The ultimate resource for the Arabic Language: grammar, culture, history
Why Arabic is the Master Key to Learning Swahili, Farsi, Hebrew & More
Ever noticed the echoes of Arabic in Swahili or Farsi? For the aspiring polyglot, Arabic provides a massive head start. In this guest article, Dr. Roger Anderson explores the fascinating and often surprising lexical ties to Swahili, Indonesian, Hebrew, and Farsi, showing how the 'master key' works.
The Latest
July 10, 2025
Dive deep into the Syrian conflict with our June 2025 Media Arabic Booster. We analyze the…
Tired of traditional, grammar-heavy Arabic textbooks? Guest author Paul Ammann reviews the…
The Arabic word عَرُوسٌ (arūs) is surprisingly ambiguous. This analysis unpacks the gender…
Why Arabic is the Master Key to Learning Swahili, Farsi, Hebrew & More
Ever noticed the echoes of Arabic in Swahili or Farsi? For the aspiring polyglot, Arabic provides a massive head start. In this guest article, Dr. Roger Anderson explores the fascinating and often surprising lexical ties to Swahili, Indonesian, Hebrew, and Farsi, showing how the 'master key' works.
Why Arabic is the Master Key to Learning Swahili, Farsi, Hebrew & More
Ever noticed the echoes of Arabic in Swahili or Farsi? For the aspiring polyglot, Arabic provides a massive head start. In this guest article, Dr. Roger Anderson explores the fascinating and often surprising lexical ties to Swahili, Indonesian, Hebrew, and Farsi, showing how the 'master key' works.
Latest Stories
Syria’s Crossroads: The Israel-Iran Conflict & The Damascus Church Bombing | MAB 06/25
Dive deep into the Syrian conflict with our June 2025 Media Arabic Booster. We analyze the aftermath of the Damascus church bombing, explore the history and etymology of the notorious Shabbiha militias, and provide expert vocabulary analysis for advanced Arabic learners.
At-Takallum: Why This Arabic Learning Series Works for Me
Tired of traditional, grammar-heavy Arabic textbooks? Guest author Paul Ammann reviews the At-Takallum series, detailing the modern, communicative method that finally "clicked" for him and why it might be the right choice for your learning journey.
Bride or Groom? Unlocking the Meaning of ʻArūs (عَرُوسٌ) in Arabic
The Arabic word عَرُوسٌ (arūs) is surprisingly ambiguous. This analysis unpacks the gender of عَرُوسٌ and reveals the correct way to form the plural of عُرْسٌ (urs), the word for a wedding.
Syria’s Crossroads: The Israel-Iran Conflict & The Damascus Church Bombing | MAB 06/25
Dive deep into the Syrian conflict with our June 2025 Media Arabic Booster. We analyze the aftermath of the Damascus church bombing, explore the history and etymology of the notorious Shabbiha militias, and provide expert vocabulary analysis for advanced Arabic learners.
At-Takallum: Why This Arabic Learning Series Works for Me
Tired of traditional, grammar-heavy Arabic textbooks? Guest author Paul Ammann reviews the At-Takallum series, detailing the modern, communicative method that finally "clicked" for him and why it might be the right choice for your learning journey.
Bride or Groom? Unlocking the Meaning of ʻArūs (عَرُوسٌ) in Arabic
The Arabic word عَرُوسٌ (arūs) is surprisingly ambiguous. This analysis unpacks the gender of عَرُوسٌ and reveals the correct way to form the plural of عُرْسٌ (urs), the word for a wedding.
Dialects
It’s the spoken word: tricky and essential things about Arabic dialects.
Grammar
Grammar (nahw) is fun: Learn about syntax, conjugations and I’rab.
Interviews
Interesting talks and interviews with people who have a connection to Arabic.
Islam
Islam and its connection to Arabic: history, Islamic terms, the style and grammar of the Qur’an.
Tools and Apps
Tools, software and mobile apps for learning Arabic.
A ClassIc
Meanings & Usage of بقى (ba2a) in Egyptian Arabic
The Egyptian Arabic word بقى (ba2a or ba'a) is highly versatile, carrying multiple meanings such as "to be," "to become," "no longer," or "to begin." This article explores its various functions in past and present tenses, its use in negation, as a modal verb, and as an adverb, providing clear examples for each context in Egyptian Colloquial Arabic.
