Helpful Arabic Phrases for Visitors to Palestine: Many people in the West Bank, Palestine speak basic English, and so it is possible to travel around Palestine without knowing any Arabic. However, it would be useful and polite to try to learn a few basic phrases to help you interact with the Palestinians that you meet.
When Annabel, an intern at the Excellence Center in Hebron, first visited the West Bank, Palestine, she knew no Arabic, and as a result, felt daunted by interactions with taxi drivers and shopkeepers. Chris, another intern at the Center says “knowing a little Arabic will really help you communicate with the locals and feel more comfortable”.
Below are just a few Arabic phrases that may be useful for a visit to the West Bank, Palestine.
Greetings in Arabic:
Although you will hear many, these greetings are the most commonly used in the West Bank, Palestine.
| English translation | Transliteration | Arabic Phrase |
| Hello / “peace be upon you”. | As-salamu alaykum | السلام عليكم |
| And peace be upon you (in reply)* | wa ᶜalaykum issalām | وعليكم السلام |
| Good morning/afternoon | ṣabāḥ ilkhēr | صباح الخير |
| Good morning/afternoon (in reply) | ṣabāḥ innūr | صباح النور |
| Good evening | masā’ ilkhēr | مساء الخير |
| Good evening (in reply) | masā’ innūr | مساء النور |
| How are you? | kēf ḥālak (m) /ḥālik (f) | كيف حالك؟ |
| Im Good / Praise be to God | ilḥamdillah | الحمدلله |
*In Arabic, phrases often have a common reply – it is worth being aware of these!
To Say I Do Not Speak Good Arabic
| English translation | Arabic Phrase | Pronunciation |
| I don’t understand Arabic | انا ما بعرف عربي | maa ba3rif 3arabi |
| I don’t speak Arabic | ما بحكي عربي | ma baHki 3arabi |
| Do you speak English? | بتحكي انغليزي ؟ | btiHki ingileezi? |
| Excuse me (to get attention) | عفواً عن إذنك بلاذن | 3afwan 3an iznak bil izn |
| Yes (casual) | آه | ah (pronounced like “o” in North American “bottle”) |
| Yes | نعم | na3m |
| No | لا | laa |
| Thank you Many thanks | شكراً الف شكر | shukran alf shukr |
| You’re welcome | عفواً العفو | 3afwan al-3afu (alternative) |
| You’re welcome (slang) | تكرم | tikram |
| How much is this? | قدّيش هذا؟ | addeish haadha? |
| This is very expensive! | هذا غالي كتير! | haadha ghaali ktiir! |
Manners:
| English translation | Transliteration | Arabic Phrase |
| Thank You. | shukran | شكرا |
| Thank you (in reply) | afwan | عفوا |
To Find The Price:
Useful when shopping or getting a taxi.
| English translation | Transliteration | Arabic Phrase |
| How much?** | adesh? | اديش |
** You can usually get by counting fingers in responce, or for a more formal purchace you could learn the arabic numbers
Directions::
Useful when directing a taxi driver to your home or the centre
| English translation | Transliteration | Arabic Phrase |
| to the right | ila al-ya-meen | إلى اليَمين |
| to the left | ila al-ya-saar | إلى اليَسار |
| Stop / This is my destination*** | ya’tik el’afia | يعطيك العافيه |
*** A versitile phrase also used when:
- calling a waitor
- calling attention in the street
Basics
Goodbye and some useful Arabic phrases
| English translation | Arabic Phrase | Pronunciation |
| Goodbye | مع السلامه | ma3 as-salaameh |
| See you later! | بشوفك بعدين! | bshufak ba3dein! |
| Congratulations! | مبروك | mabruk |
| Bless him/her! (when talking about a child) | ماشاء الله | mashallah! |
| Bon appetit/Enjoy your meal | صحتين | SaHtein |
| I miss you | اشتقتلك | shta2tilak shta2tilik |
| I love you | بحبك | bHibbak (m) bHibbik (f) |
| Stop! Enough! | خلاص | khalaaS! |
| Maybe | يمكن | yimkin |
| May I…? | ممكن؟ | mumkin? |
| No problem/cool/fine | بسيطة | baseeTah |
| My good friend! | حبيبي | Habiibi! |
| Let’s go | يلا | yallah |
| Swear to god | والله | wallah |
| For sure, definitely | اكيد | akiid |
| walaw | ولو | It’s OK, of course, don’t mention it |
| I want… | بدي… | biddi… |
| What do you want to do? | شو بدك تسوي؟ | shu biddak tisawwi/itsawwi? (pronunciation is regional) |
| OK | طيب، طب | Tayyib, Tab (shorter, more colloquial) |
| God willing | ان شاء الله | inshallah |
Hotels and Shopping
| English translation | Arabic Phrase | Pronunciation |
| How much is it? | اديش هو؟ | addeesh ha’u |
| Where is an ATM? | وين جهاز الصراف | wen jehaez is saraafe |
| Where is a hotel? | وين الاوتيل | wen fundu? |
| Do you have vegetarian food? | في عندكم طعام نباتي | Fee indkun taaam nabaatee |
| One ticket please | تذكرة اذا بتريد | tazkire izabitreed |
| That’s too expensive | هادا غالي كتيير | Hada ghaalee ikteer |
| Do you want…? | بدك.. بدك | Bidak/Bidek (m/f) |
| I want | بدي | Bide |
| Water | مي | miy |
| Bread | خبز | Khubiz |
Arabic Numbers
| Numbers | Arabic Phrase | Pronunciation |
| 1 | واحد | waahed |
| 2 | اتنين | ‘itnayn |
| 3 | تلاته | talaate |
| 4 | اربعه | arba |
| 5 | خمسة | khamse |
| 6 | سته | sitteh |
| 7 | سبعة | sabba’ |
| 8 | تمانية | tamaanye |
| 9 | تسعة | tessa |
| 10 | عشرة | ashara |
Days of the Week in Palestinian Arabic
| Days of the Week | Arabic Phrase | Pronunciation |
| Monday | الاتنين | Altineen |
| Tuesday | التلاتاء | Altalatah |
| Wednesday | الاربعاء | AlArbah |
| Thursday | الخميس | AlKhames |
| Friday | الجمعة | Aljumeh |
| Saturday | السبت | Alsabt |
| Sunday | الاحد | Alahad |
Final Remarks
Here are just a few useful Arabic phrases for any visitor to the West Bank, Palestine, which will hopefully be of value to travelers. What is important to know is that the Arabic spoken in the Palestinian territories is Levantine Arabic. This is a different, regional dialect to MSA (Modern Standard Arabic) which is the official written language of the Arab world, and which is often taught in the West.
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