While many people in the West Bank of Palestine speak basic English, allowing travelers to navigate and communicate without much difficulty, taking the time to learn a few basic Palestinian Arabic phrases can greatly enhance your experience. English proficiency is more common in urban areas, but when you venture into smaller towns and rural regions, you might encounter language barriers. In these situations, knowing some Arabic can be incredibly useful.

Furthermore, attempting to speak the local language is a gesture of goodwill and respect that Palestinians appreciate. It shows an effort to engage with their culture and can lead to more meaningful interactions and connections. Whether you are asking for directions, ordering food, or simply greeting someone, using even a few words of Arabic can make a significant difference in your travel experience, helping to bridge cultural gaps and fostering positive relationships with the people you meet.

Below are just a few Palestinian Arabic phrases that may be useful for a visit to the West Bank, Palestine:

English TranslationArabic PhrasePronunciation
Hi (colloquial, between friends and family )!هايhaay!
Helloمرحباmarhaba
Hello (response)اهلينAhlain
Greetingsالسلام عليكمas-salaam 3aleikum
Greetings (response)وعليكم السلامwa-3aleikum as-salaam
Good morningصباح الخيرSubaaH al-kheir
Response to good morningصباح النورSubaaH an-nuur
Good eveningمساء الخيرmasaa al-kheir
Response to good eveningمسا النورmasaa an-nuur
Good nightتصبح على خيرtiSbaH 3ala kheir
Come in/welcome/please have a seatتفضّلtafaDDaltafaDDali

Meeting People And Asking Them How Are They Doing

English TranslationArabic PhrasePronunciation
How are you?(notes on ak/ik)كيف حالك؟كيفك؟kiif Haalak?kiif Haalik?kiifak?kiifik?
What’s news?شو اخباركshu akhbaarak?
Everything good?كله تمام؟kullu tmaam?
I’m wellمنيحكويسالحمد للهmniH (very Levantine)kwayyis (colloquial Arabic)al-Hamdu li-llah (formal)
Fineتمامtmaam
Long time no see(notes on ak/ik)يلي زمان ما شفتكyalli zmaan maa shiftak/ik
What’s your name?(notes on ak/ik)شو اسمكshu ismak/ismik?
Where are you from?من وين انت؟min wein inta/inti?
Where are you?وينك؟waynak?waynik?
Pleased to meet youتشرفناtasharrafna

To Say I Do Not Speak Good Arabic

English translationArabic PhrasePronunciation
I don’t understand Arabicانا ما بعرف عربيmaa ba3rif 3arabi
I don’t speak Arabicما بحكي عربيma baHki 3arabi
Do you speak English?بتحكي انغليزي ؟btiHki ingileezi?
Excuse me (to get attention)عفواًعن إذنكبلاذن3afwan3an iznakbil izn
Yes (casual)آهah (pronounced like “o” in North American “bottle”)
Yesنعمna3m
Noلاlaa
Thank youMany thanksشكراًالف شكرshukranalf shukr
You’re welcomeعفواًالعفو3afwanal-3afu (alternative)
You’re welcome (slang)تكرمtikram
How much is this?قدّيش هذا؟addeish haadha?
This is very expensive!هذا غالي كتير!haadha ghaali ktiir!

Goodbye And Some Useful Arabic Phrases

English TranslationArabic PhrasePronunciation
Goodbyeمع السلامهma3 as-salaameh
See you later!بشوفك بعدين!bshufak ba3dein!
Congratulations!مبروكmabruk
Bless him/her! (when talking about a child)ماشاء اللهmashallah!
Bon appetit/Enjoy your mealصحتينSaHtein
I miss youاشتقتلكshta2tilakshta2tilik
I love youبحبكbHibbak (m)bHibbik (f)
Stop! Enough!خلاصkhalaaS!
Maybeيمكنyimkin
May I…?ممكن؟mumkin?
No problem/cool/fineبسيطةbaseeTah
My good friend!حبيبيHabiibi!
Let’s goيلاyallah
Swear to godواللهwallah
For sure, definitelyاكيدakiid
walawولوIt’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)
OKطيب، طبTayyib, Tab (shorter, more colloquial)
God willingان‌ شاء اللهinshallah

Hotels And Shopping

English TranslationArabic PhrasePronunciation
How much is it?اديش هو؟addeesh ha’u
Where is an ATM?وين جهاز الصرافwen jehaez is saraafe
Where is a hotel?وين الاوتيلwen fundu?
Do you have vegetarian food?في عندكم طعام نباتيFee indkun taaam nabaatee
One ticket pleaseتذكرة اذا بتريدtazkire izabitreed
That’s too expensiveهادا غالي كتييرHada ghaalee ikteer
Do you want…?بدك.. بدكBidak/Bidek (m/f)
I wantبديBide
Waterميmiy
BreadخبزKhubiz

Arabic Numbers

NumbersArabic PhrasePronunciation
1واحدwaahed
2اتنينitnayn
3تلاتهtalaate
4اربعهarba
5خمسةkhamse
6ستهsitteh
7سبعةsabba’
8تمانيةtamaanye
9تسعةtessa
10عشرةashara

Days Of The Week In Palestinian Arabic

Days Of The WeekArabic PhrasePronunciation
MondayالاتنينAltineen
TuesdayالتلاتاءAltalatah
WednesdayالاربعاءAlArbah
ThursdayالخميسAlKhames
FridayالجمعةAljumeh
SaturdayالسبتAlsabt
SundayالاحدAlahad

Final Remarks

Here are just a few useful Palestinian Arabic phrases for any visitor to the West Bank, Palestine, which will hopefully be of value to travelers. What is important to know is that the Arabic spoken in the Palestinian Territories is Levantine Arabic. This is a different, regional dialect of MSA (Modern Standard Arabic) which is the official written language of the Arab world, and which is often taught in the West.

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