Arabic Resources

Here is a list of our favorite Arabic learning resources and on the web.

Dictionaries and Other Tools

Arabic Almanac is a searchable database of more than 40 well-known Arabic dictionaries that have been digitized. This is a tremendous resource for Arabic Language Learners of all levels, though it requires an understanding of Arabic's root system. For an explanation of how to navigate the site, click here.

Google Translate is extremely convenient, but should be used with caution. Google Translate works best with Modern Arabic texts, such as the newspaper, and when used one word at a time, rather than for translating sentences or long passages. You can also create lists, which is helps in studying vocabulary.

al-Maany is an online Arabic-Arabic dictionary that allows for alphabetical searches. This can be easier than root-based searches. However, this resource requires a basic knowledge of Arabic.

Yamli is an online Arabic keyboard and search engine that converts Roman letters to their Arabic equivalents. If you're uncomfortable typing in Arabic, this is a great tool.

General Language Learning

Aswaat Arabiyya is a great, free service run by the University of Texas which offers free Arabic language videos at various proficiency levels. It has some great features to help you improve your listening proficiency. Many of the videos at the beginning levels include comprehension questions and exercises. You also have the ability to play the videos at slower than full-speed, which can help when first listening to the upper level videos. 

GLOSS or the Global Online Language Support System is a free service run by the U.S. Department of Defense and features comprehensive online language support for learners of various critical languages. The lessons in GLOSS are more comprehensive than those offered by Aswaat Arabiyya, including written and listening activities at all levels of the U.S. Government proficiency scale. Additionally, it features lessons in a variety of Arabic dialects, which can be of great benefit to students who mainly study Modern Standard Arabic.

YouTube offers an abundance of Arabic-language channels, many of which have English subtitles. Finding and following Arabic-language video content on YouTube can be a great way to improve listening comprehension and vocabulary. Just try searching for your favorite things in Arabic!