Prepositions

Arabic Lesson 4 (Prepositions and Directions)

Duration: 30 mins

Lessons Arabic Lessons
Linguistic Arabic Vocabulary
Culture Arabic Phrases
Structure Arabic Grammar

This first lesson teaches many important aspect of Arabic like prepositions, vocabulary list about directions and finally common phrases about how to introduce yourself. I will try to give examples using both vocabulary and grammar. That way it will be easy for you to see the words when they are separate and when they are in a sentence. Going through the whole page should take about 30 min. Make sure to read the pronunciation and hear the audio as well. If you have any question about this course, please email me directly at Arabic Classes.

Prepositions

Prepositions are used in almost every sentence. They can be a great tool to link words with each other. For example by simply knowing how to use "to", "with", "from", "after" you can expand your conversation scope. In short, a preposition describes a relationship between words in a sentence, for example: I agree with you.

Below is a list of 27 prepositions that you might come across or use very often. The table contains 4 columns (English, Arabic, Pronunciation and Audio). Make sure you repeat each word after hearing it by either clicking on the audio button or by reading the pronunciation. That should help with memorization as well as improving your pronunciation.

Prepositions List in Arabic

Prepositions Arabic Pronunciation Audio
In front ofامامamam
Behindخلفkhalf
Beforeقبلkabl
Afterبعدba'd
Insideداخلdakhel
Withمعma'a
Withoutبدونbedoon
Outsideخارجkharej
On top ofفوقfawk
Underتحتtaht
About (in regards to)حولhawl
Againstضدzedd
Andوwa
As (similar to)كماkama
Betweenبينbeyn
Butلكنlaken
Forلle
Fromمنmen
Inفيfe
Instead ofبدلا منbadalan men
Nearقربkurb
Ofمنmen
Orأوaw
Sinceمنذmundu
Soلكيlekey
Toإلىela
Untilحتىhatta

Now we will try to implement some of the prepositions above into full Arabic sentences. That way you will be able to use the word not only by itself but embedded in a structure.

Arabic Prepositions in a Sentence

English Arabic Pronunciation Audio
Can I practice Italian with you?هل يمكنني ممارسة الإيطالية معك؟hal yumkenuni mumarasat alitalia ma'ak?
I speak French but with an accentأنا أتكلم الفرنسية ولكن بلكنةana atakallam alfaransia wa laken belakna
I was born in Miamiولدت في ولاية مياميwuledtu fe welayat mayami
I'm from Japanأنا من اليابانana men alyabaan
The letter is inside the bookالرسالة هي داخل الكتابarisala hiya dakhel alketaab
The pen is under the deskالقلم هو تحت المكتبalqalam huwa taht almaktab
Directionsالاتجاهاتalitijahaat
Can I help you?هل يمكنني مساعدتك؟hal yumkenuni musa'adatak?

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact me If you simply want to ask a question, please Arabic contact form on the header above.

Vocabulary List about Directions

Below is a list of 28 words and sentences related to directions that you might need when lost or asking for help. If you can memorize them by heart, you will be able to travel from point A to point B by following directions.

Giving Directions in Arabic

Directions Arabic Pronunciation Audio
Can you help me?هل يمكنك مساعدتي؟hal yumkenuka musa'adati?
Can you show me?هل تستطيع أن تريني؟hal tastatee' an turiyani?
Come with me!تعال معيta'ala ma'i!
Downtown (city center)وسط المدينةwasat almadina
Excuse me! (to ask someone)المعذرةalma'zera
Go straightإذهب على طولez-hab 'ala tool
How can I get to the museum? كيف يمكنني الوصول إلى المتحف؟kaifa yumkenuni alwusul ela almut-haf?
How long does it take to get there?كم هي مدة الوصول إلى هناك؟kam heya mudat alwusul ela hunak?
I'm lostأضعت طريقيada'tu tareki
I'm not from hereأنا لست من هناana lastu men huna
It's far from hereإنها بعيدة من هناenaha ba'eda men huna
It's near hereإنها قريبة من هناenaha kareba men huna
One moment please!لحظة من فضلكlahda men fadlek!
Turn leftانعطف يساراen'atef yasaran
Turn rightانعطف يميناen'atef yameenan
Farبعيدba'eed
Hereهناhuna
Leftيسارyasar
Rightيمينyameen
Nearقريبqareeb
Straightعلى طولala tool
Thereهناكhunaak
To driveيسوقyasook
To turnيتعرجyata'araj
To walkيتمشىyatamasha
Traffic lightإشارة مرورesharat muroor
Transportationنقلnaql

Daily Conversation in Arabic

Finally, a couple sentences to help you know how to introduce yourself in Arabic. For a complete list of commonly used sentences, please visit our Arabic Phrases page. Enjoy!

Common Expressions in Arabic

English Arabic Pronunciation Audio
Do you speak English?هل تتكلم الإنجليزية؟hal tatakalam alenjlizia
Just a littleقليلا فقطqaleelan faqat
What's your name?ما إسمك؟ma esmuk?
My name is (John Doe)إسمي esmi
Mr... / Mrs. ... / Miss...السيد ... / ... السيدة / الآنسة ...assayed ...\ assayeda... \ ananesa ...\
Nice to meet you!تشرفت بمعرفتكtasharaftu bema'refatek!
You're very kind!أنت طيب جداanta tayeb jedan!

Fun Facts

Language Quote: The language of a society changes slowly but steadily with the result that an educated person will not be able to read or understand words in his language written 500 years ago. Do you feel like you can't talk to your parents? Maybe it's because you belong to the Niger-Congo family. More than 1,400 languages are spoken by different members of this family from Africa..

Congratulations! You finished your 4th lesson in Arabic about prepositions, and directions. Are you ready for the next lesson? We recommend Arabic Lesson 5. You can also simply click on one of the links below or go back to our Learn Arabic homepage.

Lessons Arabic Lessons
Linguistic Arabic Vocabulary
Culture Arabic Phrases
Structure Arabic Grammar