# Arabian

/əˈɹeɪbiən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/arabian
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. relating to Arabia

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to the Arabian Peninsula, its people, or its culture.

For teachers: pertaining to the Arabian Peninsula, its inhabitants, or its cultural heritage.

- The museum has a beautiful collection of ancient Arabian jewelry.
- The expedition aimed to document the unique biodiversity found across the vast Arabian desert landscapes.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse 'Arabian' (geographic/cultural) with 'Arabic' (linguistic).

### 3. a person

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Archaic

a person who comes from Arabia.

For teachers: a native or inhabitant of the Arabian Peninsula.

- The travelers met an Arabian who showed them the way to the oasis.
- Historical accounts describe the interactions between European merchants and the Arabians who controlled the spice routes.

Teaching tip: In modern English, 'Arab' is the standard term for the person; 'Arabian' as a noun for a person is mostly found in older literature.

## Examples

- The Arabian desert is famous for its beautiful sand dunes.
- The museum features a stunning collection of ancient Arabian pottery and jewelry from the third century.
- The Arabian horse is globally renowned for its distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, traits that have been carefully preserved through centuries of selective breeding in the desert.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.