Start reading and speaking Arabic
Arabic For Dummies helps readers start speaking Modern Standard Arabic in no time. Whether you’re a student, traveler, or work in business or government, you’ll find this title to be packed with practical lessons, cultural facts, and handy references.
Inside, you’ll find guidance on basic grammar, as well as the necessary vocabulary to make introductions and greetings, use proper etiquette, make small talk, make transportation arrangements, order food and beverages, ask directions, deal with money, shop, access recreation, and handle an emergency.
- Features new and revised content
- Offers a revamped, user-friendly design to both pedagogy and organization
- Includes expanded coverage of grammar, verb conjugations, and pronunciations
- Get free access to conversational audio tracks online
If you want to start speaking Arabic, this go-to book is packed with practical instruction, cultural facts, and handy references you won’t want to be without!
Table of Contents:
Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 3
Icons Used in This Book 3
Beyond the Book 4
Where to Go from Here 4
Part 1: Getting Started with Arabic 5
Chapter 1: The Arabic You Already Know 7
Taking Stock of What’s Familiar 7
Discovering the Arabic Alphabet 9
All about vowels 9
All about consonants 12
Speaking Arabic like a Native 14
Chapter 2: Taking a Closer Look at the Arabic Alphabet 15
Getting a Grasp on أبجد 16
Figuring Out the Transcription 16
Getting Better Acquainted with the Script 17
Chapter 3: Tackling Basic Arabic Grammar 27
Introducing Nouns, Adjectives, and Articles 28
Getting a grip on nouns 28
Identifying adjectives 29
Discovering definite and indefinite articles 33
Understanding the interaction between nouns and adjectives 35
Creating Simple, Verb-Free Sentences 37
To be or not to be: Sentences without verbs 37
Building sentences with common prepositions 39
Using demonstratives and forming sentences 41
Forming “to be” sentences using personal pronouns 43
Creating negative “to be” sentences 44
“To be” in the past tense 46
Working with Verbs 47
Digging up the past tense 47
Examining the present tense 51
Peeking into the future tense 54
Examining irregular verb forms 55
Chapter 4: Getting Started with Basic Expressions 59
Greeting People Appropriately 59
Saying hello 60
Bidding goodbye 61
Asking how someone is 61
Responding that you’re doing well 62
Making Introductions 64
Asking “What’s your name?” 64
Responding with the possessive “My name is . . . ” 64
Saying “It’s a pleasure to meet you!” 64
Talking about Countries and Nationalities 65
Asking “Where are you from?” 66
Saying “I am from . . . ” 66
Shooting the Breeze: Talking about the Weather 68
Chapter 5: Getting Your Numbers, Dates, and Measurements Straight 73
Talking Numbers 74
Referring to Days and Months 76
Size Matters: Measuring in Arabic 79
Chapter 6: At the Office and Around the House 81
Managing the Office Environment 81
Interacting with your colleagues 83
Giving orders 87
Supplying your office 88
Life at Home 91
Part 2: Arabic in Action 97
Chapter 7: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk 99
Asking Key Questions 100
Talking about Yourself and Your Family 102
Making Small Talk on the Job 106
Staying in Touch by Phone and Email 108
Chapter 8: Asking Directions and Finding Your Way 111
Focusing on the “Where” 111
Asking “where” questions 112
Answering “where” questions 112
Getting Direction about Directions 114
Asking for directions 114
Could you repeat that? 116
Using command forms 118
Discovering Ordinal Numbers 120
Chapter 9: Taking Care of Business and Telecommunicating 123
Making a Call: Phone Basics 124
Beginning a phone conversation 124
Asking to speak to someone 125
Planning while on the Phone 127
Making social plans 127
Making business appointments 129
Leaving a Message 131
Dealing with voice mail 131
Leaving a message with a person 132
Sending and Getting Emails 133
Sending an email in Arabic 134
Sending an email in English 134
Following proper etiquette 135
