Useful Palestinian Arabic Phrases for Travelers in Palestine: While many people in the West Bank, Palestine can communicate in simple English, it’s thoughtful and helpful to pick up a few essential Palestinian Arabic phrases to connect with the Palestinian locals you meet during your visit.
Below are some essential Palestinian Arabic phrases to enhance your experience while visiting the West Bank. There are various categories to explore as well.
It is important to keep in mind that words and pronunciations change depending on whether one is speaking to a male or female. There are two different “you” in Arabic, one addressing a male (أنتَ, pronounced “anta”), and one addressing a female (أنتي/أنتِ pronounced “ante” or “antee”). Many times words or phrases will end in “ak” when talking to a male, and “ik” when talking to a female. For example, asking “How are you?” in Arabic is written as “كيفَك” when talking to a male and pronounced as “keefak”. When speaking to a female, is it written as “كيفِك” and pronounced as “keefik”.
| English translation | Arabic Phrase | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hi (colloquial, between friends and family) | !هاي | haay! |
| Hello | مرحبا | marhaba |
| Hello (response) | اهلين | Ahlain |
| Greetings | السلام عليكم | as-salaam 3aleikum |
| Greetings (response) | وعليكم السلام | wa-3aleikum as-salaam |
| Good morning | صباح الخير | SubaaH al-kheir |
| Response to Good morning | صباح النور | SubaaH an-nuur |
| Good evening | مساء الخير | masaa al-kheir |
| Response to Good evening | مسا النور | masaa an-nuur |
| Good night | تصبح على خير | tiSbaH 3ala kheir |
| Come in/welcome/please have a seat | تفضّل تفضّلي | tafaDDal (to a man) tafaDDali (to a woman) |
Palestinian Arabic Phrases for Social Interactions
Below are ways to connect with Palestinians and ask them how they are feeling.
| English translation | Arabic Phrase | Pronunciation |
| How are you? (notes on ak/ik) | كيف حالك؟ كيفك؟ | kiif Haalak? (to a man) kiif Haalik? (to a woman) kiifak? (to a man) kiifik? (to a woman) |
| Is everything good? | شو اخبارك | shoo akhbaarak/ik? |
| Everything good? | كله تمام؟ | kullu tmaam? |
| I’m well | منيح كويس الحمد لله | mneeH (very Levantine) kwayyis (colloquial Arabic) al-Hamdu li-llah (formal) |
| Fine | تمام | tmaam |
| Long time no see (notes on ak/ik) | يلي زمان ما شفتك | yalli zmaan maa shiftak/ik |
| What’s your name? (notes on ak/ik) | شو اسمك | shu ismak/ismik? |
| Where are you from? | من وين انت؟ | min wein inta/inti? |
| Where are you? (notes on ak/ik) | وينك؟ | waynak? waynik? |
| Pleased to meet you | تشرفنا | tasharrafna |
Palestinian Arabic Expressions for Admitting Limited Arabic Proficiency
| 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! |
Palestinian Arabic Farewells and Other Handy 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 (notes on ak/ik) | اشتقتلك | shta2tilak shta2tilik |
| I love you (notes on ak/ik) | 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 حبيبتي | Habibi (m) Habibti (f) |
| 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 |
Palestinian Arabic Phrases for 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
Above, we offered a selection of useful Palestinian Arabic phrases for individuals visiting the West Bank, Palestine. These phrases can be quite helpful for travelers to connect with the Palestinian locals.
It’s essential to understand that in Palestine, the spoken language is Levantine Arabic (Shami Arabic), a distinct regional dialect distinct from Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), the formal written language of the Arab world, which is commonly taught in Western educational settings.
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