The musical language of Arabic is considered one of the more difficult languages in the world to learn. However, don’t let the Semitic language deter you with its scripted alphabet and unique pronunciation.
Work diligently, and you will soon get a working understanding of this ancient language and build the necessary vocabulary to have basic conversations.
Using language learning apps is a great way to help keep you motivated and have learning fun.
Let’s have a look at the best language learning apps for learning Arabic.
Arabic Insights
I believe it’s important to know some basics of the language, people, and culture before you dive nose-deep into learning Arabic and choose a language-learning solution.
Why?
Because it helps set you up for success, you’ll have an idea of what’s waiting for you when you start your language studies, and you can make better decisions when choosing learning materials and resources.
Arabic is the official language of 20+ countries, such as Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. More than 400 million people speak Arabic, with 270 million native speakers. Arabic is in the top 10 most spoken languages in the world.
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Main Features of Modern Standard Arabic
Arabic dates back to the 8th century BC, emerging in the Arabian Peninsula. It is a Semitic language, part of Afro-Asiatic languages that includes Kurdish, Berber, Hebrew, and Aramaic.
Various Arabic dialects were spoken in the northern and central Arabian Peninsula, and that’s why there are at least 32 varieties of Arabic, including Literary Arabic or Modern Standard Arabic (derived from Classical Arabic), Moroccan Arabic, Egyptian Arabic, Syrian Arabic, Algerian Arabic, and Tunisian Arabic.
Here are the main features of Modern Standard Arabic:
- The language is read and written from right to left. However, numbers are written from left to right.
- Arabic has more than 12 million distinct words.
- There are at least 24 different words for “love” and 100+ words for “camel” in Arabic.
- The Arabic alphabet, called abjad, has 28 letters, and how they connect depends on their position in a word.
- Most letters have 4 forms, depending on where they are written in a word.
- The language is written in script, which refers to the distinct way the letters are connected. It reminds English natives of cursive writing. And there are no capital letters.
- While the language has vowels, they are typically not included in words (like how we write in English), unless the text is written for children’s books or beginner language-learning material.
Words are typically just a string of consonants, and the vowels are represented by diacritical marks, called Harakat, which are noted above or below the words.
Here’s an example of “The student left the principal’s room” written in Arabic:
Writing with vowels: خَرَجَ التِّلْمِيذُ مِنْ غُرْفَةِ الْمُدِيرِ
Writing without vowels: خرج التلميذ من غرفة المدير
- Words are constructed using a three-letter pattern called the basic root system. For example, the pattern “k-t-b” forms the basis of words related to writing – “kitab” means book, while “maktab” means desk or office.
- The language has unique sounds you won’t find in English. For example, Arabic has 4 emphatic consonants, and you need to obstruct your airflow to pronounce these.
Want to learn more? Here my articles on testing language courses in apps::
Is It Challenging to Learn Arabic?
Any language can be difficult to learn if that’s what you believe.
When embarking on a language-learning journey, you are off to a good start if you believe you can learn the language. It’s essential to accept that you’ll need to work harder to learn some languages, like Arabic, especially if the target language isn’t similar to your native tongue or a language you’re proficient in.
While the general consensus is that Arabic is a challenging language, it isn’t impossible to learn. There are many resources and language materials you can use to help you learn, and connecting with natives is easy.
The US Foreign Service Institute states that Arabic is a Category V language and you’ll need at least 88 weeks or 2,200 hours to master the language.
You can learn Arabic faster, but your learning journey is dictated by your motivation, enthusiasm, and using the learning method that’s right for you.
Arabic: How to Start Learning
The best way to learn any language is to start with the basics. There are many free online resources you can use to get an introduction to Arabic, from blog articles to YouTube videos.
I like to start with a few trusted apps and do the first couple of lessons. Ideally, I want to learn some words, get information about pronunciation, and learn the alphabet.
If a language is generally more difficult to learn, take it slow. Learn, practice, and then learn something new again – rinse and repeat.
Remember to engage with the language every day, whether that means doing a lesson, practicing the alphabet, listening to Arabic music or a podcast, or cooking from an Arabic cookbook.
My Experience with Arabic Language-Learning Apps
I’ve done a deep dive on language learning apps, and while there aren’t quite as many offering Arabic as a language, these are your best shot at mastering the language and they will help you along the way.
Highly Recommended Apps
Mondly: Mondly is ideal for beginner learners as it keeps you motivated with games and activities that are fun to do. Immersive learning will help expose you to the culture underlying Arabic, making the language easier to pick up.
