Arabic phrasebook

The following phrasebook deals with Modern Standard Arabic. See the Egyptian Arabic phrasebook, Jordanian Arabic phrasebook, Moroccan Arabic phrasebook, Lebanese Arabic phrasebook, or Tunisian Arabic phrasebook for Arabic dialects relating to those countries and regions.

Arabic (العَرَبِيَّة‎) is a group of Semitic dialects spoken by more than 420 million people, mainly in North Africa and the Middle East. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), known in Arabic as al-Fusha (الْفُصْحَى), is the official form of the language throughout the Arab world, and is very similar to Classical Arabic, the language of the Qur'an and the liturgical language for 1.6 billion Muslims around the world. Arabic has also strongly influenced many languages, including unrelated ones, throughout the Islamic world.

For communication purposes while traveling and using this guide, it is very important to note the differences between MSA and dialects since they are largely mutually unintelligible. Well-educated people will generally be able to understand MSA, but usually respond in their local dialects. Comprehension of dialects between different regions will drop significantly. It is therefore recommended that travelers focus on learning the relevant dialect for their destination for spoken communication, while using MSA as a written reference. That said, news broadcasts will almost always be in MSA.

Pronunciation guide

Arabic script is written in a cursive script, even in print. Most letters change their shapes depending on their position (initial, medial or final). The Arabic script is an abjad, not an alphabet, meaning that only the consonants are written out, and the vowels are usually omitted.

Dialectal pronunciations differ significantly between regions, but here the standard literary pronunciation is described, with notes on dialectal differences where applicable:

a like hat and sometimes father (IPA: /a/)
aa (ا) is a longer version of a (IPA: /aː/)
b (ب) as in English
t (ت) as in English
th (ث) as in English thin (IPA: /θ/)
j (ج) as in jam (IPA: /dʒ/) (Gulf, Algeria), s as in measure (IPA: /ʒ/) (Levant, North Africa), g as in give (Egypt). Unlike other letters, this one has multiple literary standard pronunciations that differ by region.
H (ح) is a pharyngeal fricative sound at the back of the throat (IPA: /ħ/). It sounds like you are about to whisper the word hello.
kh (خ) as in Scots loch or German Bach (IPA: /x/)
d (د) as in English
dh (ذ) as in English them (IPA: /ð/)
r (ر) rolled like Italian or Spanish pero or perro.
z (ز) as in English
s (س) as in English
sh (ش) as in English (IPA: /ʃ/)
S (ص) like s but with the back of the throat constricted (IPA: /sˤ/)

D (ض) like d but with the back of the throat constricted (IPA: /dˤ/). Same vowel changes as S
T (ط) like t but with the back of the throat constricted (IPA: /tˤ/)
Z (ظ) varies: like dh or z but with the back of the throat constricted. (IPA: /ðˤ~zˤ)
` (ع) A voiced version of H. (IPA: /ʕ/)
gh (غ) a fricative sound at the back of the throat (IPA: /ɣ/) or kh while using the voice box.
f (ف) as in English
q (ق) like an unaspirated k but further back in the throat (IPA: /q/) in the standard literary pronunciation, but often pronounced like a glottal stop (IPA: /ʔ/), or g (IPA: /g/) in the eastern Arabian peninsula and Libya.
k (ك) as in English
l (ل) as in English, but often not pronounced when the followed by a "d" or "sh" initial
m (م) as in English
n (ن) as in English
h (ه) as in English
w (و) as English we; as a vowel uu: as English boot; also o: close to English more (IPA: /oː/).
y (ي) as English yes; as a vowel ii: as English bee; also ai: close to English main (IPA: /eː/).
' (ء أ آ ئ ؤ) as in Cockney bottle. A glottal stop (IPA: /ʔ/).

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Hello (informal)

مرحبا marhaba : سلام salaam : هلا hala (In Arabic Gulf Area)

Peace be with you. (formal)

السلام عليكم as-salaamu `alaikum

How are you?

كيف حالك؟

kayfa haalak? (male singular)

kayfa haalik? (female singular)

kayfa haalukum? (plural)

Please.

من فضلك : min faDlak (male)

min faDlik (female)

Thank you [very much].

[شكرا [جزيلا shukran [jaziilan].

Yes.

نعم na`am

No.

لا laa

Maybe.

ممكن mumkin.

Excuse me.

إسمحلي ismaHli

Good morning.

