One of the most common questions we hear from people who are beginning to study Arabic is, “which Arabic dialect should I learn?”. The truth is, the answer is different for each person. So, where do you begin? Below are a few questions to help you make that decision.

Why do you want to learn the language?

To speak with family and friends

Study the dialect that most of the people you want to talk to speak! This will make your conversations easier and more fruitful. It may also mean you have some study partners or casual tutors who can help you out.

To read poetry, literature, or to write the Arabic script

If you're more interested in reading and writing than you are in speaking and listening, Fusha or Classical Arabic are a good choice. While neither of these dialects is spoken in daily conversation, most modern written material is in Fusha and most old literature, poetry, and religious texts are in Classical Arabic. 

To work or study in the MENA/SWANA region 

If you’re going to be living in an Arabic-speaking region, it's best to study the dialect of the country you plan to be in. It may be worth studying some Fusha too if you’ll need to read and write for work or if you expect to be in formal situations where Fusha may be used.

How do you like to study? 

Reading and writing

Fusha is a good place to start for the reading/writing learners as most written works and formal documents are in Fusha.

Watching and listening

Find a show that interests you or a musical artist you like listening to and focus on that dialect. It will likely be one of the colloquial dialects. The easiest ones to find content in are, historically, the Levantine dialects - especially Lebanese and Syrian - as well as the Egyptian dialect. Historically, Egypt and Lebanon were where the majority of films and shows were produced and where many musical artists rose to fame. These days, there's a fair amount of content available in the Gulf and Mughrabi dialects so explore what’s out there and find something you enjoy!

Do you speak French?

The Lebanese dialect and some North African dialects have noticable French influence and use many French loanwords in everyday vocabulary. If you already know some French, it could prove useful for those dialects.

Do you have a hard time pronouncing the ق? 

If so, the Lebanese or Syrian dialect may be a good choice since they pronounce the ق as أ. Jordanian and a few other dialects often pronounce the letter like the “g” in goat, which may also be helpful. However, the Lebanese and Syrian dialects are generally lighter in their pronunciation and often easier to adjust to for people who struggle to pronounce the heavier Arabic letter sounds.

Deciding which Arabic dialect to study can feel overwhelming. When in doubt, start with a dialect you can find good resources for and build from there. Switching dialects is always an option once you know the basics in Arabic and being able to understand multiple dialects can be an asset.

P.S. If you decide to dive into the Levantine dialect, we have a range of resources available for you on our website.