Lesson 1: Introduction to Levantine Arabic
Levantine Arabic is a spoken dialect of Arabic used mainly in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. Levantine Arabic and has many similarities across these countries, with some slight differences in pronunciation and vocabulary. It is also widely understood across other regions.
Writing in Arabic: Important Basics
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Arabic is written from right to left, unlike English or most European languages.
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Books in Arabic open from the right side, so they feel like you're opening them "from the end" if you're used to Western books.
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Numbers, however, are written from left to right, just like in English. Example: ١٢٣ = 123
Punctuation Rules in Arabic
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The question mark is written like this: ؟ and it goes at the end of a sentence, on the right side.
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The exclamation mark is !, just like in English, but again placed at the end from the right.
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Arabic does not use commas ( , ) as often. Instead, we usually connect ideas using the word "و" (pronounced "w") which means "and".
Arabic Letters and Ligatures
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Arabic is a cursive script: letters are joined together when writing.
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The shape of a letter changes depending on whether it's at the beginning, middle, or end of a word.
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Not all letters connect to the ones after them.
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This concept is similar to cursive handwriting in English.
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Don't worry about learning this all at once—you'll explore this gradually in the upcoming lessons. Just keep in mind that Arabic is not printed letter-by-letter like English.
Ready to practice what you’ve learned? Let’s see if you can answer these questions correctly!
Get the full book and learn how to read and write in Arabic with this self-guided book:
This self-guided book is designed for absolute beginners who want to learn how to read and write in Levantine Arabic clearly and confidently. Through step-by-step explanations, engaging exercises, and answer keys at the end of each unit, you’ll build your skills gradually and independently.