ENGLISH
REFERENCE

arabic

n. uncountable
A2 Elementary US //ˈæɹəbɪk// ara·bic Archaic

n. the language used by people in many countries across the Middle East and North Africa. It is written from right to left and has its own unique alphabet.

n. a Semitic language spoken by over 400 million people, primarily in the Middle East and North Africa. It serves as the liturgical language of Islam and is written in a distinctive script from right to left.


SIMPLE

She is learning how to write her name in Arabic.

CONTEXTUAL

The business contract was provided in both English and Arabic to ensure all parties understood the terms.

COMPLEX

Modern Standard Arabic is used in formal education and media, while various regional dialects serve as the primary means of daily communication across the Arab world.

Origin

From Latin arabicus, from Ancient Greek Ἀραβικός (Arabikós), from Ἄραψ (Áraps, “Arab”) [from Arabic عَرَب (ʕarab)] + -ικός (-ikós, adjective suffix). By surface analysis, Arab + -ic.

Usage

When referring to the language, it is uncountable and always capitalized.

Pitfall

He speaks the Arabic.He speaks Arabic.Names of languages do not take the definite article 'the' when used alone.

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