Arabic varieties compared
Which Arabic dialect should I learn for travel?
Which Arabic to learn for your trip: a destination-by-destination guide to Morocco, Egypt, the Levant, the Gulf and the Maghreb, and when MSA basics are enough.
Short answer
Learn a few phrases in the spoken Arabic of the place you are visiting, and MSA basics if you are visiting several countries. For Morocco, learn Moroccan Darija. For Egypt, Egyptian; for Jordan, Lebanon or Palestine, Levantine; for the Gulf states and Saudi Arabia, the local Gulf or Saudi dialect, although English is widely used in tourism there. Lisanova teaches Darija for Morocco and MSA; it does not run classes in other dialects.
Destination at a glance
The spoken Arabic differs by country; polite greetings such as as-salamu ʿalaykum (peace be upon you) and shukran (thank you) are understood everywhere.
| Destination | Everyday spoken Arabic | Also widely used | Lisanova option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | Moroccan Darija | French in cities; Amazigh in many regions | Darija lessons with a travel focus |
| Tunisia, Algeria | Tunisian, Algerian Arabic | French | Darija gives a partial head start; MSA for signs |
| Egypt | Egyptian Arabic | English in tourism | MSA for signs and reading only |
| Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine | Levantine Arabic | English; French in Lebanon | MSA for signs and reading only |
| UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait | Gulf Arabic | English, very widely | MSA for signs and reading only |
| Saudi Arabia | Najdi, Hejazi and other dialects | English in business and tourism | MSA for signs and reading only |
| Oman | Omani Arabic | English | MSA for signs and reading only |
| Several countries | Varies | — | MSA basics: script, numbers, polite phrases |
Arabic for Morocco
Travellers in Morocco use Arabic most in taxis, markets, cafés, riads and when greeting people. A few Darija lessons focused on greetings, numbers and prices, directions and food make a real difference, and Moroccans appreciate the effort. French helps in cities, but Darija is what you hear around you. See the Darija travel guides linked below for phrases.
Travelling to several Arab countries
If your trip covers several countries, MSA basics are the common thread: reading the alphabet on signs and menus, Arabic numbers, and polite phrases understood everywhere. People will usually reply in their own dialect, so expect to understand more from context than from words at first.
Short trip or long stay?
For a short trip, a handful of lessons on survival phrases is realistic. For a long stay, work or study, learn the local dialect properly — and in Morocco, add MSA reading for forms, signs and news.
What Lisanova offers
Lisanova Academy teaches Modern Standard Arabic and Moroccan Darija — plus separate Quran & Islamic Studies courses — online from Morocco, in private 60-minute video lessons with Moroccan teachers. It does not teach Egyptian, Levantine, Gulf, Iraqi or other Arabic dialects. The first trial lesson is free; one private hour is $20, and private packages are 8 hours $120, 12 hours $170 and 16 hours $200.
Lessons can be explained in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese or Arabic, depending on the teacher; not every teacher speaks every one of these languages.
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Related guides
- Darija for travellers visiting Morocco
- What Arabic should I learn before visiting Morocco?
- Which Arabic dialect should I learn?
See also Modern Standard Arabic lessons, Moroccan Arabic lessons, group Darija classes and pricing.
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