Introducing Errabic: Let’s learn from real-world Arabic mistakes!

I’m thrilled to announce a brand-new section on Arabic for Nerds: Errabic! Combining “Error” and “Arabic”, this initiative aims to build a unique, community-driven database of common Arabic mistakes encountered in the real world.

We’ve all seen them – on signs, menus, websites, maybe even in official documents. Errabic’s purpose isn’t to criticize, but to gather these examples for a collective learning experience.

Naturally, we all make mistakes. I often make mistakes, particularly in my non-native languages. For example, you may notice errors in my English on this very website! Of course, I also make mistakes in Arabic. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that acknowledging and learning from our mistakes is one of the best ways to master a language.

That’s why Errabic focuses on this process. While spoken dialects have their own valid norms, striving for correctness in written and formal Arabic shows respect for the language. Moreover, exposure to accurate language reinforces good habits and improves our own skills.

By identifying and understanding common errors – from spelling and grammar to misused words or disconnected letters – we can all sharpen our Arabic proficiency.

What kinds of mistakes are we looking for?

Errabic aims to capture a broad spectrum of errors that learners commonly grapple with. This includes, but isn’t limited to:

• Errors involving Hamza: Such as incorrectly using هَمْزةُ الْقَطْعِ where هَمْزةُ الْوَصْلِ is required, or vice versa, and misplaced or misspelled Hamzas.
• Spelling mistakes: Often involving similar-sounding.
• Grammatical errors: Incorrect verb conjugations, cases ( الْإِعْرابُ), gender agreement, sentence structure issues, etc.
• Semantic errors: Using the wrong word for the intended meaning, leading to confusion or unintended humor.
• Script errors: Forgetting to connect letters that should be connected, incorrect letter forms.
• etc.

From train stations to typos: real-world examples

It’s often surprising where these mistakes appear. They can be found in hastily written notes, but also in professionally produced materials.

For instance, despite significant investment in promoting the Arabic language in Saudi Arabia through initiatives like the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (مجمع الملك سلمان العالمي للغة العربية), and the language’s profound cultural and religious importance there, errors can still slip through – one might even encounter a grammatical mistake on a sign right inside the train station in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (المدينة المنورة)!

This observation isn’t about singling out any place or entity, but highlights that maintaining linguistic accuracy is a widespread challenge, making a shared resource like Errabic incredibly useful for learners.

Help build the Errabic database: Submit your findings!

This is where you – the Arabic for Nerds community – come in!

Have you spotted an interesting Arabic mistake? A confusing sign? A funny typo? Share it with us! We’ve made the submission process quick and easy.

What’s important: Your photo doesn’t have to be recent – older examples are just as valuable! If you happen to remember when or where you took the picture, adding that detail is helpful, but not essential.

Also, don’t worry if you’re not 100% sure it’s a mistake – submit it anyway! Our team will review all submissions to verify the error.

How to contribute

Simply head over to the Errabic section on the website. You’ll find instructions there on how to upload your picture (and add any notes if you wish). It should only take a minute or two.

Your contribution helps build a unique, free resource for learners worldwide.

Remember, the spirit of Errabic is purely educational – we aim to learn, not to blame! Every submission helps us collectively understand common pitfalls and improve our Arabic.

Let’s build this valuable tool together!