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Essential Arabic phrases
for travellers (printable)
how to say hello in arabic
مرحبا — MAR-ha-ban — is how you say hello in Arabic. It works at any hour, anywhere the language is spoken, with anyone. Pair it with شكرا (SHOOK-ran) for thank you and you already have the two words you will use most.
Below are 36 phrases worth knowing before you land, grouped by the situation you will need them in. Every one has a plain-English respelling — stressed syllable in capitals — because IPA is no use to anyone standing at a pharmacy counter. Twenty-two countries across North Africa and the Middle East — around 400 million speakers, and the liturgical language of Islam. Also searched as Egypt, Egyptian, Islam, Arab world.
take it with you
The whole card, on one page
All 36 phrases on a single sheet — print it, fold it into a passport, or keep it on your phone. Free, no signup, no watermark.
The essentials
The six words that carry most of a trip.
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Hello | مرحباMAR-ha-banالسلام عليكم (as-sa-LAA-mu a-LAY-kum) is the more traditional greeting. |
| Goodbye | مع السلامةMA-a as-sa-LAA-ma |
| Please | من فضلكmin FAD-lik |
| Thank you | شكراSHOOK-ran |
| Yes / No | نعم / لاNA-am / laa |
| Excuse me / Sorry | عفواAF-wan |
Getting by
What to say when the conversation outruns you.
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Do you speak English? | هل تتكلم الإنجليزية؟hal ta-ta-KAL-lam al-in-gi-LEE-zee-ya |
| I don't understand | لا أفهمlaa AF-ham |
| Could you repeat that? | هل يمكنك الإعادة؟hal YUM-ki-nuk al-i-AA-da |
| Please speak slowly | تكلم ببطء من فضلكta-KAL-lam bi-BUT-i min FAD-lik |
| My name is… | …اسميIS-mee |
| Nice to meet you | تشرفناta-SHAR-raf-na |
Getting around
Streets, stations and the one question everyone needs.
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Where is…? | …أينAY-na |
| How do I get to…? | …كيف أصل إلىKAY-fa A-sil i-LAA |
| Where is the toilet? | أين الحمام؟AY-na al-ham-MAAM |
| Left / Right | يسار / يمينya-SAAR / ya-MEEN |
| Straight ahead | على طولa-LAA tool |
| Is it far? | هل هو بعيد؟hal HU-wa ba-EED |
Food and drink
Ordering, allergies, and asking for the bill.
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| A table for two, please | طاولة لشخصينTAA-wi-la li-shakh-SAYN |
| The menu, please | القائمة من فضلكal-QAA-i-ma min FAD-lik |
| I would like… | …أريدu-REED |
| Water, please | ماء من فضلكmaa min FAD-lik |
| I am allergic to… | …عندي حساسية منAN-dee ha-saa-SEE-ya min |
| The bill, please | الحساب من فضلكal-hi-SAAB min FAD-lik |
Shopping and money
Prices, cards, and politely not buying anything.
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| How much is it? | كم الثمن؟kam ath-THA-man |
| That's too expensive | هذا غالي جداHAA-tha GHAA-lee JID-dan |
| Do you take cards? | هل تقبل البطاقة؟hal TAQ-bal al-bi-TAA-qa |
| I am just looking | أنا أتفرج فقطA-na a-ta-FAR-raj FA-qat |
| Do you have…? | …هل عندكhal AN-dak |
| A receipt, please | الفاتورة من فضلكal-faa-TOO-ra min FAD-lik |
Emergencies
Worth reading once before you need them.
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Help! | النجدة!an-NAJ-da |
| Call the police | اتصل بالشرطةIT-ta-sil bish-SHUR-ta |
| Call an ambulance | اتصل بالإسعافIT-ta-sil bil-is-AAF |
| I need a doctor | أحتاج طبيباah-TAAJ ta-BEE-ban |
| I am lost | أنا تائهA-na TAA-ih |
| Where is the hospital? | أين المستشفى؟AY-na al-mus-TASH-fa |
<!-- saying it right -->
Four things that fix
most of the accent
As-salamu alaykum works everywhere
السلام عليكم (as-sa-LAA-mu a-LAY-kum), "peace be upon you", is the universal greeting across the Arab world — used by Muslims and Christians alike, in every dialect. The reply is wa alaykum as-salam. Marhaba below is the lighter, everyday alternative.
Three sounds English does not have
ح is a hard breathy H from deep in the throat. خ is the kh rasp of Scottish "loch". ع, the ‘ayn, is a constriction below both. Approximating all three is completely understood.
Written right to left, and letters change shape
The same letter looks different at the start, middle and end of a word. This makes Arabic look harder to read than it is — but you only need to recognise it, not write it.
Short vowels are not written
The script records consonants and long vowels only. Native readers supply the rest from context, which is why transliterations of the same word vary so much between guidebooks.
Spotted a mistake in the Arabic? Tell us and we will fix it.
You will not remember
all 36
Nobody does. OmniTalk speaks Arabic for you in real time — point the camera at a menu, or put the phone between you and let it translate both sides of the conversation as you talk. It works offline once you download the language, so it keeps going when your roaming does not.