صباح الخير sabaH al-khair

Good evening.

مساء الخير masaa' al-khair

good

جيد jayyid.

very good

جيد جدا jayyid jiddan.

Never mind.

لا يهم. laa yahummu.

Nothing.

لا شيء laa shay.

Fine, thank you.

بخير ,شكرا bi-khair, shukran

What is your name?

ما اسمك؟

masmuka? (to a male)

masmuki? (to a female)

My name is ______ .

_____ اسمي ismi _______

Nice to meet you.

تشرفنا tasharafna lit. "You honor us"

You're welcome.

عفوا `afwan

Excuse me. (getting attention)

لو سمحت lau samaHt

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

عذرا eudhran

I'm sorry.

انا اسفه / انا اسف ana aasif (male) / ana aasifah (female)

Goodbye

مع السلامة ma`a as-salaamah

Goodbye (informal)

سلام salaam

I can't speak Arabic [well].

[لا اتكلم العربية [جيدا laa atakallam al-`arabiyyah [jayyidan]

Do you speak English?

هل تتكلم الانجليزية hal tatakallam al-ingliziyyah?

Is there someone here who speaks English?

هل هنا اي شخص يتكلم الانجليزية؟ hal hunaa ayy shakhS yatakallam al-ingliziyya?

Help!

مساعدة musaa`adah!

Look out!

انتبه intabih

Good night.

تصبح على الخير tiSbaH `alal-khair

Good night (in response)

وانت من اهل الخير wa anta min ahl al-khair

I don't understand.

لا افهم laa afham

Where is the toilet?

اين الحمام؟ ayn al-Hammaam?

Problems

Leave me alone.: اتركني / اتركيني utrukni (to a male) / utrukiini (to a female)

Don't touch me!: ما تلمسني ma tilmisni
I'll call the police.: سأتصل بالشرطة sa'ataSal bashurTah
Police!: شرطة shurtah!
Stop! Thief!: !توقف! السارق tawqaf! assaariq!
I need your help.: أحتاج مساعدة aHtaaj musaa`ada

It's an emergency.: طوارئ Taware'
I'm lost.: أضعت طريقي ada'tu tareeqi

I lost my bag.: حقيبتي ضاعت Haqiibati Daa`at

I lost my wallet.: محفظتي ضاعت maHafaZati Daa`at

I'm sick.: انا مريض / انا مريضة ana mariiD (male) / ana mariiDah (female)

I've been injured.: إنني مصاب innani muSabun
I need a doctor.: احتاج دكتر aHtaaj duktur

Can I use your phone?: هل ممكن استخدم التلفون؟ Hal mumkin astakhdim at-tilifun?

Numbers

Arabic Numerals	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Eastern Arabic numerals	٠	١	٢	٣	٤	٥	٦	٧	٨	٩

0: صفر Sifr
1: واحد waaHid
2: إثنان ithnaan
3: ثلاثة thalaatha
4: اربعة arba`a
5: خمسة khamsa
6: ستة sitta
7: سبعة sab`a
8: ثمانية thamaaniya
9: تسعة tis`a
10: عشرة `ashara
11: احد عشر aHad `ashar
12: اثنا عشر ithnaa `ashar
13: ثلاثة عشر thalaathata `ashar
14: اربعة عشر arba`ata `ashar
15: خمسة عشر khamsata `ashar
16: ستة عشر sittata `ashar
17: سبعة عشر sab`ata `ashar
18: ثمانية عشر thamaaniyata `ashar
19: تسعة عشر tis'ata `ashar

20: عشرون ishruun
21: واحد وعشرون waaHid wa-`ashruun
22: اثنان وعشرون ithnaan wa-`ashruun
23: ثلاثة وعشرون thalaatha wa-`ashruun
30: ثلاثون thalathuun
40: اربعون arba`uun
50: خمسون khamsuun
60: ستون sittuun
70: سبعون sab`uun
80: ثمانون thamanuun
90: تسعون tis`uun
100: مئة mi'a

200: مئتين mitayn
300: ثلاث مئة thalaath mi'a
1,000: الف alf (as in The Thousand and One Nights - الف ليلة وليلة Alf Layla wa Layla)
2,000: الفين alfayn
1,000,000: مليون milyon
1,000,000,000: مليار milyaar / بليون bilyon
1,000,000,000,000: تريليون triilyon
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): رقم / Raqm (...)
half: نصف niSf
less: اقل aqal
more: اكثر akthar

