arabic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Formal/Neutral
Quick answer
What does “arabic” mean?
Relating to the people, language, culture, or countries of the Arab world.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to the people, language, culture, or countries of the Arab world.
Pertaining to the script or numerals originating from the Arab world; also used to describe coffee prepared in a specific Middle Eastern style.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both dialects due to academic, cultural, and geopolitical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “arabic” in a Sentence
[BE] + Arabic[SPEAK/LEARN/STUDY] + Arabic[WRITE/READ/TRANSLATE] + [INTO/FROM] + ArabicVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “arabic” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She is taking an Arabic course at university.
- The manuscript features beautiful Arabic calligraphy.
American English
- He ordered an Arabic coffee after dinner.
- The document requires an Arabic translation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contexts of regional markets, e.g., 'Arabic-speaking clients' or 'Arabic software localization.'
Academic
Frequent in linguistic, cultural, historical, and religious studies contexts.
Everyday
Common when discussing language learning, travel, food, or cultural events.
Technical
In computing for language encoding (e.g., 'Arabic script support'), typography, and numeral systems.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “arabic”
- Using 'Arab' as an adjective for the language (e.g., 'I speak Arab' - incorrect).
- Omitting the capital letter when it refers to the proper noun/language.
- Confusing 'Arabic numerals' (0-9) with the numerals used in Arabic script.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Arab' primarily refers to the people and their ethnic or cultural identity (e.g., Arab world, Arab League). 'Arabic' refers to the language, script, or things pertaining to it (e.g., Arabic grammar, Arabic coffee).
No, this is a common point of confusion. 'Arabic numerals' (0,1,2,3...) are the standard international numeral system, originating from India via the Arab world. In much of the Arab world, different numeral symbols (٠,١,٢,٣...) are often used and are also called 'Arabic numerals' in a local context.
Yes, when it refers to the language or derives from the proper noun 'Arab' (e.g., Arabic language, Arabic culture). It follows the rule for proper adjectives.
Primarily, yes. It can function as a noun only in the phrase 'the Arabic' meaning 'the Arabic language' (e.g., 'She speaks the Arabic of North Africa'). The standalone noun for the language is simply 'Arabic' (e.g., 'Arabic is a Semitic language').
Relating to the people, language, culture, or countries of the Arab world.
Arabic is usually formal/neutral in register.
Arabic: in British English it is pronounced /ˈær.ə.bɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈer.ə.bɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's all Arabic to me (play on 'It's all Greek to me')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"An ARAb wrote it in ARAbic." Links the people (Arab) to the language/adjective form (Arabic).
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A KEY (to understanding a culture).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses of 'Arabic' is INCORRECT?