Arabic for Beginners

Arabic for Beginners is a Breni path in Modern Standard Arabic that teaches the alphabet first, so learners read and write from the start. Its 8 courses cover the alphabet and sounds, reading words, greetings, everyday phrases, two grammar courses, conversation, and Arabic in the real world, including how dialects differ. Learners finish able to read joined Arabic script, introduce themselves and see how roots build related words. The two script courses unlock everything else, as each course becomes available only once the previous one is done.

• 8 courses
• 11 learning objectives
• Level: beginner
• Language: English
• Price: Subscription, free trial

What you will be able to do

• Read and write all 28 Arabic letters in their joined forms
• Pronounce Arabic sounds that English lacks, such as ayn and the emphatic consonants
• Introduce yourself using masculine and feminine forms correctly
• Recognise how roots and patterns build related Arabic words
• Shop, order food and ask for directions in Arabic
• Read short signs and menus with or without vowel marks

Full curriculum

Part 1 · Sounds and script

1. Arabic Alphabet and Sounds: Reading and Writing Basics

Read and write the Arabic letters and pronounce Arabic sounds. Units, in order: Writing from right to left; Letter shapes at the start, middle and end of words; Sounds that do not exist in English; Short vowel marks; Long vowels and the shadda.

• — Right to Left Direction
  Learn the basic direction of Arabic writing and reading.
  • Writing Direction
  • Line Alignment
• — Letter Shapes in Words
  Discover how Arabic letters change shape depending on their position.
  • Initial Forms
  • Medial Forms
  • Final Forms
• — Sounds Unique to Arabic
  Master pronunciation of Arabic consonant sounds that do not exist in English.
  • Throat Sounds
  • Emphatic Consonants
• — Short Vowel Marks
  Use short vowel diacritics to guide correct pronunciation.
  • Fatha and Kasra
  • Damma and Sukun
• — Long Vowels and Shadda
  Master extended vowel sounds and doubled consonant stress.
  • Long Vowels
  • The Shadda Mark

2. Reading Arabic Words

Read whole Arabic words with and without vowel marks. Units, in order: Joining letters into words; The definite article al-; Sun and moon letters; Reading without vowel marks; Arabic and Eastern Arabic digits.

Part 2 · Basics

3. Arabic Greetings and Introductions

Greet people and introduce yourself in Arabic. Units, in order: As-salamu alaykum and its reply; Introducing yourself; Saying where you are from; Masculine and feminine forms of you; Polite phrases such as min fadlak and shukran.

4. Everyday Arabic Phrases

Handle numbers, shopping, food and directions in Arabic. Units, in order: Numbers and prices; Shopping and bargaining; Ordering food; Asking for directions; Days and times.

Part 3 · Core grammar

5. Arabic Grammar Basics

Build simple Arabic sentences about people and things. Units, in order: Sentences without a verb for is; Masculine and feminine nouns; Possessive endings; Present tense verbs; Asking questions.

6. More Arabic Grammar

Talk about the past and see how Arabic words are built. Units, in order: Past tense verbs; The root and pattern system; Adjective agreement; Plural forms; Negation.

Part 4 · Real use

7. Conversations in Arabic

Hold simple conversations in everyday situations. Units, in order: Small talk; Making plans; At the market; Travel and hotels; Asking someone to repeat.

8. Arabic in the Real World

Understand how Arabic is used across countries and media. Units, in order: Modern Standard Arabic and dialects compared; Egyptian and Levantine phrases in brief; Reading signs and menus; Writing a short message; Arabic in culture and media.

Sample: Arabic Alphabet and Sounds: Reading and Writing Basics

The opening tier, (Right to Left Direction). Learn the basic direction of Arabic writing and reading.

Writing Direction

Understand how to write Arabic words from right to left on paper.

Line Alignment

Practice horizontal alignment and spacing when moving right to left.

Questions about Arabic for Beginners

Should I learn Modern Standard Arabic or a dialect?

Modern Standard Arabic is used in writing, news and formal speech across the Arab world, so it is a good base. The last course introduces Egyptian and Levantine phrases.

Is the Arabic alphabet hard to learn?

It takes practice because letters change shape and words run right to left. Arabic for Beginners on Breni gives the script two full courses.

How long does it take to learn basic Arabic?

Reading the alphabet often takes a few weeks, and simple conversation takes longer. Each lesson takes about three minutes.

Is Breni an alternative to Duolingo for Arabic?

Yes. Breni offers Arabic in short lessons with immediate feedback, and its courses unlock in order.

Does this path teach Quranic Arabic?

No. It teaches Modern Standard Arabic, which shares the script and much grammar with Quranic Arabic, but it is not a religious studies course.

Related learning paths

• Hausa for Beginners
• Yoruba for Beginners
• English for Beginners
• Chinese for Beginners
• French for Beginners
• German for Beginners
• Igbo for Beginners
• Spanish for Beginners
• IELTS Preparation

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