Transportation

Directions

Go: اذهب idh-hab
Stop: قف qif
Turn left: لف يسار lif yassar
Turn right: لف يمين lif yameen
straight ahead: على طول Ala Tool (Egyptian) or illal amaama الى الامام; dughri (Jordan); quduman (general)
slowly: Shway Shway
Wait or Stay: انتظر (intadhir)
Show me.: ارني (areni)
here: هنا huna
there: هناك hunak
before: قبل qabla
after: بعد ba'da
now: الأن al-aan
from: من min
to or at (a place): الى ilah
Wait one minute.: إنتظر دقيقه واحده intadhir daqeeqa waaheda.
Just a moment.: لحظة /laH-dha

Pronouns

I: انا ana
you (m): انتَ anta
you (f): انتِ anti
he: هو huwa
she: هي hiya
we: نحن naHnu
you (two people): انتما antuma
you (m/mixed): انتم antum
you (f): انتن antunna
they (two people): هما huma
they (m/mixed): هم hum
they (f): هن hunna

Asking questions

Who?: من man
What?: ما/ماذا ma/madha
When?: متى mata
Where?: اين ayn
Why?: لماذا li-madha
How much?: بكم biKam
How much is this?: بكم هذا biKam Hadha
Where are you from?: من اين انت min ayn anta
Understand?: Maf Hoom
Do you speak English?: هل تتكلم الإنجليزية؟ hal tatakallam al-ingliziya?
What is this?: ma haadha?

Useful "I"s

I want: أريد (Uriid)
I don't want: لا أريد (La Uriid)
I have: لي lii / ladayya لدي / `indi عندي
I don't have: ليس عندي (laysa `indi)
I don't understand: Ana ma fehim أنا ما فاهم / ana laa afham أنا لا أفهم / Ana mesh fahem أنا مش فاهم
I work at the _____.: Ana ashtaghel fi _____أنا اشتغل في / a'mal fi _____ _____أعمل في
I don't speak Arabic: لا اتكلم العربية laa atkallam al-arabiya / Ma bihki arabi ما باحكي عربي / Ma batkalemsh arabi ماباتكلمش عربي

Things

money: فلوس fuluus
food: أكل akl; طعام Ta`aam
coffee: قهوة qahwa (pronounced ah-way in Syrian Arabic)
sugar: سكر sukkar
salt: ملح milH
car: سيارة sayyaara
hotel: فندق funduq / اوتيل ooteel
museum: متحف matHaf
hospital: مستشفى mustashfa
water: ماء maa'
tea: شاي shaay
milk: حليب Haliib
work: شغل shughl
airplane: طائرة Taa'irah (pronounced "Tayyaara" in most dialects)
train: قطار qiTaar
bicycle: دراجة darraaja
street: شارع shaari`
building: مبنى mabna

Time

now: الآن (al-'aana)
later: بعدين (ba`adayn)
before: قبل (qabla)
morning: صباح (SabaaH)
afternoon: بعد ظهر (ba'ada Zuhur)
evening: مساء (masaa')
night: ليلة (laylah)

Clock time

one o'clock AM: one o'clock AM (sa'ati waHad)
two o'clock AM: two o'clock AM (sa'ati ithnayn)
noon: noon (ZuHur)
one o'clock PM: one o'clock PM (...)
two o'clock PM: two o'clock PM (...)
midnight: midnight (muntasf al-laylah)

Duration

_____ minute(s): _____ (دقيقة (دقائق (daqiiqah (daqaa'iq) )
_____ hour(s): _____ hour(s)(saa)
_____ day(s): _____ يوم (أيام (yom (ayaam))
_____ week(s): _____ week(s) (usbuu`)
_____ month(s): _____ month(s) (shahr)
_____ year(s): _____ سنة (سنوات (sanah (sanooaat))

Days

today: البوم (al-yawm(a))
yesterday: امس (ams(i))
tomorrow: غداً (ghadan)
this week: الاسبوع (al-'usbu`)
last week: اسبوع الماضي (usbu`(u) 'l-maaDi)
next week: اسبوع القادم (usbu`(u) 'l-qaadim)

