The Palestinian Arabic alphabet (or Arabic abjad), is the specific alphabet for writing the Levantine Arabic language in countries like Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. It follows the standard Arabic script, characterized by a right-to-left cursive style, and comprises 28 letters, with several displaying contextual variations.
Similar to the broader Arabic script, the Palestinian Arabic alphabet is classified as an abjad, requiring only consonants in writing. The optional use of diacritics to denote vowels renders it an impure abjad, allowing flexibility in representing vowel sounds.
Here, you can explore the Palestinian Arabic alphabet, including its phonetic representation, spelling, name, and how each letter appears in Arabic at the beginning, middle, and end of words. Just like in English, this guide provides a comprehensive overview of the alphabet’s usage and pronunciation in different positions within Arabic words.
Table of Contents
Arabic Alphabet Usage and Pronounciation Overview
| As in… | Phonetic Spelling | Name | Final | Middle | First | Alone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| man | ā | alif | ا / ـا | ـا | ا | ا |
| bed | b | bāʾ | ـب | ـبـ | بـ | ب |
| time | t | tāʾ | ـت | ـتـ | تـ | ت |
| thin | th | thāʾ | ـث | ـثـ | ثـ | ث |
| giraffe | j | jiim | ـج | ـجـ | جـ | ج |
| fricative (h) | h | hāʾ | ـح | ـحـ | حـ | ح |
| Scottish loch, velar [ħ] | kh | khāʾ | ـخ | ـخـ | خـ | خ |
| deep | d | dāl | ـد | ـد | د | د |
| that | dh | dhāl | ـذ | ـذ | ذ | ذ |
| room | r | rāʾ | ـر | ـر | ر | ر |
| zoo | z | zāy | ـز | ـز | ز | ز |
| saw | s | siin | ـس | ـسـ | سـ | س |
| shine | sh | shiin | ـش | ـشـ | شـ | ش |
| emphatic [s] as in psalm | ṣ | šād | ـص | ـص | صـ | ص |
| emphatic of [d] as in dark | đ | đād | ḍ | ـضـ | ضـ | ض |
| emphatic of [t] as in torch | ŧ | ŧāʾ | ŧ | ـطـ | طـ | ط |
| emphatic of [th] | Ż | ẓāʾ | ẓ | ـظـ | ظـ | ظ |
| Arabic sound | ʿain | ʿ | ـعـ | عـ | ع | |
| Arabic sound [gh] | gh | ghain | gh | ـغـ | غـ | غ |
| food | f | fāʾ | f | ـفـ | فـ | ف |
| similar to [c] in cod | q | qāf | q | ـقـ | قـ | ق |
| kin | k | kāf | k | ـكـ | كـ | ك |
| late | l | lām | l | ـلـ | لـ | ل |
| moon | m | miim | m | ـمـ | مـ | م |
| nice | n | nūn | n | ـنـ | نـ | ن |
| heel | h | hāʾ | h | ـھـ | ھـ | ه |
| wow/moon | w/ū | wāw | w/ū | ـو | و | و |
| yes/bead, machine | yes/ii | yāʾ | yes/ii | ـیـ | يـ | ي |
Conclusions
The Palestinian Arabic alphabet is a writing system specifically adapted for the Levantine Arabic language, used in countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. It follows the standard Arabic script, featuring a right-to-left cursive style and comprising 28 letters, many of which exhibit contextual variations.
Similar to the broader Arabic script, it is considered an abjad, where only consonants are mandatory, and the use of diacritics to indicate vowels is optional, resulting in its classification as an impure abjad. This alphabet guide includes information on phonetics, spelling, names, and the appearance of each letter in Arabic at the beginning, middle, and end of words.
Where Can You Study Arabic in Palestine?
The answer is quite easy if you’re considering where to study Arabic and potentially Volunteer in Palestine. The West Bank is one of the best choices for studying Arabic. Palestinians love meeting new people, introducing their Arabic culture, and supporting students in any way they can.
Furthermore, the spoken Arabic in Palestine is Levantine Arabic, which is the closest to Modern Standard Arabic. This is why it makes Palestine a great place to study Arabic. Additionally, there are many intensive Arabic programs with great reviews at affordable prices. Below, we will offer some of the best language centers and organizations that offer Arabic lessons in Palestine.
For those seeking to immerse themselves in Palestinian Arabic and engage in learning beyond the classroom, there are several Arabic language schools in Palestine worth exploring:
1. Travel to Palestine
The Travel to Palestine organization aims to enable tourists to come to Palestine and experience its rich culture. This is a land rich with history, hospitality, and generous people, and you can experience all of that through the Travel to Palestine organization. They offer intensive Palestinian Arabic courses as well as online lessons.
2. Excellence Center
The Excellence Center in Palestine has the experience of more than 13 years of offering Arabic programs (Levantine Arabic, Modern Standards Arabic as well as Ammiyya Arabic) for nonnative speakers in the West Bank, founded in Hebron in 2011, serves as a language school offering Arabic language education to international students, interns, and volunteers. It also provides cultural immersion activities and community development services to Palestinian children, refugees, youth, women, and community members in Hebron.
3. Salam Palestine
Salam Palestine, a community project in Hebron, Palestine, works with international volunteers to facilitate social and community development initiatives. Through workshops, events, and outreach programs, volunteers collaborate with residents to promote cultural exchange and improve social cohesion. The Center offers super intensive, intensive, and non-intensive Palestinian Arabic courses for people who would like to stay for 1-13 weeks.
4. Engage in Palestine
Engage in Palestine, based in Hebron, offers immersive experiences for international students who would like to go to Palestine and study Arabic in the West Bank, it is known for its Levantine (Shami) and Palestinian Arabic intensive lessons. Through diverse Arabic programs, participants engage in educational, social, and cultural initiatives, working alongside residents to support youth empowerment, women’s initiatives, and the well-being of Palestinian refugees.
5. Volunteer in Palestine
Volunteer in Palestine offers Levantine, Palestinian, and Modern Standard Arabic courses at different levels such as super-intensive, intensive immersion as well as non-intensive programs for anyone interested in studying Arabic in the West Bank, Palestine. The organization has a lot of reviews and it is known for its community development programs.
6. Study In Palestine
Study In Palestine offers a broad range of options to include intensive Arabic courses and summer Arabic programs at multiple levels. These Arabic programs cover super-intensive, intensive immersion, and non-intensive Arabic choices, designed for those looking to study Levantine (Shami Arabic), Palestinian dialects, and Modern Standard Arabic in the West Bank, Palestine.
Find Us Online
Do you have any questions for us? You can contact us via email: at info@ecpalestine.org, WhatsApp, or phone: +972 599-479880. We are looking forward to hearing from you!
Tags: how to write in the Palestinian Arabic alphabet, learn the Palestinian Arabic alphabet, master Palestinian Arabic letters
