Learn Arabic online: a complete guide

What Arabic is

Arabic is a Semitic language written from right to left in a 28-letter alphabet. It is an official language in more than 20 countries and one of the six official languages of the United Nations.

Arabic has a shared written standard and many spoken varieties. That is the single most important fact for a new learner, because it decides what you should study first.

Modern Standard Arabic vs dialects

Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the shared formal language: books, newspapers, official documents, news broadcasts and formal speeches use it across the Arab world.

Spoken dialects are what people use at home, in shops and with friends. Moroccan Darija, Egyptian, Levantine and Gulf Arabic are the best known. They share much with MSA but differ in everyday vocabulary, pronunciation and some grammar.

Lisanova teaches two paths: Modern Standard Arabic and Moroccan Darija. We do not offer courses in other dialects.

Who should learn which

Choose MSA if you want to read and write, follow the news, study Arabic at university, or work with formal documents.

Choose Moroccan Darija if you live in Morocco, are moving there, have Moroccan family, or mainly want to talk with Moroccans.

Many long-term learners eventually study both, one at a time. Your teacher can help you decide in the free trial.

Arabic levels

Lisanova uses the CEFR scale as a reference, from A1 (beginner) to C2 (mastery). If you are unsure of your level, take the free level test or let your teacher assess you in the trial lesson.

The skills you build

Speaking and listening come first for most learners, especially in Darija. Reading and writing start with the alphabet and grow into texts, especially in MSA.

Alongside these, lessons cover vocabulary, grammar in context, pronunciation of sounds that do not exist in English or French, and the cultural habits that shape how Arabic is used.

A sample curriculum, grouped by your goal

There is no single fixed syllabus — your teacher builds the plan around your goal. Typical building blocks look like this:

Speaking and everyday life (Darija): sounds and pronunciation, greetings and introductions, numbers and prices, directions and transport, food and cafés, family and daily routines, then free conversation on topics from your own life.

Reading, writing and formal Arabic (MSA): the alphabet and sounds, reading vowelled then unvowelled text, core grammar in context, writing sentences and short texts, then news articles and documents.

Combined path: many learners start Darija for speaking and add MSA later for reading and writing, or the reverse. Your teacher sequences the two so they reinforce each other.

Teacher matching and lesson language

All Lisanova teachers are Moroccan. When you book, tell us your goal, your current level and the language you would like explanations in — English, French, Spanish or Arabic — and we match you with a suitable teacher. Not every teacher explains in every language, so we confirm the match before you start.

Lessons are live video calls with your teacher, one-to-one or in small Darija groups. You agree lesson times directly with your teacher.

Your teacher assesses your level, builds a plan around your goals, shares lesson materials and gives feedback as you progress. Staff can log each lesson so students see their lesson history in their own account.

Private packages: 8 hours $120, 12 hours $170, 16 hours $200, in 60-minute lessons. Group Darija classes: two one-hour classes per week, maximum four learners, $50 per month. The first trial lesson is free.

How to start

Book a free trial lesson with only your name, WhatsApp number and preferred package. We contact you on WhatsApp to agree a time. No payment is needed for the trial.