Days of the week

Sunday: يوم الأحد ((yawm) al'aHad)
Monday: يوم الاثنين ((yawm) al-ithnayn)
Tuesday: يوم الثلاثاء ((yawm) ath-thulaatha)
Wednesday: يوم الأربعاء ((yawm) al'arbi`a')
Thursday: يوم الخميس ((yawm) al-khamiis)
Friday: يوم الجمعة ((yawm) al-jum`a...)
Saturday: يوم السبت ((yawm) as-sabt)

Months

January: كانون الثاني (Kanoon al thani)
February: February (.shubat شباط..)
March: March (...آذار Aathar);
April: April (..Nissan نيسان.)
May: May (...أيار Ayyar)
June: حزيران (Hzayraan)
July: تموز (Tammouz)
August: اّب (Ab)
September: ايلول (Ayloul)
October: تشرن الأول (Tishreen al awwal)
November: تشرن الثاني (Tishreen al thani)
December: كانون الأول (Kanoon al awwal)

Writing time and date

Even though Arabic is written from Right to Left, numbers in Arabic are written from Left to Right. Dates are written in an Arabic sentence from Left to Right as in English

Colors

black: أسود (Aswad)
white: أبيض (Abyadh)
gray: رمادي (Ramaadii)
red: أحمر (AHmar)
blue: أزرق (Azraq)
yellow: أصفر (Asfar)
green: أخضر (Akhdhar)
orange: برتقالي (Burtuqaali)
purple: أرجواني (Urjuwaan)
brown: بني (Bunny)

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: adash tazkara ila ____? Bekam Tazkara ila......?
One ticket to _____, please.: Tazkara wahida ila ___ law samaht
Where does this train/bus go?: Hazal qitar/bus biyruh ila wayn? Ila Ayn Yazhab haza Alkitar/autobis?
Where is the train/bus to _____?: Wein el-qitar/el-bus ila ___?
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: hal biwa'ef hazal qitar/bus fi__ ?
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: emta btatla el-qitar/el-bus ila ___?
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: emta byusil hazal qitar/bus fi___?

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: How do I get to _____ ? (Kayf bawsal la __)
...the train station?: ...the train station? (mahatet il qitar?)
...the bus station?: ...the bus station? (mawqif il bassat?)
...the airport?: ...المطار (al-matar?)
...downtown?: ...downtown? (West il balad?)
...the youth hostel?: ...the youth hostel? (Bayt El Shabab)
...the _____ hotel?: ...the _____ hotel? (otel?/ Al Fonduk)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? (sefara Al Amrikia, Canadeia, ostralia, beritania)
Where are there a lot of...: Where are there a lot of... (Wein fi kteer...)
...hotels?: ...hotels? (otelat/ Fanadek)
...restaurants?: ...restaurants? (mata'em)
...bars?: ...bars? (bars)
...sites to see?: ...sites to see? (amaken seyaheyeh?)
Can you show me on the map?: Can you show me on the map? (momken tfarjeeni ala al khareeta?)
street: شارع (shar'iah)
Turn left.: لف يسار (lif yasaar)
Turn right.: لف يمين (lif yameen)
left: يسار (yasaar)
right: يمين (yameen)
straight ahead: على طول (ala tul)
towards the _____: towards the _____ (bijehet il)
past the _____: past the _____ (baed il)
before the _____: before the _____ (abel il)
Watch for the _____.: Watch for the _____. (intibeh la)
intersection: intersection (taqato)
north: شمال (shamaal)
south: جنوب (janoob)
east: شرق (sharq)
west: غرب (gharb)
uphill: uphill (talaa)
downhill: downhill (nazleh)

Taxi

Taxi!: Taxi! (taxi!) Sayyara
Take me to _____, please.: Take me to _____, please. (khodni il....., law Samaht)
How much does it cost to get to _____?: How much does it cost to

get to _____? (adeish?/ Bekam Azhab ila......)

