Easy arabic words & phrases to help you speak Arabic in Kuwait & how to count to 10 in arabic as well as Kuwait English explained.
15 July 2013
| Last updated on 18 June 2017
Expats are certainly lucky in Kuwait because even though the official language is Arabic, English is very widely spoken and most signs are in English too!
However, it does not hurt to learn a few Arabic phrases and words. It is really nice to make an effort to be polite and you will see a great response when you try! Here are some of the most useful ones that you should add to your vocabulary as an expat… (excuse the spelling- we have written it how you would say it!)
Good Morning: Sabah al khair
Good Evening: Masaa al khair
How are you?: Keif halak?
Hi or Hello: Salamo alay kum
If someone says the above to you the reply is: Wah lay kum al salam
I’m good: Bi kheir / Al hamdullah / Ani zein
Good Bye: Masalama
Thank you: Shukran
Your welcome: Afwan
Please: Minfadlak/Minfadlik (Male/Female)
Excuse me: Lawsamaht/Lawsamahti (Male/Female)
Nice meeting you: Forsa sa'eeda
SEE ALSO: Kuwait residency visa guide
Slowly: Shwaih shwaih
Yes: Naam
No: La
OK: Aywah
Straight: Dughri
Left: Yasar
Right: Yameen
Welcome: Marhaba
Sorry: Asif/Asfa (Male/Female)
Ramadan Greetings: Ramadan Mubarak
Eid Greetings: Eid Mubarak
God willing: Inshallah
Finished: Khallas
Let's Go: Yalla
Numbers in Arabic
Zero= Siffer
One= Wahed
Two= Ith-nane
Three= Thalatha
Four= Arba'a
Five= Khamsa
Six= Sitta
Seven= Sabah
Eight= Tamaniya
Nine= Tissa'a
Ten= Asharra
Kuwaitisms
Kuwait really is a melting pot of cultures with over 20 nationalities living here! Language being the wonderful fluid thing it is has changed and absorbed some common phrases into it from the many people living here.There is a proper mix of Hindi, Arabic, English and outmoded English phrases that everyone who’s been here for any time will inevitably start to use. You might feel a bit lost at first but our explanation of the words might help as you try to find your way around Kuwait.
Backside= Behind! So if you are in a taxi and want to be dropped behind a building, ask for the backside and you will be better understood and no, it's not rude!
Frontside= The front of something.
Jeldi Jeldi= Quick Quick= Used across many nationalities! Gets the job done faster!
Inshallah= Means God willing in Arabic. So if you ask someone will I see you tomorrow, the answer may be Inshallah, meaning if God wills it, yes they will be there. Also, sometimes used to imply doubt about something happening.
Please do the needful= Please do your job.
SEE ALSO: Where to live in Kuwait
Gift = To gift something to someone, ie I gifted John a new toy. Somehow a gift has become a verb- just go with it!
Same, Same= The same- just use the word twice. It works!
Today itself= Today… we don’t know why the reiteration on itself. Maybe it means must be done today as opposed to maybe I will do it today.
He is not in his station/ in his cabin= Means someone is not at their desk or out of office.
Mamsir= Catch all phrase of address as in “Hello Mamsir”- saves people working out if you are a man or a woman...
Real, genuine fake= A copy. Well, we guess they are right sort of it. It’s a fake but it’s a real fake as opposed to a fake fake!
SEE ALSO: Dresscode in Kuwait
Can I get your goodname?= Means your name… as opposed to giving them your bad name, of course.
Tell me= Please explain, I am listening to you. This one is found very rude by some. We guess it’s just a quick way of saying come on then spill the beans!
Britishers= British person.
Habibi/ Habibti= My dear, my darling. You’ll hear this one scattered about a lot in multi- cultural conversations and find yourself using it. It’s a fab sounding word!
Maffi Mushkilla= No problem. We use this one a lot, it rolls off the tongue.
Turned turtle= Means to totally flip over e.g. his car turned turtle in the accident.