- Italki and Preply: With a complex language like Arabic, I highly recommend you find a human tutor or teacher to help you with the challenging pronunciation and linguistic nuances that the language has. Italki and Preply are ideal for helping you master pronunciation and understand finer points of Arabic.
Recommended but Average Apps
- Glossika: Add Glossika to your language learning toolbox as the activities are great at getting you involved in language lessons and tasks.
- Rosetta Stone: If you enjoy learning immersively, then Rosetta Stone is ideal as it teaches you Arabic in Arabic, helping you understand with videos, scenarios, and more.
Memrise: Build your Arabic vocabulary and remember difficult concepts with the guidance of Memrise, where quizzes and lists of words can easily help you find the word you are looking for.
Less Recommended Apps
Duolingo: For an addictive learning experience, Duolingo is ideal. The friendly app is perfect for kids, and the age-appropriate content helps you and your littlies learn Arabic in a flash. However, if you have a competitive streak, Duolingo will tempt you away from learning into just earning points.
Drops: Use Drops to help you master a wide Arabic vocabulary while being entertained with the uploaded TV shows, music, and more.
Check out my complete Babbel review to see what languages you can learn with Babbel.
8 Tested Apps for Learning Arabic
I have thoroughly tested the most popular language-learning apps for Arabic. As I tested the apps, I checked:
How they teach Arabic.
Whether they offer a free trial.
How much a subscription costs.
The user-friendliness of the platform.
Whether the app is available on desktop, iOS, and Android.
The general strengths and weaknesses.
Most apps teach Modern Standard Arabic, but you can learn a specific dialect if you find the right tutor on platforms like italki and Preply.
Here are the best apps to learn Arabic:
1. Mondly - The Best Overall
I’ve been using Mondly for a while to learn and review Italian, Turkish, Portuguese, and French, so I’m very familiar with the app.
Mondly offers various ways in which you can learn Arabic: learn via the interactive games, chat with the AI bot, or engage with immersive learning via augmented and virtual realities.
I like that I can choose which topic I want to focus on, thus creating my own learning path and ensuring I learn active vocabulary I can use ASAP.
Key Features
- Learn practical Arabic with the vocabulary trainer.
- Complete daily lessons to keep language-learning interesting.
- Improve your speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills.
Costs
For free, complete the first 6 lessons in the Hello topic and do the daily lessons.
If you like Mondly, here’s how much a Premium subscription costs:
- US$9.99 per month.
- US$47.99 per year.
2. Rosetta Stone - The Best for Immersive Learning
Learning Arabic with Rosetta Stone will make you feel like a child who’s learning a new language. The Rosetta Stone language-learning approach, called the Dynamic Immersion Method, teaches you Arabic in Arabic.
There’s minimal translation features on the platform, so it’s up to you to figure out what words and expressions mean – similarly to how you learned your native tongue when you were young.
This immersion method is highly effective, but it does mean you need to commit and invest time to study Arabic.
Key Features
- For your language patterns and associations by yourself – but with the help of Rosetta Stone’s links between the audio clips, images, and words.
- Learn via interactive lessons, one-on-one coaching, or live group lessons.
- The language course is well-structured, ensuring you’ll progress naturally.
Costs
There’s no free trial, so you have to pay to check out Rosetta Stone. Luckily, you can request your money back within 30 days if you aren’t happy.
Here’s how much a Rosetta Stone subscription costs:
- 3-month plan (for Arabic only) at a once-off US$47.97.
- 12-month plan (for Arabic only) at a once-off US$126.00.
- Lifetime plan (for all 25 languages) at US$399.00.
You can also do live lessons on the platform, but you’ll pay extra for these.
3. Preply - The Best for Learning with a Tutor or Teacher
It’s not always easy to find a language partner with whom you can interact and practice your language skills for real. But with Preply, it’s possible.
The app connects you with Arabic teachers or tutors so you can learn, review, and practice as much and as often as needed.
Key Features
- Use the search criteria to find the best tutor for you.
- Set the pace of your learning journey according to what you learn and how often you do lessons.
- Get language tips and insights into Arabic culture and lifestyles to help you learn faster.
Costs
Pay per lesson, which is ideal to stick to your budget.
Expect to pay between US$15 to US$100 per hour. Trial lessons (25 minutes) can cost as little as US$5, while a 50-minute lesson can run as high as US$100.
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4. Glossika - The Best for Beginners
You’ll improve your understanding, listening, pronunciation, and speaking skills with Glossika as you learn real content in the form of sentences. The app aims to get you “doing” because that’s how you learn, and you can then use the language in the real world.