Take me there, please.: Take me there, please. (khodni ala __, law samaht)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: Do you have any rooms available? (Endkom ghoraf(alternatively- owad) edafeyeh?)
How much is a room for one person/two people?: How much is a room for one person/two people? (Adeish il ghorfeh li shakhs/shakhsein?)
Does the room come with...: Does the room come with... (Il ghorfeh bteeji ma...)
...bedsheets?: ...bedsheets? (sharashef?)
...a bathroom?: ...a bathroom? (hammam?)
...a telephone?: ...a telephone? (tele-phown?)
...a TV?: ...a TV? (televis-yon?)
May I see the room first?: May I see the room first? (Baqdar ashoof il ghorfeh abel?)
Do you have anything quieter?: Do you have anything quieter? (Fi eshi ah-da?.)
...bigger?: ...bigger? (akbar?)
...cleaner?: ...cleaner? (andaf?)
...cheaper?: ...cheaper? (arkhas?)
OK, I'll take it.: OK, I'll take it. (OK, bakhodha)
I will stay for _____ night(s).: I will stay for _____ night(s). (Rah aba'a kaman ___ yom)
Can you suggest another hotel?: Can you suggest another hotel? (...)
Do you have a safe?: Do you have a safe? (fi khazneh?)
...lockers?: ...lockers? (...)
Is breakfast/supper included?: Is breakfast/supper included? (...)
What time is breakfast/supper?: What time is breakfast/supper? (ay sei-a il ftoor/asha?)
Please clean my room.: Please clean my room. (momken tanadef il ghorfeh)
Can you wake me at sds_____? | Can you wake me at _____? (momken tfaye'ni al __ )
I want to check out.: I want to check out. (beddi ashoofha)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (Hal taqbal bi noqood Amreekeyah/Ostoraleyah/Canadeyah?)
Do you accept British pounds?: Do you accept British pounds? (Hal Taqbal bi Jenehat Biritaneyeh?)
Do you accept credit cards?: Do you accept credit cards? (...)
Can you change money for me?: Can you change money for me? (Momken tsarefli masari?)
Where can I get money changed?: Where can I get money changed? (Wein badar asaref masari?)
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: Can you change a traveler's check for me? (...)
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: Where can I get a traveler's check changed? (...)
What is the exchange rate?: What is the exchange rate? (...)
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?: Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? (Wein fi ATM?)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: A table for one person/two people, please. (Tawlah la wahed/tenein)
Can I look at the menu, please?: Can I look at the menu, please? (Momken ashoof il menu?)
Can I look in the kitchen?: Can I look in the kitchen? (Mumken ashuf il matbakh?)
Is there a house specialty?: Is there a house specialty? (...)
Is there a local specialty?: Is there a local specialty? (...)
I'm a vegetarian.: I'm a vegetarian. (Ana nabati)
I don't eat pork.: I don't eat pork. (Ma bakol lahem khanzeer)
I don't eat beef.: I don't eat beef. (Ma bakol lahmeh)
I only eat Halal food.: I only eat Halal food. (Bas bakol akel hallal)
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): Can you make it "lite", please? (khaleeha khafeefeh)
fixed-price meal: fixed-price meal (...)
à la carte: à la carte (à la carte)
breakfast: breakfast (ftoor) al iftar
lunch: lunch (...) al ghada
tea (meal): tea (...) shay'
supper: supper (...) al isha'
I want _____.: ._____أريد (ooreed)
I want a dish containing _____.: I want a dish containing _____. (...)
chicken: دجاج (dajaj)
beef: بقر (baqar)
fish: سمك (samak)
ham: ham (khanzeer)
sausage: sausage (...)
cheese: جبنة (jubneh)
eggs: بيض (baid)
salad: سَلَطَة (salata)
(fresh) vegetables: (fresh) vegetables (...) (fresh) khudrawat
(fresh) fruit: (fresh) fruit (fawakeh) (fresh) fawakat
bread: bread (...) ayish OR khubz
toast: toast (...)
noodles: noodles (makarona)
rice: أرز ( 'roz)
beans: beans (fool) fasoliyya
May I have a glass of _____?: May I have a glass of _____? (Momken Kaset___)
May I have a cup of _____?: May I have a cup of _____? (Momken finjan ___)
May I have a bottle of _____?: May I have a bottle of _____? (...)
coffee: coffee (qahweh) kah'wa
tea (drink): شاي ( shay' )
juice: عصير (Aseer)
(bubbly) water: water (may)
water: ماء ( maa' )
beer: بيرة (beerah)
red/white wine: red/white wine (nabeed ahmar/abyad)
May I have some _____?: May I have some _____? (momken ___?)
salt: ملح (malh)
black pepper: فلفل أسود (filfil aswad)
butter: زبدة (zibdeh)
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): Excuse me, waiter? (...)garcoon
I'm finished.: I'm finished. (khalast ) galaste
It was delicious.: It was delicious. (Zaki) Al-akl mazboot!
Please clear the plates.: Please clear the plates. (...)
The check, please.: The check, please. (...)Leh'seb min fadlak

