David F. DiMeo

When traveling in Arabic-speaking countries, you'll find that the words and phrases you use most frequently will be the common Arabic greetings. These Arabic words and phrases will quickly become second nature to you because you use them day in and day out with everyone you come across. Saying hello and good-bye Polite greetings are just as important in Arabic-speaking countries as they are in America.

Traveling internationally can be expensive, so it's crucial to have a good understanding of money and banking phrases in Arabic before traveling to the Middle East. Whether you're just visiting or you're planning to live in an Arabic-speaking country for a while, the best way to ensure that you get the most for your money is to be familiar with these common financial terms.

How do you ask basic questions in Arabic? Well, Arabic interrogative words mean the same as they do for English: who, what, when, where, why, and how. By knowing basic Arabic interrogatives, you'll be able to express your questions, even without an extensive vocabulary. For example, say you're visiting a street market and find a jacket you want to buy.

One of the best ways to explore another country is to go shopping. Whether you're shopping for clothes, food, or souvenirs, you can use the following phrases in any Arabic-speaking country to help you find just the right thing. There are some fabulous deals to be found in the Middle East. In most Arabic-speaking countries, there are street markets (called souqs) where you can buy anything from fruits and vegetables to antiques and collectibles.

When making plans, appointments, and travel arrangements in Arabic-speaking countries, you need to be able to state dates and other calendar terms in Arabic. Understanding the days of the week, the months of the year, and how to tell time in Arabic can help you to avoid confusion. Calendar terms In Arabic, the week always starts on Sunday and the names of the days of the week are based (mostly) on numbers.

Know how to ask for help in Arabic before you have an actual emergency. By learning a few simple Arabic words and phrases for emergencies, you can save valuable time in a crisis. The simplest way to ask for assistance is to say saa'adinii!, which means Help me! Of course, different situations require different kinds of help.

Learning the proper way to make introductions in Arabic can help you get off to the right start. The Arabic language tends to be a bit more formal than American English. Consequently, introductions in Arabic follow more of a pattern than they sometimes do in the United States. Don't worry, it’s not complicated — just good manners.

Using Arabic for numbers and counting can be a bit tricky if you need to work extensively with numbers, such as in mathematics and accounting. Arabic number can be confusing because the rules change depending on how the numbers are being used. To make things easier, take a look look at just the most common usage — without worrying about the more advanced rules for case and gender.

Making small talk in Arabic is just the same as in English. Touch on familiar topics like jobs, sports, children — just say it in Arabic! Small talk describes the brief conversations that you have with people you don't know well. Small talk is where friendships are made. If you know how to make small talk in Arabic you'll be able to "break the ice" and get to know some of the people you meet during your trip.