Travel vocabulary helps you navigate airports, hotels, and cities across the Arab world. Whether you are hailing a taxi in Cairo or checking into a hotel in Dubai, these words are your survival kit. Tap any word above to hear it.
At the airport
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| صالة الوصول | ṣaalat al-wuṣool | arrivals hall |
| صالة المغادرة | ṣaalat al-mughaadara | departures hall |
| حقيبة يد | ḥaqeebat yad | hand luggage |
| حقيبة سفر | ḥaqeebat safar | suitcase |
| بوابة | bawwaaba | gate |
| رحلة | riḥla | flight |
| تأخير | ta’kheer | delay |
| إلغاء | ilghaa’ | cancellation |
| أين المطار؟ | ayn al-maṭaar? | where is the airport? |
At the hotel
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| هل لديك حجز؟ | hal ladayk ḥajz? | do you have a reservation? |
| أريد غرفة | ureed ghurfa | I want a room |
| كم سعر الغرفة؟ | kam si3r al-ghurfa? | how much is the room? |
| الفطور متى؟ | al-fuṭoor mataa? | when is breakfast? |
| مفتاح الغرفة | miftaaḥ al-ghurfa | room key |
| خدمة الغرفة | khidmat al-ghurfa | room service |
Getting around
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| أين الفندق؟ | ayn al-funduq? | where is the hotel? |
| كيف أصل إلى…؟ | kayfa aṣil ilaa…? | how do I get to…? |
| على اليمين | 3ala al-yameen | on the right |
| على اليسار | 3ala al-yasaar | on the left |
| مباشرة | mubaashara | straight ahead |
| قريب | qareeb | near / close |
| بعيد | ba3eed | far |
| أنا تائه | ana taa’ih | I am lost |
| هل يمكنني الوصول بالمشي؟ | hal yumkinunee al-wuṣool bil-mashy? | can I get there on foot? |
| أريد سيارة أجرة | ureed sayyaarat ujra | I want a taxi |
Cultural note
In many Arab cities, taxis do not use meters — agree on the price before you get in, and don’t be surprised if you need to negotiate. It is polite to greet the driver when entering. When asking for directions, ask more than one person if you can: locals are usually happy to help, and a short conversation is part of the culture. Tipping (بقشيش, baqsheesh) is customary for hotel staff.
Practice
How do you say 'where is the hotel?' in Arabic?
hint: Use 'أين' for 'where'
What is 'سيارة أجرة' in English?
hint: It literally means 'car of rent'
How do you ask 'how much does it cost?' in Arabic?
hint: Think of 'how much the price?'
Ready to travel with full dialogues? Try the traveling lesson.
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