Jordanian Arabic is one of the major dialects of the Levantine Arabic family, spoken by more than 8.5 million people throughout Jordan. It is the variety of Arabic used daily—at home, in the streets, in shops, and during casual conversations. Like other Arab countries, Jordan maintains a diglossic linguistic environment: Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is used in formal writing, education, news media, and official settings, while Jordanian Arabic is the informal, spoken language of everyday life.
This dialect has developed its own distinctive pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammatical patterns, distinguishing it from both MSA and neighboring regional dialects. Jordanian Arabic includes both sedentary and Bedouin varieties, and the spoken form can vary significantly across regions such as Amman, Irbid, Karak, and Ma’an. Influences from Palestinian, Syrian, Iraqi, and Bedouin dialects have also shaped modern Jordanian Arabic, along with loanwords from English, French, Turkish, and Persian.
While Jordan does not have a media industry as dominant as Egypt’s, Jordanian Arabic is still widely understood in the Levant and is considered an essential dialect for anyone interested in studying the Arabic language in the context of Middle Eastern culture, politics, and society.
Table of Contents
Important Facts About Jordanian Arabic
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Jordanian Arabic (اللهجة الأردنية – al-Lahja al-Urduniyya) |
| Also Known As | Urduni (أُرْدُنِّي), Jordanian Levantine |
| Language Family | Semitic → Central Semitic → Arabic → Levantine Arabic → Jordanian Arabic |
| Region Spoken | Jordan (throughout the country, with regional variation) |
| Number of Speakers | Over 8.5 million |
| Status | Spoken in daily life, MSA is used for formal writing, education, and media |
| Relation to MSA | Shares core vocabulary and grammar; Jordanian Arabic has a simpler structure and distinct phonetics. |
| Influences | Palestinian, Syrian, Iraqi dialects; English, French, Turkish, Persian |
| Written Form | Rarely written; MSA is used in formal writing and reading |
| Media Use | Rarely written, MSA is used in formal writing and reading |
| Mutual Intelligibility | Understood across the Levant; partially understood in other Arab regions |
Who Speaks Jordanian Arabic?
Jordanian Arabic is widely spoken by the Jordanian population and understood across much of the Levant, including Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon. Due to the country’s central geographic location, Jordanian Arabic has absorbed influences from neighboring dialects—mainly Palestinian, Syrian, Iraqi, and Saudi Arabic—resulting in a uniquely blended and dynamic form of the language.
Differences Between Jordanian Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic
As in most Arab countries, the use of language in Jordan is shaped by diglossia—a linguistic phenomenon where two distinct forms of the same language are used in different social contexts. In Jordan, this means that Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and Jordanian Arabic coexist, each serving a distinct function.
Modern Standard Arabic is the formal register of the language, used in official documents, news broadcasts, books, speeches, and religious texts. It is the variety taught in most schools and universities across Jordan. MSA is also commonly used when quoting poetry, reciting Qur’anic verses, or referencing historical sayings. It appears in formal TV programming and is the medium for writing and reading in professional, academic, and governmental settings, mainly when English is not used.
In contrast, Jordanian Arabic is the spoken language of daily life. It is the language people use with family, friends, at the market, or in cafés. It is informal, flexible, and rich with local color. Most Jordanians switch effortlessly between MSA and their regional dialect depending on context. However, foreign learners who study only the spoken Levantine dialect often struggle to understand MSA, particularly if they did not attend a school where MSA was taught. The two forms differ significantly in vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and style.
Linguistic Features of Jordanian Arabic
Vocabulary in Jordanian Arabic is largely rooted in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), but also includes numerous borrowings from surrounding dialects and foreign languages, especially English, French, Turkish, and Persian. Examples:
- sandoʔich = sandwich (origin: English)
- banka = bank (origin: English)
- tanzīm = organization (shared with MSA, but with local pronunciation)
- brīk = break (origin: English)
- marmar = marble (origin: Turkish)
Jordanian Arabic pronunciation varies by region but exhibits several distinct phonetic features. One of the most recognizable is the use of g (as in go) for the letter ق (qāf), especially in rural or Bedouin dialects. In urban dialects, particularly in Amman, qāf is often pronounced as a glottal stop (ʔ), similar to many urban Levantine dialects.
Another notable feature is the shift of ك (kāf) to tʃ (like ch in church) in some northern sedentary dialects, such as the Balgawi-Horani dialect. For example:
- kētāb (book) → pronounced tʃētāb in some areas.
Jordanian Arabic also simplifies grammatical structures compared to MSA and tends to favor shorter forms in casual speech. The dialect’s intonation and stress patterns can differ from both MSA and neighboring dialects, contributing to its distinct rhythm and accent.
How Can I Learn Jordanian Arabic?
Jordanian Arabic online and in-person courses are excellent starting points for anyone seeking their first exposure to the dialect. In addition to these, several other valuable resources and programs support learners at all levels, whether through structured courses, online platforms, or immersive in-person experiences.
