21 Best Books to Learn Arabic for Beginners and Beyond

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The hard truth is that Arabic is one of the most difficult languages in the world. But while it’s hard, there are plenty of resources available to help you, from apps to books.

You are reading: Arabic books for beginners

For motivation, always remember that fluency in Arabic is a useful skill. Learn Arabic will introduce you to a community of people with whom you can explore, communicate and learn. It also opens job opportunities in the Middle East and beyond.

once you’ve started advancing in Arabic, you may find yourself exploring the depths of Arabic literature and poetry. So without further ado, here are the best books to learn Arabic!

Editor’s note: Want to reach fluency faster? Combine these books with Arabic learning apps such as Mondly and Drops, and pick up speaking skills with the world-famous Pimsleur. And how about hiring an affordable Arabic tutor through italki?

best books to learn the Arabic alphabet

The first thing you want to do as a beginner in Arabic is learn the alphabet.

many books for beginners start directly to study the language because they assume that you have mastered the letters. That’s why you better get familiar with the alphabet before you have a hard time reading the table of contents!

The following books are an excellent introduction to the Arabic alphabet because they explain the rules in great detail. there is also a separate section for practicing Arabic writing.

Don’t worry if you think you need more practice; Just like you learned the English alphabet, there are also various children’s books available for you to practice Arabic letters.

1. writing arabic characters for dummies

if you’re looking for a place to start, it’s definitely for dummies.

This book is ideal for absolute beginners for those who want to write in Arabic. offers a simple introduction to the language, but focuses primarily on the Arabic script. there’s plenty of room for you to practice your letters, and in no time you’ll find yourself writing sentences.

This book consists of helpful reminders and suggestions that are sure to come in handy on your learning journey. Be sure to check out the free instructional videos, activities, and bonus practices that come with this book!

This book is best for:

introduction to Arabic writing with a detailed explanation of Arabic letters
strategies to help you write Arabic and understand basic fushah phrases
practice Arabic writing with letters, words and phrases

2. master the arabic alphabet, a handwriting practice book

If you have grasped the general concept of Arabic letters, you may want to start writing them. This book only consists of exercises for you to practice writing your Arabic letters.

What’s particularly nice about this book is that it also covers the various styles in which letters are written. there’s more than enough space for you to practice and frankly, for the price, it’s not a bad deal!

This book is best for:

for absolute beginners who just need to practice writing Arabic letters
enough space to write each letter
get familiar with the different lettering styles
understand basic pronunciation

best arabic books for beginners

Now that you’ve mastered the Arabic alphabet, you’re ready to learn the good stuff for yourself! But before you start, there are a couple of things you want to familiarize yourself with, such as the history of Arabic, its reading techniques, rules, and more.

We know that some language books can be overwhelming and dense, which often turns people off. Fortunately, the following books are a friendly introduction to the Arabic language.

3. Arabic: The Ultimate Learning Guide for Beginners – Master the Basics of the Arabic Language

Perhaps you are looking for a proper introduction to the Arabic language. well, look no further because here you will find a complete breakdown of what to focus on when learning Arabic.

We know that some of the rules can be overwhelming at first, like reading the script from right to left. however, this book does a great job of showing you the beauty of the language.

although please note that this book is for guidance only and does not contain any practice exercises. however, once you’ve read it, you’ll definitely have a better idea of your strengths and weaknesses.

This book is best for:

beginners who have a general idea of the Arabic language
grasp the basics of Arabic, such as letters, vowels and consonants
introduce vocabulary, verbs, tenses verbs, and pronouns
learn everyday words like family phrases and directions

4. arabic course for english speaking students – 3 volume set from islamic university of madina

One of the reasons many people, specifically Muslims, want to learn Arabic is that it is the language of the Koran. In fact, many Muslims today prefer to learn the correct Arabic as in the holy book rather than the colloquial language.

That’s why this book is best for beginners who are willing to study Arabic properly. covers the language in great depth according to the terminology of the quran and hadith.

