# Learn spoken Arabic by listening in.

> Shinar teaches spoken Arabic through 62 short, real conversations set in Dubai: at the market, in a taxi, at work, at a family function. You hear each scene in English first, then in Arabic, then tap any word to hear it and see its meaning, in Arabic script and in English letters. This course is in beta while native speakers review it.

Page: https://shinar.in/learn-arabic/ · 62 scenes · 31 free · coming soon to Google Play

## How do you learn Arabic with Shinar?

1. **Hear it in English.** You follow every word, so you know exactly what is going on.
2. **Hear the same scene in Arabic.** You already know the story, so the Arabic clicks.
3. **Learn every word.** Tap it to hear it again and see its meaning, in Arabic script and English letters.

## A real scene: At the vegetable market

| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| How much is a kilo of these tomatoes? | Bikam kiilu haadhihi at-tamaatim? (بكم كيلو هذه الطماطم؟) |
| Eight dirhams a kilo. | Thamaaniyat daraahim lil-kiilu. (ثمانية دراهم للكيلو.) |
| That’s too much. Give it for six. | Haadha ghaalin jiddan. A’tinii iyyaahu bi-sitta. (هذا غالٍ جدًّا. أعطني إياه بستة.) |
| Not possible, sir. Seven, final price. | Laa yumkin yaa ustaadh. Sab’a, aakhir si’r. (لا يمكن يا أستاذ. سبعة، آخر سعر.) |

## Common Arabic words

| Arabic | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| bikam | بكم | how much |
| kiilu | كيلو | kilo |
| haadhihi | هذه | these |
| at-tamaatim | الطماطم | tomatoes |
| thamaaniya | ثمانية | eight |
| daraahim | دراهم | dirhams |
| lil-kiilu | للكيلو | per kilo |
| haadha | هذا | this |
| ghaalin | غالٍ | expensive |
| jiddan | جدًّا | very |
| a’tinii | أعطني | give me |
| iyyaahu | إياه | it |
| bi-sitta | بستة | for six |
| laa yumkin | لا يمكن | not possible |
| yaa ustaadh | يا أستاذ | sir |
| sab’a | سبعة | seven |
| aakhir | آخر | last |
| si’r | سعر | price |
| hasanan | حسنًا | okay |
| kiiluwayn | كيلوين | two kilos |
| tafaddal | تفضل | here you go |
| arba’at ’ashar | أربعة عشر | fourteen |
| dirhaman | درهمًا | dirhams |
| maadha | ماذا | what |

## All 62 scenes

### Beginner (21)

- At the vegetable market · في سوق الخضار (free)
- Making weekend plans · خطة نهاية الأسبوع (free)
- Oops, sorry! · آسفة! (free)
- Ordering machboos · طلب المجبوس (free)
- Buying dates · شراء التمر (free)
- Trying on a shirt · تجربة قميص (free)
- At the baqala · في البقالة (free)
- Your ride is here · وصلت سيارتك (free)
- Buying a bus ticket · تذكرة الحافلة (free)
- Visiting Grandma · زيارة الجدة (free)
- Paying by phone · الدفع بالهاتف (free)
- Calling a friend · الاتصال بصديقة (free)
- What do you do? · ماذا تعملين؟ (free)
- Karak at the cafeteria · كرك في الكافتيريا
- Homework time · وقت الواجب
- Lunch with colleagues · الغداء مع الزملاء
- Calling the plumber · الاتصال بالسباك
- I lost my phone! · ضاع هاتفي!
- Shawarma stand · عند محل الشاورما
- Football in the neighbourhood · كرة القدم في الحي
- At the movie theatre · في السينما

### Intermediate (21)

- Catching a taxi · ركوب سيارة أجرة (free)
- Good morning · صباح الخير (free)
- It's raining! · إنها تمطر! (free)
- Is lunch ready? · هل الغداء جاهز؟ (free)
- Catching the bus · ركوب الحافلة (free)
- Renting a flat · استئجار شقة (free)
- A parcel for you · وصل طردك (free)
- At the pharmacy · في الصيدلية (free)
- Dinner at a friend's home · عشاء عند صديق (free)
- Lunch break · استراحة الغداء (free)
- Asking for directions · السؤال عن الطريق
- Calling Mum · الاتصال بأمي
- At an Emirati wedding · في العرس
- At the doctor's · عند الطبيب
- Booking an appointment · حجز موعد
- Hotel check-in · تسجيل الدخول في الفندق
- Buying an abaya · شراء عباءة
- Fixing a cracked screen · إصلاح شاشة مكسورة
- Cooking with your mother-in-law · الطبخ مع الحماة
- Iftar with Grandma · الإفطار مع الجدة
- Daily stand-up · الاجتماع اليومي

### Advanced (20)

- Meeting someone new · التعرف على شخص جديد (free)
- First day at work · أول يوم في العمل (free)
- Eid Mubarak! · عيد مبارك! (free)
- Low marks · درجات منخفضة (free)
- Project timeline · الجدول الزمني للمشروع (free)
- Best friends · أعز الأصدقاء (free)
- Did you hear? · هل سمعت؟ (free)
- How was your day? · كيف كان يومك؟ (free)
- Meeting the in-laws · لقاء أهل الزوج
- Asking for leave · طلب إجازة
- Deadline day · يوم التسليم
- House help timings · مواعيد العاملة
- New neighbours · جيران جدد
- Happy National Day · اليوم الوطني
- Henna night · ليلة الحناء
- Exam tomorrow · الامتحان غدًا
- Office gossip · نميمة في المكتب
- Surprise party · حفلة مفاجئة
- Moving away · الانتقال بعيدًا
- Cousins catch up · لقاء أبناء العم

## Questions about learning Arabic

### How can I learn spoken Arabic fast?

Listen to real, everyday Arabic in situations you already understand. In Shinar you hear each conversation in English first, so the Arabic that follows makes sense straight away, then you learn every word in it. A few minutes a day with short scenes works better than long grammar sessions.

### Can I learn Arabic without learning the script?

Yes. Every Arabic line in Shinar is written in English letters, with the Arabic script (read right to left) shown alongside for when you want it. You learn by ear first.

### Is Shinar good for beginners in Arabic?

Yes. Scenes start at Beginner (greetings, shopping, ordering food) and move through Intermediate to Advanced, with a listening test at the end of each level.

### Which Arabic does Shinar teach?

Modern Standard Arabic (fusha): the Arabic of news, signs and schooling, understood across the Arab world. Shinar keeps it simple and conversational, with scenes set in Dubai. Everyday local dialects, such as Emirati or Egyptian Arabic, differ from it in places.

### Is it free?

31 scenes are free, with no ads. Shinar Pro unlocks all 62 and every new scene pack.

### Where can I download Shinar?

Shinar is coming soon to Google Play for Android phones. An iPhone version will follow.

## Other courses

- [Telugu](https://shinar.in/learn-telugu.md)
- [Hindi](https://shinar.in/learn-hindi.md)
- [Tamil](https://shinar.in/learn-tamil.md)
- [German](https://shinar.in/learn-german.md)
- [English for Tamil speakers](https://shinar.in/learn-english-in-tamil.md)