Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Arabic spoken?
Arabic is the official language of 20 countries ranging from northwest Africa to the Arabian gulf. Those countries include: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The written language in all these countries is called Modern Standard Arabic (in Arabic, fuSHaa), and this is the literary language of the modern era.
In addition to the written language, which Arabs learn in school, speakers in each geographical region of the Arab world use a spoken variant of Arabic as their mother tongue. These spoken variants are often referred to as “dialects” or “colloquial Arabic.” These colloquial variants are not generally written.
What is Arabic script like?
Arabic script is cursive, meaning that the letters in words are joined together, as in English handwriting. It is written from right to left. The Arabic alphabet consists of 28 letters, and has very good “fit” with the sound system of Arabic. That is, Arabic words are generally spelled the way they sound.
It takes about 20 hours of class time (and about double that in homework assignments) to learn the Arabic alphabet and script system.
Are there sounds in Arabic that we don’t have in English?
Yes, there is a trilled /r/ as in Italian or Spanish, and there are sounds that are made in the throat (pharyngeal) and in the back of the mouth (velar and uvular). These sounds take practice to make properly, but are readily learned.
How long does it take to be able to read articles in an Arabic newspaper?
Georgetown students are usually reading newspaper articles by the end of their second year of intensive study. At the third year level, there is a course, “Media Arabic,” that focuses on reading and discussing articles in newspapers and magazines, and how to develop effective comprehension skills when listening to broadcast media.
What language family does Arabic belong to?
Arabic is a member of the Semitic language family which also includes Hebrew, Amharic, and Aramaic. Other ancient members of this family are Assyrian and Babylonian.
Are there study abroad programs in Arab countries?
There are many good study abroad programs in Arab countries. Some of the best-known ones are in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Yemen.
What are the admissions and academic requirements for your department?
If you are interested in learning more about our Graduate programs and admissions, please visit the
All graduate applications and review are handled directly through the Graduate School Admissions office.
You may also view the Graduate Catalog online.
You can also view the Undergraduate Bulletin online.
May I sit in on your language classes?
No. Our language courses are closed to outside auditors. Only degree-seeking Georgetown students may enroll.
I want to start taking Arabic. What are my options?
You may begin Arabic courses at Georgetown during our Summer Arabic & Persian Language Institute. The Institute offers Non-Intensive First Level courses, as well as Intensive First Level, Second Level, and Advanced courses.
The School of Continuing Studies offers weekend courses in Arabic. To see which classes are available and to print out an application, please go to the School of Summer and Continuing Education web site.
The Middle East Institute in Dupont Circle also offers courses of varying levels, as does the USDA Graduate School.
I want an Arabic tutor. Can you recommend one?
We cannot. The Department does not actively maintain an approved tutor list. However, students can contact the Academic Resource Center where tutors are available to GU students free of charge.
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