This book is best for:

beginners who have learned the alphabets
learn fushah arabic with a strong focus on the quran and hadith
covering a wide range of the arabic language including rules grammar and vocabulary
practicing Arabic with exercises and answers
following along with the video courses on youtube

5. reading and speaking arabic for beginners with audio cd, second edition

We get it, you probably want to learn something you can *really* use. Fortunately, this book is.

mainly teaches basic words and phrases used in everyday language, which is great for those who want to communicate in Arabic. Put your Arabic to the test with the activities and practices provided!

This book is best for:

learn basic Arabic conversations
track progress using activities, quizzes, flashcards and more
work simultaneously with the provided audio

6. salamat! learn arabic with ease – learn the building blocks of modern standard arabic

if you want to take a step beyond the previous book, then this is the place. While it contains the common words and phrases used in modern Arabic, it also covers various conversation topics, basic grammar, and writing practice.

Make sure you can understand and write some Arabic before buying this book because it doesn’t contain much English compared to the books mentioned above. however, an audio set is provided to help you follow along.

Consider this as practice for when you progress to the next stages of Arabic.

This book is best for:

detailed introduction to letters, vowels and grammar
practice writing letters, words and sentences in Arabic
learn commonly used modern Arabic currently
following along with the provided mp3 audio cd to improve pronunciation

7. learn arabic in 30 days

For people who are short on time and want to learn Arabic as quickly as possible, this book covers it all. it’s broken down into five components and walks through each part so that by the end you can have a basic conversation.

In addition, it contains a separate section for those who wish to review their Islamic expressions. for its price, we think it’s a good value.

This book is best for:

quickly learn the alphabet, words, sentences, grammar and conversation topics.
learn to read with vowels
understand basic sentences and conversation topics</ li
people who need an English translation while learning Arabic

best books to learn Arabic vocabulary

To start the vocabulary, you may want to bring some picture books with you. something I found quite useful was to carry a mini dictionary because I could easily refer to the word I was looking for.

The following books are particularly good for learning Arabic vocabulary.

8. Arabic-English bilingual visual dictionary

For our visual learners, this book contains images with their respective translations. it is perfect for beginners because it covers various scenarios with their definitions so that one really expands their vocabulary.

This book is best for:

learn everyday words in common environments
understand phrases in both Arabic and English
recognize words with their respective images
access a free audio app to listen to pronunciation

9. merriam-webster’s arabic-english dictionary, latest edition, mass market paperback

Looking for a pocket diary? merriam webster has you covered.

With over 22,000 translations, plus a separate section for English irregular verbs, English pronunciation and the Arabic alphabet to look up, this mini dictionary is a great help for students, travelers and translators.

This book is best for:

transport for daily activities
find all the words you need for everyday conversations
refer to additional rules such as irregular verbs in English, symbols of English pronunciation, and the Arabic alphabet.

best books for intermediate students

When the beginning stages of Arabic start to seem easy, you should move on to the next stage: Intermediate Learner.

At this point, the focus will shift to expanding vocabulary, perfecting grammar, and creating well-constructed sentences. the following books are best for intermediate level students.

10. Arabic vocabulary: with 145 exercises

It’s time to move away from the picture dictionary. this practice makes the book perfect is a great way to start expanding your vocabulary. The book consists of both Modern Arabic and Fushah words, essentially giving you a variety to start implementing in your everyday conversations.

This book is best for:

intermediate level students who want to expand their vocabulary
learn advanced words to use in various settings
practice vocabulary and expressions with more than 250 exercises

11. arabic verb tenses

another practice makes a perfect book designed to help intermediate students perfect their tenses. verbs can be a tricky component when learning Arabic, as they can change the entire sentence by a difference of one letter.

This book covers the general rules in detail and provides several exercises to help you practice.

