A trip to Qatar is an exciting venture that offers a blend of modernity and tradition, from its futuristic skyline to its rich cultural heritage. One way to enhance your experience in this fascinating country is to learn to speak Arabic, the official language of Qatar. Although English is widely spoken, especially in business and tourist areas, speaking Arabic can open doors to deeper connections and richer experiences. This article provides a simple yet useful guide to get you started.
| English | Pronunciation | Arabic |
| Hello | Marhaba | مرحبا |
| Goodbye | Ma’a as-salama | مع السلامة |
| See you later! | Araka lahikan | أراك لاحقا |
| Good morning | Sabah al-khair | صباح الخير |
| Good night | Layla sa’ida | ليلة سعيدة |
| Good evening | Masa’ al-khair | مساء الخير |
| How are you? | Kayfa halak? | كيف حالك؟ |
| I’m fine | Ana bikhair | أنا بخير |
| I miss you | Ishtaqtu ilayk | اشتقت إليك |
| What’s new? What’s up? | Ma akhbarak? | ما أخبارك؟ |
| Nothing much | La shay’ jadeed | لا شيء جديد |
| Thank you | Shukran | شكرا |
| Say hi to John for me | Qul li John marhaba | قل لجون مرحبا |
| You’re welcome | Ahlan wa sahlan | أهلاً وسهلاً |
| Don’t worry! | La taqlaq | لا تقلق |
| Excuse me (to get attention) | ‘Afwan | عفوا |
| Sorry | Asef | آسف |
| Have a nice day | Atamanna laka yawman sa’idan | أتمنى لك يوماً سعيداً |
| What is your name? | Ma ismuk? | ما اسمك؟ |
| My name is … | Ismi … | اسمي… |
| Pleased to meet you | Tasharraftu biliqa’ik | تشرفت بلقائك |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal | Bil hana wa ash-shifa | بالهناء والشفاء |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey | Rihla sa’ida | رحلة سعيدة |
| Where’s the toilet/bathroom? | Ayn al-hammam? | أين الحمام؟ |
| What time is it? | Kam al-saa’a? | كم الساعة؟ |
| It’s 10 o’clock. | Al-saa’a al-a’shera | الساعة عشرة |
| Give me a discount | Al-saa’a al-sabaa wa al-nisf masaan | الساعة السابعة والنصف مساءً |
| How much is it | Kam se’aruh? | كم سعر هذا؟ |
| What Does … Mean in English? (an object or a word) | A’atini khisman | أعطني خصمًا |
| I’m hungry | Ana ja’i | أنا جائع |
| I’m thirsty | Ana ‘atshan | أنا عطشان |
| Where do you come from? | Min ayna anta? | من أين أنت؟ |
| I come from Spain | Ana min Isbaniya | أنا من إسبانيا |
| I understand | Afham | أفهم |
| I don’t understand | La afham | لا أفهم |
| I don’t know | La a’rif | لا أعرف |
| I need a doctor | Ahtaj ila tabeeb | أحتاج إلى طبيب |
| I feel sick | Ana mareedh | أنا مريض |
| Please say that again | Min fadlak qul dhalik marra okhra | من فضلك قل ذلك مرة أخرى |
| Please speak more slowly | Min fadlak tahaddath b-bata’ | من فضلك تحدث ببطء |
| Please write it down | Min fadlak uktubuh | من فضلك اكتبه |
| I speak Persian (Farsi) a little | Ana atakallam al-farsiya qaleelan | أنا أتكلم الفارسية قليلاً |
| What Does … Mean in English?(an object or a word) | Madha ya’ni … bil-ingliziyya? | ماذا يعني … بالإنجليزية؟ |
| What Is This? | Ma hatha? | ما هذا؟ |