The Plural of Kafir: Understanding the Difference Between Kafirun, Kuffar, and More
The plural forms of "Kafir" (كافِر) in Arabic, meaning "unbeliever," carry various nuances and can even be politically charged. This article breaks down the three main plural types (Kafirun/Kuffar, Kawafir/Kafirat, Kafara) and distinguishes them from intensifying forms like Kafur (كَفُور) and Kaffar (كَفّار), which express different degrees of ingratitude.
Create an Arabic Language Bot With ChatGPT and Anki
AI offers new ways to engage in Arabic learning. In this guest article, Paul Ammann explains how to combine Anki with ChatGPT to create a bot that increases engagement and motivation in Arabic learning.
Latest Discussion
Since this page is still is among the top results Google returns for “Muraija” (congratulations to Gerald Drissner : -),…
vlc media player works
What if I want to use it in a TV and not a phone/desktop? Preferably in an app and not…
In case you missed it
Egypt’s Economy & the Dawn of a New Middle East | MAB 05/25
Understand the forces shaping a new Middle East. Our analysis breaks down Egypt's economic news and regional power shifts, with key Arabic vocab for learners.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 05/25
Media Arabic Booster 04/25: Vocabulary Quiz
Introducing Errabic: Let’s Learn From Real-World Arabic Mistakes!
Spot an Arabic error on a sign, menu, or online? Share it! We're launching Errabic, a new community project to collect and learn from real-world mistakes. Help build this free resource!
The Phrase الطرق السيارة: Is There a Mistake?
On road signs in Morocco, you'll see the phrase الطرق السيارة. At first glance, this looks like an Arabic grammatical error. Or is it correct?
From Washington to Gaza: Decoding Two Major Debates in Arabic Media | MAB 04/25
Two vastly different fronts in today's news: We examine the global economic shockwaves of a US trade war and the deeply personal, regional politics of the Gaza border as seen through the eyes of a Palestinian writer.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 04/25
Media Arabic Booster 04/25: Vocabulary Quiz
Al-Suli: The Chess Master in the Islamic Golden Age
Al-Suli, a key chess master from the 10th century, played an important role in developing modern chess and is seen as one of its first champions. Who was Al-Suli, and how are chess terms expressed in Arabic?
The Ironic Arabic Origin of Donald Trump’s Favorite Word: ‘Tariff’
The word "tariff" has a rich linguistic history, coming from the Arabic root ع-ر-ف. Over the centuries, it evolved through Persian, Turkish, and Latin before becoming the English term we use today.
Egypt’s Inflation and Russia’s Libyan Strategy | MAB 03/25
We look past the usual headlines to analyze two key developing stories. This month: an inside look at Egypt's changing inflation rate and an in-depth analysis of Russia's strategic military expansion into southern Libya with General Haftar.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 03/25
Media Arabic Booster 03/25: Vocabulary Quiz
How to Use NotebookLM to Study Arabic
Google's NotebookLM can help you move from intermediate to advanced Arabic skills, writes Christoph Weyer in a guest post. He uses AI tools to improve his skills through video summaries and generated vocabulary lists.
Distinguishing قادة and قيادات | UA #2
This episode of Unlocking Arabic delves into the root ق-و-د to clarify a common point of confusion. Do the frequently encountered terms قادة and قيادات carry identical meanings in Arabic, especially in journalistic texts? We'll uncover the subtle yet crucial distinctions.
Arabic Vocabulary for Diplomacy: Analyzing ‘Rift’ (قطيعة) and ‘Sanctions’ (عقوبات) | MAB 02/25
This month (02/25) in the Media Arabic Booster: The U.S. and Russia met in Saudi Arabia, and how the U.S. is trying to stop the flow of money to Lebanon through Iraq.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 02/25
Media Arabic Booster 02/25: Vocabulary Quiz
“Teaching Arabic is deeply ingrained in my DNA” | Haytham Ibrahim | 9273 Roots #35
His father was a professor of Arabic at Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Haytham Ibrahim is now setting out to revolutionize online Arabic learning. He is the founder of AnyArabic.