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: Do you serve alcohol? (fi kohool?)
Is there table service?: Is there table service? (hal hnak khidmat tawlah)
A beer/two beers, please.: A beer/two beers, please. (beerah, min fadlik)
A glass of red/white wine, please.: A glass of red/white wine, please. (kaset nbeed)
A pint, please.: A pint, please. (nsf ltr , min fadlik)
A bottle, please.: A bottle, please. (zujaja, min fadlik)
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.: _____ and _____, please. (...)
whiskey: whiskey (whesky)
vodka: vodka (fodka)
rum: rum (rm)
water: ماء ( maa' )
club soda: club soda (soda)
tonic water: tonic water (miah muqwia)
orange juice: orange juice (aseer bortoqal)
Coke (soda): Coke (cola)
Do you have any bar snacks?: Do you have any bar snacks? (hal ladayk 'ayu wajabbat khafifat bel bar)
One more, please.: One more, please. (kaman wahed)
Another round, please.: Another round, please. (kaman wahed)
When is closing time?: When is closing time? (emta bitsakro?)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: Do you have this in my size? (Fi maqas?)
How much is this?: بكم هذا؟ (bikam hatha)
That's too expensive.: That's too expensive. (...) "ghali katheer!"
Would you take _____?: Would you take _____? (...)
expensive: غالي (ghali)
cheap: رخيص (rakhees)
I can't afford it.: I can't afford it. (...)
I don't want it.: I don't want it. (ma beddi)
You're cheating me.: You're cheating me. (harami)
I'm not interested.: I'm not interested. (lust muhtam)
OK, I'll take it.: OK, I'll take it. (ok)
Can I have a bag?: Can I have a bag? (oreedo kees)
Do you ship (overseas)?: Do you ship (overseas)? (...)
I need...: I need... (...) Ahtaj
...toothpaste.: ...toothpaste. (ma'ajoon asnan)
...a toothbrush.: ...a toothbrush. (forshaat asnan)
...tampons.: ...tampons. (always)
...soap.: ...soap. (saboon)
...shampoo.: ...shampoo. (shamboo)
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ...pain reliever. (mussakin)
...cold medicine.: ...cold medicine. (dawa rash-h)
...stomach medicine.: ...stomach medicine. (dawa baten)
...a razor.: ...a razor. (shafra)
...an umbrella.: ...an umbrella. (shamseyeh)
...sunblock lotion.: ...sunblock lotion. (...)
...a postcard.: ...بطاقة بريدية (bitaqa bareedia)
...postage stamps.: ...postage stamps. (tawabe' bareed)
...batteries.: ...batteries. (batareyat)
...writing paper.: ...ورق للكتبة (waraq lil-kitaba)
...a pen.: ...قلم (qalam)
...English-language books.: ...كتب إنجليزية (kutub ingliziya)
...English-language magazines.: ... مجلات انكليزية (majalat engiliziya)
...an English-language newspaper.: ...جرائد إنجليزية (jara'id ingliziya)
...an English-English dictionary.: ...an English-English dictionary. (qamoos ingilizi-ingilizi)

Driving

I want to rent a car.: I want to rent a car. (beddi astajer sayarah)
Can I get insurance?: Can I get insurance? (fi tameen?)
stop (on a street sign): stop (qif)
one way: one way (tho itjah wahed)
yield: yield (atti alaolwyeh)
no parking: no parking (mamnoo alistifaf)
speed limit: speed limit (alsuraa alkanooniya)
gas (petrol) station: gas station (mahatet banzeen)
petrol: petrol (betrol)
diesel: diesel (diesel)

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: I haven't done anything wrong. (Ma emelet eshi ghalat)
It was a misunderstanding.: It was a misunderstanding. (kan su' fahum )
Where are you taking me?: Where are you taking me? (wein akhedni?)
Am I under arrest?: Am I under arrest? (ana motaqal?)
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (Ana American/...)
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. (urid an atakalam ma al safara al American/...)
I want to talk to a lawyer.: I want to talk to a lawyer. (urid altahaduth ma muhami)
Can I just pay a fine now?: Can I just pay a fine now? (hal yumkinuni dafe gharamat alan?)

This Arabic phrasebook is a usable article. It explains pronunciation and the bare essentials of travel communication. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.