Arabic

American  

[ar-uh-bik] / ˈær ə bɪk /

adjective

1. of, belonging to, or derived from the language or literature of the Arabs.

2. noting, pertaining to, or derived from an alphabetic script in which etymologically short vowels are not normally represented, used for the writing of Arabic probably since about the fourth century a.d., and adopted with modifications by Persian, Urdu, and many other languages.

3. of or relating to Arabs.

4. of or relating to Arabia or its inhabitants; Arabian.

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noun

1. a Semitic language that developed out of the language of the Arabians of the time of Muhammad, now spoken in countries of the Middle East and North Africa. Ar, Ar.

2. the standard literary and classical language as established by the Quran.

Arabic British  

/ ˈærəbɪk /

noun

1. the language of the Arabs, spoken in a variety of dialects; the official language of Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, the Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen. It is estimated to be the native language of some 75 million people throughout the world. It belongs to the Semitic subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic family of languages and has its own alphabet, which has been borrowed by certain other languages such as Urdu

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adjective

1. denoting or relating to this language, any of the peoples that speak it, or the countries in which it is spoken

Other Word Forms

• anti-Arabic
  adjective
• non-Arabic
  adjective
• pro-Arabic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Arabic

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English arabik, from Latin Arabicus “Arabian,” equivalent to Arab(ia) + -icus adjective suffix; see -ic

Example Sentences

I grew up speaking both German and Arabic and constantly mixed them up, not understanding that they were separate languages.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

Inside one hotel hosting Iranian pilgrims posters lined the walls written in Arabic and English stating: "Raising flags and saying religious or political slogans is prohibited," echoing an earlier warning broadcast by the interior ministry.

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

The self-aware Salah appreciates his superstar status, and revels in what he stands for in both the footballing world and the Arabic world.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

He attended Arabic school on Saturdays at the center.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

Though the Arabs took the notation from India, the rest of the world would dub the new system Arabic numerals.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife