Arabic is spoken by approximately 422 million people worldwide, making it the fifth most spoken language globally and the fourth most used language on the Internet. It’s also an official language of numerous international organizations, including the UN, WHO, UNESCO, the Arab League, the Red Cross, FIFA, and Amnesty International.
With such a significant presence, many people consider learning Arabic. However, a large number stop at the idea stage, uncertain whether the effort will truly be worthwhile or if the time spent will feel wasted. To decide if learning Arabic is the right choice for you, it’s essential to understand what benefits this knowledge can bring to your personal or professional life.
As part of my role as a language-learning app tester, I recently explored Mondly’s Arabic course. Many of my readers had asked for my thoughts on the app’s approach to teaching Arabic, so I tested 2–3 lessons to analyze the structure and learning content.
In this review, I’ll share what you can learn in Mondly’s Arabic course, what I enjoyed about the lessons, and which aspects I found less practical or effective.
PROs
- Bite-sized, engaging lessons
- Native speaker audio for every phrase
- Real-world vocabulary and phrases
- Visually appealing and easy to use
- Perfect for beginners
CONs
- You can’t fully learn the Arabic script
- Not focused on dialects
- Speech recognition isn’t perfect
- Some lessons are locked behind premium
- Best used with supplemental resources
Learn languages quickly with Mondly Premium. Learn the language you’ve always wanted to learn. It’s fun, fast, and easy!
Why Should You Learn Arabic?
Arabic isn’t just another language—it’s a gateway to a whole new cultural and intellectual universe. Here’s why learning it is worth the effort:
- It’s spoken by over 422 million people across the Middle East and North Africa, and it’s one of the world’s most important languages.
- It has deep cultural and religious significance—whether you want to read the Quran in its original language (it’s written in Quranic Arabic, similar to Modern Standard Arabic), enjoy Arabic poetry, or explore rich literary traditions.
- Business opportunities in Arabic-speaking countries are massive, with industries from oil to tourism valuing Arabic speakers.
- Music, media, and pop culture—if you’ve ever found yourself swaying to an Egyptian song or binge-watching a Turkish-Arabic crossover series, you know the influence is real.
- Travel becomes richer when you can interact with locals in Morocco, the UAE, or Jordan.
So, Arabic is a superpower language—but let’s be honest, it’s also known for being tough to learn.
The Challenges of Learning Arabic
Before diving into Mondly, it’s worth acknowledging what makes Arabic tricky for learners:
- The right-to-left script: If you’re used to Latin-based alphabets, this can feel like learning to write backward.
- Pronunciation hurdles: Arabic has unique sounds like ‘ع’ (‘ayn) and ‘ق’ (‘qaf’), which don’t exist in English.
- Dialect overload: Arabic isn’t just one language—it’s a collection of dialects, from Egyptian to Levantine to Gulf Arabic. Meanwhile, Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is used for formal writing and media.
- Grammar gymnastics: Arabic verbs and nouns change depending on gender, number, and case—meaning more rules to juggle.
But here’s the good news—Mondly is designed to make Arabic feel approachable instead of overwhelming.
My Experience With Mondly’s Arabic Course
Mondly, you can start recognizing Arabic words more easily and feel comfortable formingAs a dedicated language learner and blogger, I’ve tested countless language learning apps, but Mondly stood out from the rest. I was so impressed that I decided to invest in a lifetime subscription—and I’m not the only one hooked. My son is also diving into new languages with Mondly, learning Spanish, Turkish, and Russian along the way (Mondly Kids: A Fun Way to Learn Languages?).
I have to admit, Arabic was completely new territory for me. While I never studied the language before, I did learn Farsi at university, so I had some familiarity with the Arabic script—though, to be honest, much of it has faded over time.
When you first open Mondly, you will be greeted with a clean, intuitive interface—no confusing menus or complex setup. You can jump straight into lessons without any stress, which is a win, in my opinion (and since I use it to learn Portuguese, Spanish (Spanish with Mondly: Can I Recommend This App?) and Turkish, I’m no stranger to how Mondly works).
Mondly take you through bite-sized daily lessons, where you match words to images, build sentences, and practice pronunciation. I have to say that the speech recognition is surprisingly good—it does not let me get away with lazy pronunciation, which I appreciated!
One thing I noticed? Mondly doesn’t shove grammar down your throat. Instead, it lets you pick up patterns naturally—something I really liked because Arabic grammar can feel intense.
In my opinion, after a few weeks of using simple sentences. While it won’t make you fluent, it provides a solid foundation to get started.
Learn languages quickly with Mondly Premium. Learn the language you’ve always wanted to learn. It’s fun, fast, and easy!
What Arabic Can You Learn With Mondly?
When you’re learning Arabic, one of the first big decisions is which type of Arabic you should study. Arabic isn’t just one language; it’s a collection of dialects spoken across different regions.
Mondly primarily teaches Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), which is the formal version of Arabic used in news broadcasts, literature, and official communications.
It’s not what native speakers use in casual conversations, but it’s an excellent foundation because it’s understood across the Arabic-speaking world. But because of the dialects, you, unfortunately, may have a hard time understanding everyday conversations.
For beginners and intermediate learners, using Mondly means you’re getting a solid foundation in MSA, which may make the transition to Arabic dialects easier down the road.
Learning Arabic on Mondly: What to Expect
If you’re thinking about using Mondly for Arabic, here’s what you can expect:
- Daily bite-sized lessons – Each lesson takes just 5-10 minutes, making it easy to stay consistent without feeling overwhelmed.
- A mix of reading, listening, and speaking practice – You’ll see words written in Arabic (and transliteration), hear them spoken by a native speaker, and get the chance to repeat and practice your pronunciation.