This book is best for:

detailed explanations about verbs, irregular verbs, vowels and more
complete exercises to practice verb tenses
for students to consult examples of verbs

12. Arabic pronouns and prepositions

Our final practice makes the perfect book covering Arabic pronouns and prepositions. Pronouns are a crucial part of Arabic because most words in the language are expressed based on who is being addressed.

Likewise, because prepositions are the building blocks of a sentence, it is one of the first concepts taught in Arabic.

This book is best for:

cover a wide range of pronouns, including subject, possessive, object, demonstrative and more
recognize which pronouns to use when addressing people
form correct sentences accurately pronouns and prepositions
perfect propositions with verbs

best arabic grammar books

The following Arabic learning books are also for intermediate learners, but they cover the grammar in full. If you’re looking to study vocabulary, tenses, and pronouns and prepositions in one go, then the books below are the best to guide you.

13. a reference grammar of Modern Standard Arabic (reference grammars)

This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of Arabic grammar. thoroughly reviews every aspect of Arabic grammar, providing detailed explanations and concrete examples.

By the end of this book, you will have mastered the main rules of Arabic. you will also be able to create sentences and communicate with Arabic speakers. It’s expensive but it’s worth it!

This book is best for:

intermediate looking for an all-in-one Arabic book
that studies every aspect of the language in detail, including verbs, nouns, participles, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns and much more.

14. Modern Standard Arabic Grammar: A Student’s Guide 1st Edition

This dense book is considered one of the best books for intermediate learners because it looks at the Arabic language in great depth.

Concepts are organized into categories, each containing clear and comprehensive explanations as well as descriptive examples to help students easily understand the concepts being taught.

In other words, if you’re willing to spend some money on a single book that clearly teaches every concept, then this is it.

This book is best for:

learn Modern Standard Arabic for intermediate learners
establish the building blocks of Arabic, including syntax, grammar rules, and alphabetic and numerical rules
visual learners who understand concepts through the use of charts, graphs, and symbols

15. easy arabic grammar

This is another easy grammar book that is ideal for detailed explanations of the various grammatical aspects of Arabic.

The book is divided into two sections, one for the basics of Arabic and one for verbs. the grammar sections cover topics such as masculine and feminine, plurals, adjectives, and the verbs portion explains in detail the different components of verbs.

In addition, there is a summary page at the end of each unit to remind you of the main concepts.

This book is best for:

study Arabic grammar at the intermediate level
practice Arabic grammar with examples, exercises and activities

best audiobooks to learn Arabic

When it comes to learning a language, it is most helpful to refer to audio materials such as TV shows, movies, songs, and even audio books. in fact, audiobooks are a particularly useful tool because they ensure accurate pronunciation.

Remember, the same word in Arabic can mean something completely different with an incorrect pronunciation. We know that pronouncing “haa” or “khaa” can be particularly tricky for novices, so an audiobook is your best bet for learning on your own if you don’t have an instructor available.

The following audiobooks are the best to help you with your pronunciations and perfect an Arabic accent.

16. learn Arabic: 3000 essential words and phrases

While your general dictionary is great for learning new vocabulary, this audiobook will ensure you pronounce the words correctly.

just let this run in the background and repeat after words so you can really master Arabic words with that Arabic accent.

This book is best for:

learn a wide range of Arabic words and expressions
by following the English translation that accompanies the Arabic phrases
using these expressions in common contexts

17. arabic pimsleur

If you’re looking for audiobooks to learn Arabic, pimsleur won’t go wrong.

This well-known brand offers basic 30-minute audio lessons that you can listen to anytime, anywhere – even in your car while driving.

In addition, you can combine your listening lessons with additional learning materials, such as interactive quizzes, flashcards and games.

pimsleur offers Eastern, Egyptian and Modern Standard Arabic.

here’s an offer for you: try pimsleur arabic absolutely free today!

This audiobook is best for:

learn Arabic quickly and effectively
a strong focus on conversational Arabic skills
grasp the correct accent and pronunciation of words

18. learn Arabic for beginners easily & in your car! vocabulary editing!