Chapter 10: This Is Delicious! Eating In and Dining Out 137
Consuming Food: All about Mealtime 137
Starting the day off with breakfast 138
Eating lunch 143
Supping at dinner 148
Enjoying a Meal at Home 149
Dining Out 149
Perusing the menu 150
Placing your order 152
Finishing your meal and paying the bill 154
Chapter 11: Going Shopping 157
Going to the Store 157
Browsing the merchandise 158
Getting around the store 159
Getting to know the verb “to search” 161
Asking for a Particular Item 163
Comparing Merchandise 166
Comparing two or more items 167
Picking out the best item 169
More than a Few Words about Buying and Selling 171
Shopping for Clothes 174
Chapter 12: Hitting the Town 179
Telling Time in Arabic 179
Specifying the time of day 181
Specifying minutes 182
Visiting Museums 187
Going to the Movies 193
Touring Religious Sites 197
A few rules to keep in mind 197
The Hajj 198
Chapter 13: Enjoying Yourself: Recreation, Music, and the Outdoors 201
Starting Out with the Doing Verb 201
Sporting an Athletic Side 204
Going to the Beach 208
Playing Musical Instruments 210
Talking about Hobbies 211
Part 3: Arabic on the Go 215
Chapter 14: Planning a Trip 217
Choosing Your Destination 217
Picking the Right Time for Your Trip 224
Tackling Packing 227
Preparing Your Travel Documents 228
Using a Travel Agency 232
Chapter 15: Dealing with Money in a Foreign Land 235
Going to the Bank 235
Opening a bank account 236
Making deposits and withdrawals 244
Using the ATM 244
Exchanging Currency 245
Getting to know the currencies around the world 246
Making exchanges 247
Chapter 16: Getting Around: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles 251
Traveling by Plane 251
Making reservations 252
Getting some legwork out of the verb “to travel” 255
Registering at the airport 256
Boarding the plane 259
A brief departure on the verb “to arrive” 260
Going through immigration and customs 261
Getting Around on Land 266
Hailing a taxi 266
Taking a bus 268
Boarding a train 270
Chapter 17: Finding a Place to Stay 273
Choosing the Right Accommodations 274
Discussing minor room details 277
Getting to know direct object pronouns 279
Making a Reservation 281
Figuring out the price 281
Indicating the length of your stay 284
Subjecting you to subjunctive verbs 286
Checking In to the Hotel 289
Checking Out of the Hotel 291
Chapter 18: Handling Emergencies 295
Shouting Out for Help 295
A little help with the verb “to help” 297
Lending a hand 298
Getting Medical Help 300
Locating the appropriate doctor 300
Talking about your body 300
Explaining your symptoms 302
Getting treatment 303
Acquiring Legal Help 304
Part 4: The Part of Tens 307
Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Pick Up Arabic Quickly 309
Watch Arabic Television 309
Use the Dictionary 310
Read Arabic Newspapers 310
Surf the Internet 311
Streaming Services 311
Listen to Arabic Music 311
Sing Arabic Songs 312
Make Arabic-Speaking Friends 312
Watch Arabic Movies 312
Eat at a Middle Eastern Restaurant 313
Chapter 20: Ten Favorite Arabic Expressions 315
مرحبا بكم 316
ممتاز! 316
الحمد لله 317
إن شاء الله 317
مبروك! 318
بإذن الله 318
بالصحة 318
تحيات 319
مبلغ 319
تبارك الله 319
Chapter 21: Ten Great Arabic Proverbs 321
الأمثال نور الكلام 321
اعمل خيرا وألقه في البحر 322
اطلبوا العلم من المهد إلى اللحد 322
يد واحدة لا تصفّق 322
الحرباء لا يغادر شجرته حتى يكون يؤكدا على شجرة أخرى 322
خطأ معروف أحسن من حقيقة غير معروفة 323
السرّ مثل الحمامة: عندما يغادر يدي يطير 323
العقل للنظر والقلب للسمع 323
كل يوم من حياتك صفحة من تاريخك 323
اللي فاتك بليلة فاتك بحيلة 324
Part 5: Appendixes 325
Appendix A: Mini-Dictionaries 327
Appendix B: Verb Tables 341
Appendix C: Answer Key 355
Index 361
About the Author :
Amine Bouchentouf is a native Arabic speaker from Morocco. He helped launch a year-round Arabic department at Middlebury College in Vermont, expanding upon the pre-existing, well-regarded Arabic Summer Program. He also designs, structures, and teaches beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses through the ABC Language Exchange Program in New York.
