Learning Arabic Is TalkInArabic.com for me?
If you want to learn to speak Arabic then the answer is yes.
This site will provide you with frequently updated lessons and the highest quality material for learning to speak Arabic available anywhere online. There is no other site as comprehensive and focused as this one when it comes to teaching spoken Arabic.
If you have a specific country in mind in the Middle East or North Africa, or would just like to get speaking Arabic as fast as possible then this for you.
Why no Modern Standard Arabic?
The problem with most Arabic courses and websites is that they teach MSA as a spoken language.
Nobody anywhere on earth speaks MSA as a native language.
Most Arabs will understand you if you speak MSA but you almost certainly will not understand them when they speak. Many students study MSA for years in Western universities yet when they travel to the Middle East, they struggle to have even the most basic conversations with native speakers.
Why? Because they’ve learned a language that nobody speaks.
If you want to really connect with and understand people then you need to learn a spoken variety of Arabic.
We will help you do that.
‘Dialect’ is such a technical word. Is this site for advanced learners?
Don’t be put off by the term ‘dialect’.
We use this term to refer to the many different types of Arabic in the world.
The fact is that if you want to learn how to speak Arabic naturally, you’ve come to the right place.
We put this site together because too many sites and courses out there teach a form of Arabic that nobody actually uses outside of extremely formal situations.
We’ll teach you how ordinary people in the Arab world communicate with each other.
Which Arabic should I learn?
Languages require lots of motivation and hard work, and if you’re not serious about it from day one then you probably won’t succeed.
A lot of people will suggest you learn a dialect like Egyptian because it’s widely understood but if you’re not interested in Egypt then it doesn’t make any sense to do that.
You should choose the Arabic variety of the country and people you’re most interested in.
If in doubt, send us an email.
Is the content of the other Arabic varieties useful to me if I’m learning a different one?
Yes absolutely.
While it’s certainly true that dialects can differ quite a lot with certain words and expressions (especially North African dialects), it’s very good for your Arabic to get acquainted early on with the way things are said by Arabic speakers from different regions.
How can I use the material on this site to help me learn Arabic?
Each dialect on Talk In Arabic is a full course: ten modules of short lessons that take you from your first words to real conversations, with your progress saved as you go.
Start at Module 1 and work through it in order, or jump straight to the topic you need.
Every lesson is built around natural audio recorded by native speakers, so listen first, read along with the transcript, then repeat out loud.
Alongside the course you get that dialect’s video library and verb explorer, a reading & writing course for the Arabic script, and a community forum where you can ask questions.
Enough to keep you busy for a long time!
Content Do you keep adding to the courses?
We’re constantly adding and updating content.
Every dialect already has a full ten-module course, and we keep adding videos, listening material and improvements across the dialects.
With a paid plan, you’ll have unlimited access to new content for your dialect as we produce it.
Does a membership give me access to one dialect or all dialects?
You choose.
A standard plan covers one dialect: all of its lessons, videos and library. If you want everything, the All Dialects plan covers all eight dialects on the site.
Members who already have a dialect get 30% off every extra dialect they add, applied automatically in the app.
Which sub-dialects are these people speaking (e.g. where exactly are the Levantine speakers from)?
They’re mixed.
For example, at present the Levantine content is a mix of Syrian, Jordanian, Palestinian and Lebanese.
We do our best to balance this out but it’s not always possible.
Can you include dialect X as well?
If there’s a dialect that you’re learning or would like to learn which isn’t here on TalkInArabic.com yet, please let us know and we’ll do our best to make it happen.
I’ve noticed that the translations for many recordings aren’t literal, word-for-word translations. Why is that?
One of the most important instructions given to every native speaker who contributes to TalkInArabic.com is this:
Say it exactly as you would naturally say it to your friends and family.
This means that for many expressions even though there may be a literal translation there are actually far more natural ways to say it which you won’t find in any textbook.
TalkInArabic.com is therefore not only the largest source of dialect material but also a source of the most natural dialect material.
Why are there so many spelling variations in the Arabic?
Modern Standard Arabic is the standard system of writing across the Arab world.
Because of this, native speakers don’t usually write their spoken dialect in Arabic and this leads to a lot of variations in the way people spell things.
The written transcripts have all been provided by the native Arabic speakers themselves and they’re only there as a guide to help you listen and pronounce what’s being said.
What dialect do they speak in UAE and Qatar and do you have it?
These are Gulf Arabic varieties.
We don’t specifically have UAE (Emirati) or Gulf here at TalkInArabic.com for the simple fact that we’ve been unable to hire teachers who are native to these countries.
Our Saudi and Iraqi lesson content is the closest we have currently (and other dialects like Egyptian and Levantine are easily understood by people in these countries).
If you happen to be a native Emirati or Gulf Arabic teacher, get in touch with us and we’ll make it happen!
Account Do you offer a free trial?
Not at the moment. Creating an account is free and includes the full Egyptian Arabic audiobook, but the dialect courses, videos and library are for paying members only.
You can see our pricing here.
If you do decide that Talk In Arabic is not for you, we’ll refund any plan within the first thirty days, and you’re always free to cancel a yearly plan before the next payment rolls around.
Can’t I just pay once instead of paying for a subscription?
Yes!
Every plan comes in a Lifetime option. Pay once and get access to all of the current and future content for your dialect forever (or for every dialect, with All Dialects Lifetime). No further payments necessary.
A lifetime plan also includes that dialect’s Essential Verb Pack free as an added bonus; All Dialects Lifetime includes all eight packs.
Are you affiliated with any political or religious organization/belief?
Not at all.
The people who contribute to this site hold various faiths and political beliefs.
Any political or religious views expressed in the Arabic recordings or videos by native speakers or on the blog belong solely to that individual.
Why do you charge for the courses instead of making everything free?
In a perfect world everything would be free!
As much as we’d like to provide a completely free resource for Arabic, it’s just not possible to give such an ambitious project away for nothing.
By placing a small price tag on it, every new member helps us improve the courses and provide even better material to help you with your Arabic.
If I buy a yearly plan, am I stuck in a contract?
Never.
You can cancel a yearly plan at any time and keep your access until the end of the period you’ve paid for. Lifetime plans are a single payment, so there’s nothing to cancel.
How can I cancel my subscription?
You can cancel instantly in the app: open Account Settings, then Billing. Your access continues until the end of the period you’ve paid for.
If you signed up some years ago via PayPal, you can also cancel from your PayPal account.