For those looking to improve their Egyptian Arabic, this audiobook is an easy-to-use, hands-free tool to help you.

Simply play the audio in your car and follow along as the instructor repeats each word twice in Arabic and English to help you learn 1500 words in no time.

This book is best for:

beginners just looking to learn new vocabulary
learn the Egyptian accent

stories for beginners and advanced

Now that you are familiar with Arabic vocabulary and grammar, it’s time to read. Reading will help you recognize Arabic syntax, learn new vocabulary, and give you the confidence to speak.

Storybooks for intermediate learners consist of more advanced texts, with a greater focus on grammar and vocabulary to develop your Arabic reading skills.

Expert level books are best for introducing you to other aspects of the Arabic language. for example, it could be a great opportunity to explore Arabic poetry.

19. easy arabic reader 1st edition

This book for beginners contains three stories to practice reading in Arabic.

This book is for students who can read Arabic words but need to practice reading without the vowels. You can refer to definitions, explanations and illustrations to strengthen your Arabic.

This book is best for:

simple story reading in Arabic with some English translation
individuals looking to answer exercises after each story
following the audio set provided

20. short stories in arabic for intermediate learners

This book is the best choice for intermediate students.

consists of eight short stories, each from a different genre, as well as comprehension questions and a separate section for vocabulary. that way you will start to shift more towards the Arabic language and rely less on English translations.

You can buy this book in paperback or as an audiobook.

This book is best for:

intermediate learners looking to expand their Arabic reading skills
implementation of dialogues in the stories into real-life conversations

21. tales from the thousand and one nights (arabic): kitab alf layla wa layla (arabic edition)

below, a storybook for advanced learners of Arabic. The Arabian Nights Collection is a must in every Arabic-speaking individual’s library. is one of the classic Arabic books that makes a lot of sense for you to start your reading here.

Furthermore, it will give you a great insight into the greatness of Arabic literature with its rich literature, poetry, idioms and much more.

This book is best for:

experts willing to read advanced Arabic
reading a collection of classic tales
familiarization with Arabic poetry, songs, expressions and riddles.

conclusion

Hopefully, you have found the right book which will help you learn Arabic!

We know that it is not easy to learn the second most difficult language in the world, but we firmly believe that it is worth it. These books will help you achieve your Arabic learning goals, so dive right in.

To go even faster, combine these books with some of the best apps for learning Arabic.

Other content

21 Best Books to Learn Arabic for Beginners and Beyond – Learn Languages From Home

best books to learn the Arabic alphabet

1. writing arabic characters for dummies

2. master the arabic alphabet, a handwriting practice book

best arabic books for beginners

3. Arabic: The Ultimate Learning Guide for Beginners – Master the Basics of the Arabic Language

4. arabic course for english speaking students – 3 volume set from islamic university of madina

5. reading and speaking arabic for beginners with audio cd, second edition

6. salamat! learn arabic with ease – learn the building blocks of modern standard arabic

7. learn arabic in 30 days

best books to learn Arabic vocabulary

8. Arabic-English bilingual visual dictionary

9. merriam-webster’s arabic-english dictionary, latest edition, mass market paperback

best books for intermediate students

10. Arabic vocabulary: with 145 exercises

11. arabic verb tenses

12. Arabic pronouns and prepositions

best arabic grammar books

13. a reference grammar of Modern Standard Arabic (reference grammars)

14. Modern Standard Arabic Grammar: A Student’s Guide 1st Edition

15. easy arabic grammar

best audiobooks to learn Arabic

16. learn Arabic: 3000 essential words and phrases

17. arabic pimsleur

18. learn Arabic for beginners easily & in your car! vocabulary editing!

stories for beginners and advanced

19. easy arabic reader 1st edition

20. short stories in arabic for intermediate learners

21. tales from the thousand and one nights (arabic): kitab alf layla wa layla (arabic edition)

conclusion

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