name
Common
Arabic
A-ruh-bihk
Arabic (name) means a major Semitic language spoken across the Middle East and North Africa, with many regional dialects and a shared formal written form. Example: “He spent a year in Cairo learning Arabic.”
name
1
A major Semitic language spoken across the Middle East and North Africa, with many regional dialects and a shared formal written form.
"He spent a year in Cairo learning Arabic."
"Modern Standard Arabic is used in news broadcasts across the Arab world."
adj
1
Relating to the Arabic language or its script; also used for the standard "0-9" digit system (Arabic numerals), which actually reached Europe via Arab scholars rather than being invented by them.
"The invoice used Arabic numerals instead of Roman ones."
How to use Arabic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe Arabic language and its script, or things written using ordinary digits (1, 2, 3...) rather than Roman numerals.
Common mistake
Use "Arabic" for the language, script, and numerals; use "Arabian" for people, places, and the horse breed.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
Arabic numerals
speak Arabic
Arabic script
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He spent a year in Cairo learning _____.
Etymology
From Latin arabicus, from Greek Arabikos, ultimately from Arab plus an adjective-forming suffix.
Rhymes for Arabic
See all rhymes for Arabic →Frequently asked questions
What does “Arabic” mean?
The word “Arabic” means a major Semitic language spoken across the Middle East and North Africa, with many regional dialects and a shared formal written form. In plain terms, the Arabic language and its script, or things written using ordinary digits (1, 2, 3...) rather than Roman numerals.
How do you pronounce “Arabic”?
“Arabic” is pronounced A-ruh-bihk (/ˈæɹəbɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “Arabic” in a sentence?
Here is “Arabic” used in a sentence: “He spent a year in Cairo learning Arabic.”
What part of speech is “Arabic”?
Depending on how it is used, “Arabic” can be a name and an adjective.
Where does the word “Arabic” come from?
The word “Arabic” comes from Latin. From Latin arabicus, from Greek Arabikos, ultimately from Arab plus an adjective-forming suffix.
Is “Arabic” a common word?
“Arabic” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Arabic” have?
“Arabic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a major Semitic language spoken across the Middle East and North Africa, with many regional dialects and a shared formal written form.
What is the difference between Arab, Arabic, and Arabian?
Arab refers to the people and their nations, as in "Arab countries" or "the Arab world." Arabic refers to the language and its script: you speak Arabic and read Arabic writing. Arabian is mostly geographic, as in the Arabian Peninsula or Arabian horses.
Were Arabic numerals invented by Arabs?
Not originally. The 0-9 digits are called Arabic numerals because Europe learned the system from Arab scholars, who transmitted and refined it. The numerals themselves are generally traced to earlier Indian mathematics, which is why the system is often called Hindu-Arabic numerals.
Is Arabic one language or many dialects?
Both descriptions are used. Arabic has many spoken regional dialects, which can differ so much that speakers from distant countries may find each other hard to follow, alongside a shared formal written form — often called Modern Standard Arabic — used in media, education, and official contexts. Learners typically choose between the standard form and one dialect.
Which direction is Arabic written in?
Arabic runs from right to left. The script is cursive by design, with most letters joining their neighbors and changing shape according to their position in a word, though numerals inside Arabic text are written left to right.
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