Here are a few recommended sources for learning Jordanian Arabic:
1. Study Levantine Arabic Platform
Enroll in the Study Levantine Arabic‘s intensive Arabic courses, which offer 20 hours of instruction per week. These courses allow students to quickly acquire Arabic skills and finish a full 80-hour course in just four weeks. Intensive options are offered in both Modern Standard Arabic and Palestinian Arabic (Ammiyya), Jordanian, Egyptian, and Levantine Arabic (Shami Dialect).
2. Study Arabic Online Courses
Study Arabic Online offers courses in Levantine Arabic (Ammiyya or Shami Arabic), which includes Palestinian, Jordanian, Syrian, Lebanese, and Egyptian dialects, as well as Modern Standard Arabic. Our programs are designed for beginners and focus on practical conversation and everyday vocabulary, making learning Arabic from the comfort of your home or workplace easy. Ready to learn Arabic? Join our engaging online lessons taught by experienced instructors from Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Syria. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just passionate about Arabic, our classes are designed for everyone. You’ll learn to speak Arabic confidently and connect with people from Arabic-speaking countries.
3. The Excellence Center in Europe
The Excellence Center in Europe provides various Arabic language programs for individuals eager to learn Arabic while immersing themselves in Europe’s rich cultural diversity. Whether you’re a student aiming to strengthen your language skills, a professional seeking to enhance cross-cultural communication, or a language enthusiast exploring Arabic dialects, our programs offer an immersive and engaging learning experience.
4. Study Arabic World
Study Arabic World offers a range of intensive programs designed to immerse you in the rich linguistic tapestry of the Arabic language. Our courses cover Palestinian, Jordanian, Syrian, Lebanese, and Egyptian Arabic dialects, along with Modern Standard Arabic. Crafted specifically for those with little to no Arabic proficiency, our programs aim to foster meaningful connections within local communities. Emphasizing practical conversations and everyday vocabulary, our curriculum facilitates easy and effective Arabic language learning, all from the comfort of your home or workplace.
5. Study Jordanian Arabic Online Course
Jordanian Online Course: Study Arabic Global Academy provides a range of Jordanian Arabic online programs tailored to assist non-Arabic speaking expatriates with integration. Our courses place a strong emphasis on practical conversation, focusing on vocabulary relevant to daily situations. Jordanian Arabic, also known as Jordanian Colloquial Arabic (Ammiya Jordanian Arabic) or simply Jordanian, is a variant of Arabic spoken in Jordan.
Additional Tips on Improving Jordanian Arabic
A well-rounded approach to learning Jordanian Arabic combines listening, speaking, reading, and cultural immersion. Consider the following strategies:
- Watch Jordanian TV shows and films with subtitles to familiarize yourself with pronunciation and expressions.
- Use audio-based language apps or YouTube channels dedicated to Jordanian Arabic.
- Engage in language exchange with native speakers via platforms like Tandem or HelloTalk.
- Take live classes (online or in-person) to get personalized instruction and practice speaking.
- Supplement with grammar books or phrasebooks focused on Jordanian Arabic.
What are Some Common Jordanian Arabic Expressions?
| English | Transliteration | Arabic |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning | ṣabāḥ il-khēr | صباح الخير |
| Good evening | masā’ il-khēr | مساء الخير |
| How are you? (spoken to male) | kīf ḥālak? | كيف حالك؟ |
| How are you? (spoken to female) | kīf ḥālik? | كيف حالِك؟ |
| How are you? (spoken to group) | kīf ḥālku? | كيف حالكو؟ |
| Fine (male) | mniḥ | منيح |
| Fine (female) | mniḥa | منيحة |
| Fine (group) | mniḥīn | منيحين |
| Thank you | shukran | شكراً |
| You’re welcome | ʿafwan | عفواً |
| Yes | āh | آه |
| No | lā | لا |
| God willing | in shā’ Allāh | إن شاء الله |
| Praise to God | il-ḥamdu lillāh | الحمد لله |
| What’s your name? (male) | shū ismak? | شو اسمك؟ |
| What’s your name? (female) | shū ismik? | شو اسمِك؟ |
Conclusion
Jordanian Arabic is a rich, dynamic dialect that reflects the region’s cultural, historical, and linguistic complexity. As a branch of Levantine Arabic, it serves as the spoken mother tongue for millions of Jordanians and a key tool for navigating daily life across the country. From Amman’s urban slang to Bedouin expressions in the southern deserts, Jordanian Arabic is deeply local and regionally connected, shaped by centuries of interaction with neighboring dialects and global influences.
While it differs significantly from Modern Standard Arabic in pronunciation, grammar, and usage, Jordanian Arabic offers learners a practical entry point into real-world communication across the Levant. Its mutual intelligibility with other Levantine varieties, combined with the hospitality of Jordanian culture, makes it an ideal dialect for students, travelers, and anyone interested in Middle Eastern society.
Whether you’re learning the basics for conversation, diving into regional phonetics, or exploring its ties to broader Arab identity, Jordanian Arabic provides a rewarding and culturally immersive language experience.