Arabic Basics is one of the core study topics in our Arabic catalog. This page gathers the essentials: what the topic covers, the key concepts and
terminology, worked examples and exam-style questions — everything also available as 206 companion flashcards for spaced-repetition practice.
Main questions this page answers:
- How many letters are in the Arabic alphabet?
- What is the Arabic word for 'hello' (informal)?
- How do you say 'one' in Arabic?
- What is the Arabic pronoun for 'I'?
- Conjugate the verb 'to write' (kataba) in the past tense for 'I'.
- What is the Arabic word for 'mother'?
- How do you say 'water' in Arabic?
- What phrase would you use to ask 'Where is the bathroom?'
How many letters are in the Arabic alphabet?
The Arabic alphabet has 28 letters. All letters represent consonants (or long vowels in some cases), while short vowels are marked with optional diacritics above or below the letters.
What is the Arabic word for 'ten'?
The Arabic word for 'ten' is 'عشرة' ('ashara). It is the base for numbers 11-19, which are formed as 'ten and one, ten and two,' etc.
What is the Arabic word for 'two'?
The Arabic word for 'two' is 'ithnan' (اثنان) when counting masculine nouns, and 'ithnatان' (اثنتان) for feminine nouns. The numeral form is ٢.
What is the Arabic word for 'big'?
The Arabic word for 'big' (masculine) is 'kabeer' (كبير), pronounced with a long 'ee' sound. The feminine form is 'kabeera' (كبيرة), and it describes physical size or importance, often used for both tangible and abstract concepts.
How do you ask 'What time is it?' in Arabic?
'What time is it?' in Arabic is 'kam al-saa'a?' (كم الساعة؟), literally meaning 'how much is the hour?' The word 'saa'a' means hour or clock, and it is the standard way to inquire about the current time in formal Arabic.
What is the Arabic word for 'twenty'?
The Arabic word for 'twenty' is 'ishroon' (عشرون). It is written as two parts in numerals: ٢٠, which is essentially the digit for two (٢٠) and zero, though structurally it is a separate root.
What is the Arabic word for 'boy'?
The Arabic word for 'boy' is 'walad' (وَلَد) in its singular form, though 'tifl' (طِفْل) means 'child' in general. The plural of walad is 'awlad' (أَوْلَاد).
How do you say 'one thousand' in Arabic?
The Arabic word for 'one thousand' is 'alf' (أَلْف). The plural is 'alaf' (آلَاف) for thousands, and 'milion' (مِلْيُون) is used for million. These are important for numbers in travel and commerce.
What are 'moon letters' in Arabic?
Moon letters (الحروف القمرية) are the 14 Arabic consonants that cause the definite article ال to be pronounced with a clear 'l' sound, e.g., القمر (al-qamar, the moon).
What is the Hijri calendar based on?
The Hijri (Islamic) calendar is a lunar calendar based on the cycles of the moon. It began in 622 CE with the migration (Hijra) of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, and its year consists of 12 months of 29 or 30 days.