What’s unique about the Arabic language

Arabic is one of the oldest recognized languages that trace way back in history. Choosing to learn Arabic is a great choice, because the language is spoken in many countries, it is very diverse and still unknown to many. Also, Arabic is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Here are a few interesting facts about the Arabic language:

Types of Arabic

One of the first things you will notice when you learn Arabic is that there are variations of the Arabic language. Classic Arabic is the type of Arabic that appears in the Quran. Modern Standard Arabic is the most common version you will encounter and is used in literary works, newspapers, and more. Lastly, you have Colloquial Arabic, a general term referring to various versions of the Arabic language, specific to different people, locations, and cultures. Colloquial Arabic varies from place to place, and sometimes only an expert or a professional Arabic teacher can tell the different dialects apart and trace their roots. For example, the common Arabic spoken in Saudi Arabia is different from that spoken in Algeria.

The Alphabet

As you learn Arabic, you will realize that the alphabet is different from conventional alphabet. There are 28 alphabets in Arabic vocabulary which comprises twenty-five consonants and three vowel sounds. Twenty-eight might seem like a small number for an entire language, but some letters have up to four different variations. Once you understand the Arabic alphabet, it gets much easier to learn Arabic. If you have an Arabic teacher, they can better explain the alphabet and help you get past this introductory phase faster.

Writing Is in Script Form

Writing in script form simply means that you write from right to left when writing Arabic. This might be unfamiliar to most people, but it gets easier with time. The format applies to letters, whereas numbers are slightly different as they are written from left to right. Moreover, some numbers have variations in different countries. Depending on the country you are interacting with, you should know which number variation to choose. For example, the Arabic numerals in the UAE might not be the same as those in Egypt.

Multiple Synonyms for the Same Word

Another remarkable thing is using varying terminology to mean the same thing. For example, there are around ten words to refer to love in Arabic. There are more than a hundred Arabic words that refer to a camel. And these are just a few examples. Expect to study many of these synonyms as you learn Arabic. Even though you think you’ve learned the correct Arabic word, there might be several other ways to refer to the same thing.

Similarity to English

It comes as a surprise to many people that some English words come from Arabic. For example, words like safari, saffron, algebra, and tarragon are pronounced the same in Arabic but are written differently. When you learn Arabic, you’ll come across familiar vocabulary, and this keeps you motivated to go on.

Because of the specificity of the language, it always helps to study Arabic with the help of a native speaker. An experienced Arabic teacher will make the learning process easier and faster. On italki.com, you can book a Trial Lesson with an experienced Arabic teacher or an online tutor, and you can pursue your desire to learn Arabic conveniently from any location.