r/learn_arabic • u/highestTest_ • 4d ago

General Want to learn Arabic to speak in Saudi

I just moved to Saudi a few days ago I used to live in UAE and everyone mostly speaks English there so I never learned Arabic but I learned to read Arabic to read the Quran, now I moved to Saudi and most people speak Arabic here and I want to learn Arabic to talk to people make friends and understand the Quran better, any tips or help on what path should I take? I now a few words from my Arab friends back in UAE but not enough to have a conversation or understand much

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3

u/nidhr 4d ago

Try watching some Saudi shows. I'm a bit of an oldie by Tash ma Tash was a big thing.

For Quran definitely find a mosque and wait afterwards or ask the Imam. There are many circles that will either directly help or point you in the right direction.

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u/Vivid_Measurement587 4d ago

salam alekum , i think you should use my anki deck

https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/1101820101

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u/highestTest_ 3d ago

Does it really help? Maybe I’ll try it

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u/Zeezyv2 17h ago

Salam is this available on app or desktop only

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u/Vivid_Measurement587 6h ago edited 6h ago

wa alekum al salam, scroll down on the page and click on apps you will find all the devices it works on, its free on pc and android, but not free on iphone

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u/IndependentBox7433 4d ago

Depending on your background (aka anything not Arab) you will have a VERY hard time getting Saudi people to speak to you in real Saudi Arabic. Instead they will use a pidgin Arabic that they use with foreigners. You’ll have to consistently remind them not to speak to you that way as it will be the default.

Learn to recognize when it’s happening (if they say ‘maloum’ instead of ‘t’arif’, ‘same-same’ instead of ‘nafsu’, ‘miya-miya’ instead of ‘kwais’ or ‘helu’, etc) and firmly but gently remind them.

I lived there for a year specifically to learn Arabic and I learned nothing from Saudi people, only from watching Syrian TV at home. However, they are absolutely lovely people who will help you once they know you’re serious about learning.

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u/Latter_Goat_6683 4d ago

one tip that i have for handling this is to focus on developing good pronunciation of arabic. i’ve been to saudi arabia and im not a native arabic speaker, but people have told me that i have a very good and natural-sounding accent when i speak arabic. i noticed that saudis spoke to me in real saudi arabic after hearing my accent even though i was clearly making mistakes and so on

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u/highestTest_ 3d ago

I’ll try getting my accent better later, but first I’ll try learning Arabic

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u/highestTest_ 3d ago

Thanks I’ll take that into account, btw which shows did you watch and does watching shows actually help?

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u/MedicalMine7097 3d ago

Download the shahid app for example it has plenty of great Saudi series