The app isn’t ideal for beginners because it doesn’t explain grammar and language usage, but if you’re an independent learner, you can use Glossika with other resources for a well-rounded learning approach.
Key Features
- Start learning from level A or take a placement test.
- Get a personalized learning plan according to personal settings, the language pair (target language and source language), and proficiency level.
- Learn 3,700+ sentences and 5,000+ Arabic words from language level A to C.
Costs
The freemium version of Glossika gives you access to 9 minoritized languages (not Arabic), personalized content, and more.
Glossika offers a 7-day free trial during which you can test out the app.
If you like how Glossika teaches Arabic, subscribe:
- Basic annual plan (access to 1 language) costs US$16.99 per month.
- Pro annual plan (access to 60+ languages) costs US$30.99 per month.
5. Duolingo - The Best for Free and Fun Learning
Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning platforms out there, and one of the main reasons is that the app is free. That’s right – you can learn Arabic and the 40+ other languages without paying anything.
Learning on Duolingo is also highly addictive with the app’s gamified interface and features where you earn rewards, complete quests, and compete in the Leagues. It’s ideal for any age group, so your littlies can learn Arabic too!
Key Features
Start learning Arabic from scratch, skip Units if you know the content, or take a placement test.
Compact, interactive lessons and daily reminders that ensure you engage with Arabic on a daily basis.
Use the Practice Hub to work on weaker language skills.
Costs
You can learn Arabic at no cost on Duolingo. However, if you want premium features (and no ads), subscribe:
Super Duolingo at $7.99 per month.
- Duolingo Max at about US$30.00 per month.
6. italki - The Best for Interaction with Tutors
Like Preply, you can use italki for personal lessons with Arabic tutors to learn about the language, culture, and lifestyle. The tutors can help you work on your weak language skills, giving you extra practice and referring you to resources you can use in your language-learning journey.
One of the biggest advantages of live lessons is the interaction with natives, meaning the first time you communicate with a local isn’t under extra pressure while you’re traveling.
Key Features
- Choose from nearly 400 tutors to help you learn Arabic.
- Affordable trial lessons so you can find the perfect tutor match.
- Learn as much and as often as you can, stay within budget, and do lessons on the italki website or iOS or Android app.
Costs
As with Preply, you’ll also pay per lesson on italki.
Prices for a lesson range from US$4 to US$80 (or more).
7. Memrise - The Best for Learning Useful Vocabulary
Learning with Memrise is playful and entertaining as you focus on active Arabic words and phrases you can use in day-to-day situations. The video learning material will give you insights into pronunciation and the local culture.
The app’s vocab builders and listening and speaking exercises develop your speaking, reading, and listening skills.
Key Features
- Complete the official Memrise Arabic language course and supplement your learning with the courses the community created.
- AI chatbot lessons help you practice your conversation skills.
- Interactive lessons, ensuring you won’t get bored.
Costs
You can access a few lessons for free on Memrise.
Like the app? Subscribe:
- Pro Plan at US$27.99 per month or US$130.99 per year.
- Lifetime plan at US$199.99.
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8. Drops - The Best as an Extra Learning Resource
Drops has an easy-to-use and entertaining interface that focuses on teaching you vocabulary. You won’t learn 100% of any language with Drops, but it’s a useful extra resource if you want to learn and practice Arabic words and phrases.
Key Features
- Quick 5-minute lessons so you can engage with Arabic daily.
- Learn 2,000+ Arabic words.
- Learn via visual aids, sound, and the written words to help improve how well you memorize the vocab.
Costs
You can check out Drops and see how it teaches Arabic. However, you’ll have to put up with ads and limited features.
To access more learning features, subscribe:
- Drops Premium costs US$13.00 per month or US$89.99 per year.
- Lifetime Access plan costs US$159.99.
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My Final Thoughts About the Best Apps to Learn Arabic
Ultimately, how well you learn a new language like Arabic all depends on your effort, how comprehensive your learning plan is, and whether you have the right motivation to help you learn.
Expose yourself widely to the language you are learning, and try different resources such as recipes, blogs, podcasts, movies, TV shows, and YouTube videos to help you learn.
It’s vital to learn a little each day, every day, and never let what you learn sit idle. Use every little bit of Arabic you master, and you will soon speak fluently.
Happy learning.
If you enjoyed my article, please feel free to share it. Have any questions? Don't hesitate to email me!
Disclaimer: I select and review independently. If you buy through affiliate links, I may earn commissions that help support my testing at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.
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