Jordanian, Saudi and Emirati Arabic Phrases for Visitors

If you learn only five phrases before visiting Jordan, Saudi Arabia or the UAE, make them marhaba (hello), shukran (thank you), law samaht (please, excuse me), yalla (let's go) and inshallah (God willing, hopefully). They work everywhere. Beyond those, each country, and often each city, has its own way of saying everyday things: "what?" is shu in Amman, wesh in Riyadh, eish in Jeddah and shu again in Dubai. This guide gives you the shared basics first, then the local versions, with the replies you'll hear back.

Arabic script is given alongside a simple English spelling. There is no single standard way to write Arabic in Latin letters, so you'll see other spellings online. Kh is the throaty sound in Scottish "loch," and ' marks a short catch in the throat.

Phrases that work everywhere

Alhamdulillah is also the normal answer to "how are you?" in all three countries. Mashallah is said when you praise a child, a home or a meal. It expresses admiration without envy, and people appreciate hearing it.

The same phrase in four cities

You don't need to master these. Using one local word, halla' in Amman, daheen in Jeddah, wayed in Dubai, gets a smile and often a story about where the word comes from. Our Arabic-language guide نفس الكلمة بثلاث لهجات has a longer comparison.

Greetings and small talk

In Jordan

• Ya'tik al-afiyeh (يعطيك العافية) is "may God give you strength," said to anyone working: a shopkeeper, a taxi driver, a waiter. The reply is allah y'afeek.
• Kifak? Shu akhbarak? means "How are you? What's new?"
• Ahleen, a warmer ahlan, is very common in Amman.
• Tislam or yislamu means "thank you" and literally "may you be safe." It is used constantly, often more than shukran.

In Saudi Arabia

• Hayyak or hayyak allah (حيّاك) means "welcome," and the reply is allah yhayyeek.
• Tekfa (تكفى) is a heartfelt "please," common in Najdi speech.
• La hint (لا هنت) is a polite "thank you / please," and abshir (أبشر) means "consider it done."
• Wesh as-salfa? (وش السالفة) is "what's going on?"

In the UAE

• Shhalak? (شحالك) is the classic Emirati "how are you?" To a woman it's shhalich.
• Wayed zain means "very good."
• Mob mushkila (مب مشكلة) means "no problem." Mob is the Emirati "not."

Shopping and getting around

Coffee and hospitality

Arabic coffee is part of welcoming a guest in all three countries. A few simple habits help you get it right:

• Take the cup with your right hand.
• The host keeps refilling the small cup. When you've had enough, gently shake the cup from side to side as you hand it back. That means "no more, thank you."
• Accept at least one cup. Refusing coffee entirely can feel like refusing the welcome.
• After a meal, say sahtein (Jordan: "two healths," like bon appétit), allah yikram or tislam idak ("bless your hands"). The host may reply ala qalbak ("on your heart").

Our Arabic page كلمات بدوية explains the welcome phrases and coffee etiquette in more depth.

Words you'll hear all the time

• Yani: "I mean," "like." A filler word in every sentence.
• Habibi: "my dear." Used warmly between friends, family and even strangers in a friendly shop. Habibti is the feminine form.
• Akhi: "my brother." A friendly way to address a man.
• Ya zalameh (Jordan): roughly "come on, man!" for surprise or persuasion.
• Ya rajjal / ya rayyal (Gulf): the same idea. The Emirati form turns j into y.

Polite things to avoid

• Don't use habibi to someone much older or senior unless they use it first.
• Avoid joking with religious phrases like inshallah in a mocking way. A light, friendly use is fine.
• In conservative settings, wait for a woman to offer her hand before shaking it. A hand on the heart is a warm alternative greeting.

Key takeaways

• Marhaba, shukran, law samaht, yalla and inshallah work in every city.
• Each place has signature words: halla' and biddi in Amman, wesh and tekfa in Riyadh, daheen and abgha in Jeddah, wayed and mob in Dubai.
• Ya'tik al-afiyeh and hayyak are small phrases that make a big impression.
• Shake your coffee cup when you've had enough.

FAQ

Are Jordanian and Gulf Arabic mutually understandable?

Mostly, yes. Educated speakers understand each other easily, and TV, music and travel mean most people know the other dialects' common words. Some local words, especially in rural areas, can still confuse people from elsewhere.

Should I learn Modern Standard Arabic or a dialect?

For reading signs, news and formal writing, Modern Standard Arabic. For talking to people, a dialect. Visitors usually get more out of twenty dialect phrases than out of a hundred formal ones.

Is "habibi" romantic?

Not necessarily. It is used warmly between friends and family and by shopkeepers. Context and tone decide. See our habibi entry for details.

For Arabic words that have moved into English slang, read Arabic words in English. For the dialects in depth, written in Arabic, start with the Jordan, Saudi and UAE guides.