| I’m lost | Ana dae’ | أنا ضائع |
| I have to go to… (a place) | Yajibu an adhhab ila… | يجب أن أذهب إلى… |
| Can I help you? | Hal yumkinuni musaadatak? | هل يمكنني مساعدتك؟ |
| Can you help me? | Hal yumkinuk musaadati? | هل يمكنك مساعدتي؟ |
| Merry Christmas | Eid Milad Sa’eed | عيد ميلاد سعيد |
| Happy New Year | Sana Jadida Sa’eeda | سنة جديدة سعيدة |
| Happy Birthday | Eid Milad Sa’eed | عيد ميلاد سعيد |
| Congratulations! | Mabrook | مبروك |
| Good luck! | Hadh sa’eed | حظ سعيد |
| Bless you (when sneezing) | Yarhamuka Allah | يرحمك الله |
| Good/ Bad/ So-So | Jayid / Sai’ / La bas | جيد/ سيئ/ لا بأس |
| Today/ Now | Alyawm / Alan | اليوم/ الآن |
| Tomorrow/ Yesterday | Ghadan / Ams | غدًا/ أمس |
| Here you go! (when giving something) | Tafaddal | تفضل |
| Hurry up! | Asra’ | أسرع |
| Do you like it? | Hal tuhibuhu? | هل تحبه؟ |
| I really like it! | Ana uhibuhu | أنا أحبه |
| Call the police | Ittasil bil-shurta | اتصل بالشرطة |
| Yes | Na’am | نعم |
| No | La | لا |
| Friend | Sadeeq | صديق |
| Pharmacy | Saydaliyya | صيدلية |
| Hospital | Mustashfa | مستشفى |
| Fire | Nar | نار |
| Help | Musa’ada | مساعدة |
| Why | Limaadha? | لماذا؟ |
| Who | Man? | من؟ |
| What | Madha? | ماذا؟ |
| How | Kayf? | كيف؟ |
| Where | Ayn? | أين؟ |
| When | Mata? | متى؟ |
| Stop! | Tawaqaf | توقف |
| Really! | Haqqan? | حقا؟ |
| Look! | Unzur | انظر |
| Please | Min fadlak | من فضلك |
| I | Ana | أنا |
| You (singular) | Anta | أنت |
| He/She | Huwa / Hiya | هو / هي |
| It | Huwa / Hiya | هو / هي |
| We | Nahnu | نحن |
| You | Antum | أنتم |
| They | Hum | هم |
| Wife | Zawja | زوجة |
| Husband | Zawj | زوج |
| Spouse | Shareek | شريك |
| Son/boy | Ibn | ابن |
| Daughter/girl | Ibna | ابنة |
| Mother | Umm | أم |
| Father | Ab | أب |
| Sister | Ukht | أخت |
| Brother | Akh | أخ |
| Mr. /Man | Sayyid | سيد |
| Mrs. /Ms. /Lady | Sayyida | سيدة |
| English Numbers | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Arabic Numbers | ٠ | ١ | ٢ | ٣ | ٤ | ٥ | ٦ | ٧ | ٨ | ٩ | ١٠ |
| Arabic Pronunciation | Sifr | Wahid | Ithnayn | Thalatha | Arba’a | Khamsa | Sitta | Sab’a | Thamaniya | Tis’a | ‘Ashara |
| English Numbers | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 |
| Arabic Numbers | ٢٠ | ٣٠ | ٤٠ | ٥٠ | ٦٠ | ٧٠ | ٨٠ | ٩٠ | ١٠٠ |
| Arabic Pronunciation | ‘Ishrun | Thalathun | Arba’un | Khamsun | Sittun | Sab’un | Thamanun | Tis’un | Mi’a |
Final Word
Learning Arabic for traveling to Qatar is not just communication. It is a window to a deeper and more authentic travel experience. Picking up the local language can enhance your trip, when you learn to speak Arabic, it allows you to navigate the country easily, connect with its people, and experience its rich cultural fabric. So, start learning Arabic today and get ready to enjoy Qatar in a way that few tourists ever do.
Are you planning to travel to Qatar? Please read things to do in Qatar article & Check out our Qatar tours, and Qatar transit tours.
