50 Basic Arabic Phrases for Beginners

Learning a new language can feel overwhelming at first, but starting with simple, everyday expressions makes the journey much easier and more enjoyable. Arabic, with its rich history and cultural depth, is spoken by millions across the world. In this guide, we’ve gathered 50 essential Arabic expressions that every beginner should know. These phrases will help you greet others, ask basic questions, and build confidence in daily conversations.

No.	English Translation	Pronunciation	Arabic Phrase
1	Peace be upon you	as-salāmu ‘alaikum	السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ
2	And peace be upon you too	wa ‘alaikumus-salām	وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ
3	Hello	marḥaban	مَرْحَبًا
4	Welcome	ahlan wa sahlan	أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا
5	Good morning	ṣabāḥul-khair	صَبَاحُ الْخَيْرِ
6	Good morning too	ṣabāḥun-nūr	صَبَاحُ النُّورِ
7	Good evening	masā’ul-khair	مَسَاءُ الْخَيْرِ
8	Good evening too	masā’un-nūr	مَسَاءُ النُّورِ
9	How are you?	kaifa ḥāluka?	كَيْفَ حَالُكَ؟
10	I am fine, thank you	anā bikhairin, syukran	أَنَا بِخَيْرٍ، شُكْرًا
11	What is your name?	mā ismuka?	مَا اسْمُكَ؟
12	My name is Muhammad	ismī Muḥammadun	اِسْمِي مُحَمَّدٌ
13	Where are you from?	min aina anta?	مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتَ؟
14	I am from Indonesia	anā min Indūnīsiyā	أَنَا مِنْ إِنْدُونِيسِيَا
15	Nice to meet you	tasyarrafnā	تَشَرَّفْنَا
16	Yes	na‘am	نَعَمْ
17	No	lā	لَا
18	Please	min faḍlika	مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
19	Thank you	syukran	شُكْرًا
20	Thank you very much	syukran jazīlan	شُكْرًا جَزِيلًا
21	You're welcome / Excuse me	‘afwan	عَفْوًا
22	It's okay / No problem	lā ba’sa	لَا بَأْسَ
23	I'm sorry	āsifun	آسِفٌ
24	I don't know	lā a‘rifu	لَا أَعْرِفُ
25	I don't understand	lā afhamu	لَا أَفْهَمُ
26	I understand	fahimtu	فَهِمْتُ
27	Please repeat	a‘id min faḍlika	أَعِدْ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
28	Speak slowly	takallam bibuṭ’in	تَكَلَّمْ بِبُطْءٍ
29	What does this mean?	mā ma‘nā hādhā?	مَا مَعْنَى هَذَا؟
30	How do I say this in Arabic?	kaifa aqūlu hādhā bil-‘arabiyyah?	كَيْفَ أَقُولُ هَذَا بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ؟
31	Where is the bathroom?	aina al-ḥammāmu?	أَيْنَ الْحَمَّامُ؟
32	Where is the mosque?	aina al-masjidu?	أَيْنَ الْمَسْجِدُ؟
33	How much is this?	kam hādhā?	كَمْ هَذَا؟
34	What are you doing?	mādhā taf‘alu?	مَاذَا تَفْعَلُ؟
35	When are you going?	matā tadhhabu?	مَتَى تَذْهَبُ؟
36	Where are you going?	aina tadhhabu?	أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُ؟
37	Who is this?	man hādhā?	مَنْ هَذَا؟
38	What is this?	mā hādhā?	مَا هَذَا؟
39	Do you speak Arabic?	hal tatakallamul-‘arabiyyah?	هَلْ تَتَكَلَّمُ الْعَرَبِيَّةَ؟
40	Do you understand?	hal tafhamu?	هَلْ تَفْهَمُ؟
41	Yes, I understand	na‘am, afhamu	نَعَمْ، أَفْهَمُ
42	No, I don't understand	lā, lā afhamu	لَا، لَا أَفْهَمُ
43	A little	qalīlan	قَلِيلًا
44	Of course	ṭab‘an	طَبْعًا
45	Okay / Alright	ḥasanan	حَسَنًا
46	If Allah wills	in syā’a Allāh	إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
47	What Allah has willed	mā syā’a Allāh	مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ
48	See you	ilal-liqā’	إِلَى اللِّقَاءِ
49	Goodbye / Go safely	ma‘as-salāmah	مَعَ السَّلَامَةِ
50	See you later	arāka lāḥiqan	أَرَاكَ لَاحِقًا

 

Tips for Beginners:

 

When learning these phrases, don't try to memorize all 50 at once. Start with 5–10 phrases, then practice them repeatedly.

For example, begin with this simple conversation:

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ

as-salāmu ‘alaikum

Peace be upon you

وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ

wa ‘alaikumus-salām

And peace be upon you too

كَيْفَ حَالُكَ؟

kaifa ḥāluka?

How are you?

أَنَا بِخَيْرٍ، شُكْرًا

anā bikhairin, syukran

I am fine, thank you

مَا اسْمُكَ؟

mā ismuka?

What is your name?

اِسْمِي مُحَمَّدٌ

ismī Muḥammadun

My name is Muhammad

 

The key to learning Arabic is repetition and usage. Read each phrase aloud, listen to its pronunciation, and try to use it in a simple conversation every day.

These 50 expressions provide a useful foundation for beginners who want to start speaking Arabic. By mastering common greetings, questions, responses, and everyday expressions, learners can gradually build confidence before moving on to more complex Arabic sentences and conversations. Keep exploring, keep practicing, and let Arabic open new doors of connection and understanding for you. 

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