Jordan speaks Levantine Arabic, a dialect shared broadly with Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon. While Modern Standard Arabic is used in media and education, daily conversation uses the Jordanian dialect. English is taught in schools and widely understood in cities and tourist areas, but a handful of Arabic phrases will transform your interactions - especially in local neighbourhoods, Bedouin camps, and rural communities.
Greetings and Basics
| English | Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Peace be upon you | السلام عليكم | as-sa-LAAM a-LAY-kum |
| Reply to greeting | وعليكم السلام | wa-a-LAY-kum as-sa-LAAM |
| Hello | مرحبا | MAR-ha-ba |
| Welcome | أهلا وسهلا | AH-lan wa-SAH-lan |
| Good morning | صباح الخير | sa-BAH al-KHAYR |
| Good evening | مساء الخير | ma-SAA al-KHAYR |
| Thank you | شكراً | SHUK-ran |
| Please | لو سمحت | law sa-MAHT |
| Yes | أيوا | AY-wa |
| No | لأ | LA-a |
| Excuse me | عفواً | AF-wan |
| Goodbye | مع السلامة | ma-as-sa-LAA-ma |
Getting Around
| English | Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Where is…? | وين…؟ | WAYN…? |
| How much is this? | قديش هاد؟ | ad-DAYSH HAAD? |
| Too expensive | غالي كتير | GHAA-lee k-TEER |
| Left | شمال | shma-AL |
| Right | يمين | ya-MEEN |
| Straight ahead | دغري | DUGH-ree |
| Stop here | وقف هون | WA-if HONE |
| I want to go to… | بدي أروح على… | BID-dee A-rooh ALA… |
| Far | بعيد | b-EED |
| Near | قريب | a-REEB |
Food and Dining
| English | Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Food | أكل | A-kil |
| Water | مي | MAY |
| The bill, please | الحساب لو سمحت | al-hi-SAAB law sa-MAHT |
| Delicious | زاكي | ZAA-kee |
| Coffee | قهوة | AH-weh |
| Tea | شاي | SHAY |
| Bread | خبز | KHUBZ |
| Meat | لحمة | LAH-meh |
| Chicken | دجاج | da-JAAJ |
| I’m vegetarian | أنا نباتي | ANA na-BAA-tee |
| More, please | كمان لو سمحت | ka-MAAN law sa-MAHT |
Numbers
| Number | Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|
| 1 | واحد | WAA-had |
| 2 | اثنين | ith-NAYN |
| 3 | ثلاثة | tla-TEH |
| 4 | أربعة | ar-BA-ah |
| 5 | خمسة | KHAM-seh |
| 6 | ستة | SIT-teh |
| 7 | سبعة | SAB-ah |
| 8 | ثمانية | tma-NYEH |
| 9 | تسعة | TIS-ah |
| 10 | عشرة | ASH-ra |
Emergency Phrases
| English | Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|
| Help! | ساعدوني! | saa-i-DOO-nee |
| Police | شرطة | SHUR-ta |
| Hospital | مستشفى | mus-TASH-fa |
| I need a doctor | بدي دكتور | BID-dee duk-TOOR |
| I am lost | أنا ضايع | ANA DAA-yi |
| Call an ambulance | اتصل بالإسعاف | it-ta-SIL bil-is-AAF |
Jordanian Arabic softens several sounds compared to formal Arabic. The “q” (qaaf) is typically dropped to a glottal stop - so “qahwa” (coffee) becomes “ahweh” locally. Stress patterns are intuitive and similar to English in many cases. We recommend practising “as-salaam alaikum” and “shukran” before arrival - these two phrases alone will carry you through most encounters. Jordanians are exceptionally welcoming and will often respond to your Arabic attempts with warm encouragement and an invitation for tea. Getting from the airport into the capital without negotiating a taxi fare is also a good way to arrive stress-free - pre-book an Amman airport transfer and focus on the language practice when you land.
Related guides: First Time in Jordan · Jordan Safety Guide · Jordan Money Guide
Key Destinations
