Directions in Arabic

Getting directions in Arabic will be much easier after this free audio lesson. The Rocket Arabic team is here to arm you with the Arabic words and phrases you’ll need to find your way around an Arabic-speaking country.

Unfortunately it’s not quite as simple as learning the word for 'where' in Arabic and a few Arabic road signs - as you may have already guessed, understanding the directions you are given can be more challenging than asking the questions!

But don’t worry, a little practice is all you need – listen to the Arabic pronunciation in the audio and say the Arabic words and phrases aloud, as you imagine yourself strolling around Cairo or Alexandria.

Resources for further reading:

Pronunciation help for directions in Arabic

Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record

Rocket Record lets you perfect your Arabic pronunciation. Just listen to the native speaker audio and then use the microphone icon to record yourself. Once you’re done, you’ll get a score out of 100 on your pronunciation and can listen to your own audio playback. (Use a headset mic for best results.) Problems? Click here!

ممكن تقوللي محطة القطر فين, لو سمحت؟

Momken t2oly ma7atet el 2atr feyn, lao sama7t?

Can you please tell me where the train station is?

اروح محطة القطر ازاي؟

Arou7 ma7atet el 2atr ezay?

How do I get to the train station?

حضرتك تعرف محطة القطر فين؟

7adretak te3raf ma7atet el 2atr feyn?

Do you know where the train station is? (formal)

تعرف محطة القطر فين؟

Te3raf ma7atet el 2atr fen?

Do you know where the train station is? (casual)

Right turn in Arabic

Another more complete way of asking for directions is by saying…

بعد اذن حضرتك! ممكن تقوللي فين محطة القطر من فضلك؟

Ba3d ezn 7adretak! Momken t2oly feyn ma7atet el 2atr men fudluk?

Excuse me! Could you please tell me where the train station is? (formal)

ممكن تقوللي فين محطة القطر من فضلك؟

Momken t2oly ma7atet el 2atr fen, men fudluk?

Excuse me please! Could you please tell me where the train station is? (casual)

Here’s a list of some places you might like to go to and places you may pass on the way to getting there.

شركة الطيران

Sherket el tayaran

The travel agency

الشارع

El share3

The street

المول

El mall

The shopping center

المركز التاريخي

El markaz el taree7'y

The historic center

قسم البوليس

2esm el police

The police station

الستشفى

El mostashfa

The hospital

الجنينة

El genena

The park

التاون هول

El town hall

The town hall

الحمامات العمومية

El 7amamat el 3momeya

The public restrooms

وسط البلد

West el balad

The town center

الحي

El 7ay

The suburb

جنينة البيرا

Genenet el beera

The beer garden

الاثار

El 2asar

The monument

البار

El bar

The bar

Here are some words and phrases you might get to hear when asking for directions…

للجنوب

Lelganoob

To the south

جنب

ganb

Next to

قدام

odam

In front of

الكبري

El kobry

The bridge

الناصية

El nasyah

The corner

الشارع اللي بعد الجاي.

El share3 ely ba3d el gayye.

The street after the next.

الشارع اللي جاي على اليمين.

El share3 ely gayye 3la el yemeen.

The next street to the right.

الشارع اللي جاي على الشمال.

El share3 ely gayye 3la el shemal.

The next street to the left.

على الناصية

3la el nasyah

Around the corner

للشرق

Lelshar2

To the east

شمال

Shemal

Left

للشمال

Lelshamal

To the north

للغرب

Lel3'arb

To the west

في اول

Fee awel

At the beginning of

في آخر

Fee a7'er

At the end of

دوغري

Do3'ry

Straight

لليمين

Lelyemeen

To the right

للشمال

Lelshemal

To the left

يمين

Yemeen

Right

When someone gives you directions, they’ll tell you that you need to take such-and-such street; turn left, and then follow another street…

خد

7'od

Take…

عدي

3addy

Cross

اتبع

Etba3

Follow

روح

Rou7

Go

Now, you might want to know whether it is far or not…

هو بعيد اوي؟

Howa be3eed awy?

Is it very far?

هو بعيد.

Howa be3eed.

It's far.

هو مش بعيد.

Howa mesh be3eed.

It's not far.

هو قريب؟

Howa orayeb?

Is it close by?

هو قريب.

Howa orayeb.

It's close by.

هو مش قريب.

Howa mesh orayeb.

It's not close by.

That’s it for this lesson. I hope you enjoyed the lesson!

Here are a few recommended Arabic lessons to try next!

!مع السلامة (Ma3a essalama!) Goodbye!

Amira Zaki: Rocket Arabic

Make It Stick With Rocket Reinforcement

Reinforce your learning from this lesson with the Rocket Reinforcement activities!