Arabic Genealogical Word List: Difference between revisions

This page contains information on Arabic relevant for genealogists searching records in this language. It includes a basic breakdown of the language and lists of Arabic words with their English transliterations and translations. The words included here are those likely to be found in genealogical sources. For any words not contained in the list, please see "Additional Arabic Language Resources" below for suggestions on dictionaries and websites.  

Arabic is a Semitic language and is in the same language family as Hebrew and Aramaic. It is spoken as a first language by almost 300 million people in the Middle East and North Africa<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Arabic," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic, accessed 25 Sep 2024.</ref>  and is commonly learned as a second language, particularly by non-Arab Muslims due to its role as the liturgical language of Islam.  

The term "Arabic language" generally refers to both Modern Standard Arabic, the standardized, formal Arabic used for literature and official purposes, including record keeping; and the diverse array of Arabic dialects spoken as a first language at home and in daily life. Arabic dialects are rarely written down, especially in official documents, so this page focuses on Modern Standard Arabic. However, dialects are commonly used in oral histories, so resources for spoken Arabic are included as well.