emphatic "DH", as in "Father" or "This".

Saad ص, Daad ض, Taa ط and DHaa ظ are the 4 "emphatic" letters in Arabic. Remember; "emPHasis" and "sylLABle".

"Taa" ط was yesterday's letter.

"DHaa" ظ is today's letter.

"ayn" ع is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "Taa" ط

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "Taa" ط
Taa is the 16th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is the emphatic "T".

Saad ص, Daad ض, Taa ط and DHaa ظ are the 4 "emphatic" letters in Arabic. Remember; "emPHasis" and "sylLABle".

"Daad" ض was yesterday's letter.

"Taa" ط is today's letter.

"DHaa" ظ is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "Daad" ض

2012-01-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "Daad" ض
Daad is the 15th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is the emphatic "D".

Saad ص, Daad ض, Taa ط and DHaa ظ are the 4 "emphatic" letters in Arabic. Remember; "emPHasis" and "sylLABle".

"Saad" ص was yesterday's letter.

"Daad" ض is today's letter.

"Taa" ط is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "Saad" ص

2012-01-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "Saad" ص
Saad is the 14th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is "S". The "S" is capitalized because Saad is one of several "emphatic" letters in Arabic. You know the old joke about "the emPHasis being on the wrong sylLABle"? This is it in action; Emphatic.
Saad ص, Daad ض, Taa ط and DHaa ظ are the 4 "emphatic" letters in Arabic. Remember; "emPHasis" and "sylLABle".

"shiin" ش was yesterday's letter.

"Saad" ص is today's letter.

"Daad" ض is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "shiin" ش

2012-01-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "shiin" ش
shiin is the 13th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is "sh".

"siin" س was yesterday's letter.

"shiin" ش is today's letter.

"saad" ص is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "siin" س

2012-01-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "siin" س
siin is the 12th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is "s".

"zay" ز was yesterday's letter.

"siin" س is today's letter.

"shiin" ش is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "zay" ز

2012-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "zay" ز
zay is the 11th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is "z".

"ra" ر was yesterday's letter.

"zay" ز is today's letter.

"siin" س is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "ra" ر

2012-01-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "ra" ر
ra is the 10th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is "r".

"dhaal" ذ was yesterday's letter.

"ra" ر is today's letter.

"zay" ز is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "dhaal" ذ

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "dhaal" ذ
dhaal is the 9th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is the consonant cluster "dh" as in "this" or "there", as opposed to the "th" sound of "three" or "thing".

Not all "th" words in english make the same sound. Takes some getting used to, no?

"daal" د was yesterday's letter.

"dhaal" ذ is today's letter.
"ra" ر is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "daal" د

2012-01-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "daal" د

daal is the 8th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is D.

"xaa" ج was yesterday's letter.

"daal" د is today's letter.

"dhaal" ذ is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "xaa" خ

2012-01-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "xaa" خ

xaa is the 7th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is the consonant cluster "CH" as in "Loch Modan" or "Bach".

It is also pronounced at the back of the throat, but known as a "voiced fricative".

"Ha" ح was yesterday's letter.

"xaa" خ is today's letter.

"daal" د is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter is "Haa" ح

2012-01-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "Haa" ح

Haa is the 6th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is H.

It is an "H" pronounced at the back of the throat, otherwise know as a "voiceless fricative".

"jiim" ج was yesterday's letter.

"Haa" ح is today's letter.

"xaa" خ is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter: "jiim" ج

2012-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "jiim" ج
jiim is the 5th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is "j".

"thaa" ث was yesterday's letter.

"jiim" ج is today's letter.

"Haa" ح is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic letter: "thaa" ت

2012-01-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "thaa" ث

thaa is the 4th letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is "th" like "thing" or "three" or "throw".

"taa" ت was yesterday's letter.

"thaa" ث is today's letter.

"jiim" ج is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic Letter: "taa" ت

2012-01-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "taa" ت

taa is the 3rd letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is "t".

"baa" ب was yesterday's letter.

"taa" ت is today's letter.

"thaa" ث is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic Letter: "baa" ب

2012-01-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "baa" ب

baa is the 2nd letter in the Arabic Script and her English language equivalent is B.

"alif" ا was yesterday's letter.

"baa" ب is today's letter.

"taa" ت is tomorrow's letter.

Today's Arabic Letter: "alif" ا

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Arabic letter is "alif" ا

alif is the 1st letter in the Arabic Script and her english language equivalent is A.

"alif" ا is today's letter.

"baa" ب is tomorrow's letter.