This is the highest-frequency core of the language. If you learn one list on this site, make it this one — these words make up a huge share of everyday Arabic speech. Tap any word above to hear it.
Pronouns and demonstratives
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| أنا | ana | I |
| أنت / أنتِ | anta / anti | you (m / f) |
| هو / هي | huwa / hiya | he / she |
| نحن | naḥnu | we |
| هم | hum | they |
| هذا / هذه | haadha / haadhihi | this (m / f) |
Arabic verbs already carry the subject, so أنا (ana) is often dropped: أفهم (afham) already means “I understand.”
Question words
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| من | man | who |
| ماذا | maadhaa | what |
| أين | ayna | where |
| متى | mataa | when |
| لماذا | limaadhaa | why |
| كيف | kayfa | how |
| كم | kam | how many / how much |
| أي | ayy | which |
Linking words and prepositions
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| و | wa | and |
| أو | aw | or |
| لكن | laakin | but |
| لأن | li’anna | because |
| إذا | idhaa | if |
| في | fee | in |
| على | 3alaa | on |
| من | min | from |
| إلى | ilaa | to |
| مع | ma3a | with |
| تحت / فوق | taḥta / fawqa | under / above |
Putting them to work
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| أنا أريد ماء | ana ureed maa’ | I want water |
| أين البيت؟ | ayna al-bayt? | where is the house? |
| هذا كتاب جيد | haadha kitaab jayyid | this is a good book |
| هي مع صديقها | hiya ma3a ṣadeeqihaa | she is with her friend |
| لا أفهم، من فضلك | laa afham, min faḍlik | I don’t understand, please |
| أنا أتكلم قليلا | ana atakallam qaleelan | I speak a little |
Cultural note
Arabic relies heavily on context, so short sentences built from these 100 words go a long way. A learner who knows the pronouns, question words, and the verbs أريد (I want), أحب (I love), and أعرف (I know) can already handle markets, taxis, and introductions.
Practice
How do you say 'I want' in Arabic?
hint: It is one of the most useful verbs
What does 'أين' mean?
hint: Use it to ask about a place
How do you say 'this is a good book' in Arabic?
hint: Use 'هذا' for 'this' (masculine)
Match each pair — start with Arabic (left)
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Start with the essentials? See the 20 most common words for a shorter starting point.
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