Useful Arabic Phrases
While English is widely understood in hotels and tourist areas of Makkah and Madinah, knowing some basic Arabic will enrich your experience and help in everyday situations. Here are the most useful phrases with transliteration.
Essential Greetings & Courtesies
| English | Arabic (Transliteration) | Notes |
|---|
| Peace be upon you | As-salamu alaykum | Universal Islamic greeting. Reply: Wa alaykum as-salam |
| Thank you | Shukran | Very commonly used |
| Please | Min fadlak (m) / Min fadlik (f) | Used when making a request |
| Yes / No | Na’am / La | |
| Excuse me | Afwan or Law samaht | Afwan also means “you’re welcome” |
| May Allah reward you | Jazak Allahu khayran | A beautiful way to say thank you |
| If Allah wills | In sha Allah | Used when speaking about future plans |
| Praise be to Allah | Alhamdulillah | Expression of gratitude |
Asking for Directions
| English | Arabic (Transliteration) |
|---|
| Where is...? | Wayn...? or Ayna...? |
| Where is the Haram? | Wayn al-Haram? |
| Where is the hotel? | Wayn al-funduq? |
| Where is the toilet? | Wayn al-hammam? |
| Right / Left / Straight | Yameen / Yasaar / Seedah |
| Near / Far | Qareeb / Ba’eed |
| How much? (price) | Bi kam? or Kam? |
| Too expensive | Ghali katheer |
Numbers (1-10)
| Number | Arabic | Number | Arabic |
|---|
| 1 | Wahid | 6 | Sitta |
| 2 | Ithnayn | 7 | Sab’a |
| 3 | Thalatha | 8 | Thamaniya |
| 4 | Arba’a | 9 | Tis’a |
| 5 | Khamsa | 10 | ‘Ashara |
Emergency Phrases
| English | Arabic (Transliteration) |
|---|
| Help! | Musaa’ada! or An-najda! |
| I need a doctor | Ahtaj tabeeb |
| Hospital | Mustashfa |
| Pharmacy | Saydaliyya |
| I am lost | Ana da’i’ (m) / Ana da’i’a (f) |
| Police | Shurta |
| I don’t speak Arabic | La atakallam Arabi |
| Do you speak English? | Tatakallam Ingleezi? |
Common Signs You Will See
- مدخل (Madkhal) - Entrance
- مخرج (Makhraj) - Exit
- رجال (Rijal) - Men
- نساء (Nisa’) - Women
- ممنوع (Mamnu’) - Prohibited / No entry
- الطوارئ (At-Tawari’) - Emergency
- مصلى (Musalla) - Prayer area
- وضوء (Wudu’) - Ablution area
Tip: Most signs in and around the Haram are bilingual (Arabic and English). However, smaller shops, street signs, and public transport may be Arabic-only. Having these basic phrases and the ability to read a few Arabic words will be very helpful.