Create an Arabic Language Bot With ChatGPT and Anki
AI offers new ways to engage in Arabic learning. In this guest article, Paul Ammann explains how to combine Anki with ChatGPT to create a bot that increases engagement and motivation in Arabic learning.
US Air Disaster, AI Stock Impact & Syria’s Economic Future | MAB 01/25
In this issue, we break down how Arabic newspapers report on a US plane crash, an AI startup hitting the stock market, and the return of powerful businessmen to Syria. Learn the specific Arabic terms you need to discuss disaster reporting, tech finance, and political negotiations.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 01/25
Media Arabic Booster 01/25: Vocabulary Quiz
Master Classical Arabic Through the Jahiz Institute
Brian Powell, founder of the Jahiz Institute, shares his journey in Arabic studies and talks about his innovative approach to teaching classical Arabic.
Translating Taboos in Arabic Subtitles: Key Insights
Translating subtitles into Arabic is challenging due to cultural differences and social taboos. A study looked at how subtitles in the US sitcom "Two and a Half Men" dealt with these issues. Here are the key findings and techniques used by the subtitlers.
Errabic: Where Error meets Arabic
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Latest Discussion
Since this page is still is among the top results Google returns for “Muraija” (congratulations to Gerald Drissner : -),…
vlc media player works
What if I want to use it in a TV and not a phone/desktop? Preferably in an app and not…
In Case You Missed It
Understand the forces shaping a new Middle East. Our analysis breaks down Egypt's economic news and regional power shifts, with key Arabic vocab for learners.
Media Arabic Booster 04/25: Vocabulary Quiz
Spot an Arabic error on a sign, menu, or online? Share it! We're launching Errabic, a new community project to collect and learn from real-world mistakes. Help build this free resource!
On road signs in Morocco, you'll see the phrase الطرق السيارة. At first glance, this looks like an Arabic grammatical error. Or is it correct?
Two vastly different fronts in today's news: We examine the global economic shockwaves of a US trade war and the deeply personal, regional politics of the Gaza border as seen through the eyes of a Palestinian writer.
Media Arabic Booster 04/25: Vocabulary Quiz
Al-Suli, a key chess master from the 10th century, played an important role in developing modern chess and is seen as one of its first champions. Who was Al-Suli, and how are chess terms expressed in Arabic?
The word "tariff" has a rich linguistic history, coming from the Arabic root ع-ر-ف. Over the centuries, it evolved through Persian, Turkish, and Latin before becoming the English term we use today.
We look past the usual headlines to analyze two key developing stories. This month: an inside look at Egypt's changing inflation rate and an in-depth analysis of Russia's strategic military expansion into southern Libya with General Haftar.
Media Arabic Booster 03/25: Vocabulary Quiz
Google's NotebookLM can help you move from intermediate to advanced Arabic skills, writes Christoph Weyer in a guest post. He uses AI tools to improve his skills through video summaries and generated vocabulary lists.
This episode of Unlocking Arabic delves into the root ق-و-د to clarify a common point of confusion. Do the frequently encountered terms قادة and قيادات carry identical meanings in Arabic, especially in journalistic texts? We'll uncover the subtle yet crucial distinctions.
This month (02/25) in the Media Arabic Booster: The U.S. and Russia met in Saudi Arabia, and how the U.S. is trying to stop the flow of money to Lebanon through Iraq.
Media Arabic Booster 02/25: Vocabulary Quiz
His father was a professor of Arabic at Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Haytham Ibrahim is now setting out to revolutionize online Arabic learning. He is the founder of AnyArabic.
AI offers new ways to engage in Arabic learning. In this guest article, Paul Ammann explains how to combine Anki with ChatGPT to create a bot that increases engagement and motivation in Arabic learning.
In this issue, we break down how Arabic newspapers report on a US plane crash, an AI startup hitting the stock market, and the return of powerful businessmen to Syria. Learn the specific Arabic terms you need to discuss disaster reporting, tech finance, and political negotiations.
Media Arabic Booster 01/25: Vocabulary Quiz
Brian Powell, founder of the Jahiz Institute, shares his journey in Arabic studies and talks about his innovative approach to teaching classical Arabic.
Translating subtitles into Arabic is challenging due to cultural differences and social taboos. A study looked at how subtitles in the US sitcom "Two and a Half Men" dealt with these issues. Here are the key findings and techniques used by the subtitlers.