- A game-like experience – Earning points, keeping streaks, and unlocking achievements make learning feel more like playing a game than studying.
- Real-world dialogues – The lessons don’t just throw random words at you. Instead, Mondly teaches Arabic through real-life situations, like ordering food, introducing yourself, or asking for directions.
Mondly’s Next-Level Features for Arabic Learning
You can also learn Arabic with Mondly using these advanced tech features:
Learning Arabic With Augmented Reality (AR):
- If you’re a visual learner, this is a game-changer.
- AR mode brings words and objects to life—point your phone at your surroundings and see interactive Arabic lessons appear.
Immersive Learning With Virtual Reality (VR):
- If you own a VR headset, you can actually “step into” Arabic conversations.
- The VR module lets you practice talking to AI-powered native speakers in realistic, everyday settings like restaurants and hotels.
Chatbot Exercises for Real Conversation Practice:
- One of the best features! The AI-powered chatbot simulates actual conversations, so you can practice speaking Arabic without fear of making mistakes in front of real people.
- The chatbot responds in real-time, helping you build confidence in forming sentences and responding naturally.
Your First Mondly Arabic Lesson: What It’s Like
Starting a new language can feel overwhelming, but Mondly makes diving into Arabic surprisingly smooth and stress-free.
All the lessons are designed to help you absorb Arabic without feeling lost or frustrated. But what exactly does that first lesson look like? Let’s break it down.
Once you’ve signed up to Mondly—though you can complete the first lesson without creating an account or profile—you’ll see the learning path.
There is no set learning process on Mondly. If you have a Premium subscription, you can learn Arabic according to your wants and needs, meaning you can start with any topic and move around. Some topics you can learn include Grammar, Time & Calendar, Travel, School, Romance, and Company.
If you have a free account, you can only access the Hello lesson stack, the daily lessons, and one chatbot lesson.
Here’s what the first lesson, which is about your family, looks like in the Hello topic:
You have to complete about 10 exercises, but here are the main ones. In the first exercise, you must match the German word to the correct Arabic one by dragging it. The pictures definitely help.
The next exercise is a kind of vertical Tinder-like swipe where you have to match the German with the Arabic—or the other way around.
Now you have to do some translation exercises.
What I love about Mondly is that it has these grammar tables you can access when you click or tap on underlined words.
There are also a few exercises where you have to choose the correct option of the translation.
When the lesson ends, the app repeats all the words and phrases you learned. It’s really quick, so don’t expect to have time to review.
And then it’s the end of the lesson. You get points and other stats like how long it took to complete the lesson.
How Much Does Mondly’s Arabic Course Cost?
Learning Arabic with Mondly comes at a monthly cost of $9.99, which isn’t bad considering the range of features the Mondly Premium subscription includes. However, since this plan grants access to only one language, it’s more suited for those who want to dip their toes into Arabic rather than commit long-term.
For serious learners, the annual plan offers a better deal. At $47.99 per year, it reduces the cost to just $4 per month, making it a smarter investment for those planning to stick with Arabic. If you’re looking for consistent progress at a lower price, the yearly subscription is definitely worth considering.
Learn languages quickly with Mondly Premium. Learn the language you’ve always wanted to learn. It’s fun, fast, and easy!
The Pros: Why Mondly Makes Arabic Learning a Breeze
- Bite-sized, engaging lessons – You can learn in short, daily sessions without feeling overwhelmed. It’s perfect for busy learners who don’t have hours to spare.
- Native speaker audio for every phrase – No robotic voices! You’ll hear real Arabic pronunciation, which is crucial for mastering tricky sounds.
- Real-world vocabulary and phrases – Lessons focus on useful Modern Standard Arabic, so you’re not stuck learning random words you’ll never use.
- Visually appealing and easy to use – The app is beautifully designed and intuitive, making learning enjoyable instead of frustrating.
- Perfect for beginners – If you’re starting from scratch, Mondly gives you a gentle introduction to Arabic without overloading you with grammar rules.
The Cons: Where Mondly Could Do Better
- You can’t fully learn the Arabic script – Mondly focuses on transliterations instead of teaching you how to read and write in Arabic, which is essential for deeper learning.
- Not focused on dialects – While Mondly teaches MSA, it doesn’t go deep into regional dialects, which are what most native speakers actually use in daily life.
- Speech recognition isn’t perfect – It helps with pronunciation, but it’s not as accurate as a real tutor who can catch subtle mistakes or really drill pronunciation until you get it right.
- Some lessons are locked behind premium – The free version gives a great taste, but to access all lessons and features, you’ll need a paid subscription.
- Best used with supplemental resources – Mondly is great for very basic Arabic, but for script mastery, dialect immersion, and advanced grammar, it’s worth combining it with other resources like books, podcasts, or a tutor.
Final Thoughts
Arabic has a reputation for being a tough language to learn, but with the right approach, it’s more exciting than intimidating. Mondly takes the pressure off by making Arabic learning fun, interactive, and accessible, whether you’re practicing on your PC or phone, in AR, or even in VR.
While it won’t turn you into an overnight fluency wizard, Mondly gives you a solid foundation in Modern Standard Arabic, builds your confidence in speaking, and keeps you motivated with bite-sized lessons.
If you’ve been putting off learning Arabic because it seems too overwhelming, Mondly might be exactly what you need to finally get started.
Learn languages quickly with Mondly Premium. Learn the language you’ve always wanted to learn. It’s fun, fast, and easy!
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.
Join Our Newsletter
Sign up now to get the freshest updates on language learning and exclusive app deals delivered straight to your inbox!