Egypt’s Economy & the Dawn of a New Middle East | MAB 05/25
Understand the forces shaping a new Middle East. Our analysis breaks down Egypt's economic news and regional power shifts, with key Arabic vocab for learners.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 05/25
Media Arabic Booster 04/25: Vocabulary Quiz
Introducing Errabic: Let’s Learn From Real-World Arabic Mistakes!
Spot an Arabic error on a sign, menu, or online? Share it! We're launching Errabic, a new community project to collect and learn from real-world mistakes. Help build this free resource!
The Phrase الطرق السيارة: Is There a Mistake?
On road signs in Morocco, you'll see the phrase الطرق السيارة. At first glance, this looks like an Arabic grammatical error. Or is it correct?
From Washington to Gaza: Decoding Two Major Debates in Arabic Media | MAB 04/25
Two vastly different fronts in today's news: We examine the global economic shockwaves of a US trade war and the deeply personal, regional politics of the Gaza border as seen through the eyes of a Palestinian writer.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 04/25
Media Arabic Booster 04/25: Vocabulary Quiz
Al-Suli: The Chess Master in the Islamic Golden Age
Al-Suli, a key chess master from the 10th century, played an important role in developing modern chess and is seen as one of its first champions. Who was Al-Suli, and how are chess terms expressed in Arabic?
The Ironic Arabic Origin of Donald Trump’s Favorite Word: ‘Tariff’
The word "tariff" has a rich linguistic history, coming from the Arabic root ع-ر-ف. Over the centuries, it evolved through Persian, Turkish, and Latin before becoming the English term we use today.
Egypt’s Inflation and Russia’s Libyan Strategy | MAB 03/25
We look past the usual headlines to analyze two key developing stories. This month: an inside look at Egypt's changing inflation rate and an in-depth analysis of Russia's strategic military expansion into southern Libya with General Haftar.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 03/25
Media Arabic Booster 03/25: Vocabulary Quiz
How to Use NotebookLM to Study Arabic
Google's NotebookLM can help you move from intermediate to advanced Arabic skills, writes Christoph Weyer in a guest post. He uses AI tools to improve his skills through video summaries and generated vocabulary lists.
Distinguishing قادة and قيادات | UA #2
This episode of Unlocking Arabic delves into the root ق-و-د to clarify a common point of confusion. Do the frequently encountered terms قادة and قيادات carry identical meanings in Arabic, especially in journalistic texts? We'll uncover the subtle yet crucial distinctions.
Arabic Vocabulary for Diplomacy: Analyzing ‘Rift’ (قطيعة) and ‘Sanctions’ (عقوبات) | MAB 02/25
This month (02/25) in the Media Arabic Booster: The U.S. and Russia met in Saudi Arabia, and how the U.S. is trying to stop the flow of money to Lebanon through Iraq.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 02/25
Media Arabic Booster 02/25: Vocabulary Quiz
“Teaching Arabic is deeply ingrained in my DNA” | Haytham Ibrahim | 9273 Roots #35
His father was a professor of Arabic at Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Haytham Ibrahim is now setting out to revolutionize online Arabic learning. He is the founder of AnyArabic.
Create an Arabic Language Bot With ChatGPT and Anki
AI offers new ways to engage in Arabic learning. In this guest article, Paul Ammann explains how to combine Anki with ChatGPT to create a bot that increases engagement and motivation in Arabic learning.
US Air Disaster, AI Stock Impact & Syria’s Economic Future | MAB 01/25
In this issue, we break down how Arabic newspapers report on a US plane crash, an AI startup hitting the stock market, and the return of powerful businessmen to Syria. Learn the specific Arabic terms you need to discuss disaster reporting, tech finance, and political negotiations.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 01/25
Media Arabic Booster 01/25: Vocabulary Quiz
Master Classical Arabic Through the Jahiz Institute
Brian Powell, founder of the Jahiz Institute, shares his journey in Arabic studies and talks about his innovative approach to teaching classical Arabic.
Translating Taboos in Arabic Subtitles: Key Insights
Translating subtitles into Arabic is challenging due to cultural differences and social taboos. A study looked at how subtitles in the US sitcom "Two and a Half Men" dealt with these issues. Here are the key findings and techniques used by the subtitlers.
