# Learn Arabic with NativePal > Learn Arabic with NativePal: levelled reading, vocabulary with spaced repetition, and pronunciation coaching. Free app for iOS and Android. ## Quick facts - Native name: العربية - Speakers: 400+ million speakers worldwide - Spoken in: the Middle East and North Africa, official in more than twenty countries - Writing system: Arabic abjad, 28 letters, written right to left - FSI difficulty category: IV - Estimated study to professional working proficiency: 2200 hours (about 88 weeks full-time, per the US Foreign Service Institute) - Proficiency framework: CEFR (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) ## What English speakers find hardest about Arabic - **Root-and-pattern morphology**: Words are built by slotting a three-consonant root into a template. From k-t-b you get kitāb (book), kātib (writer) and maktab (office), so vocabulary is systematic once you see the pattern. - **Diglossia**: Modern Standard Arabic is used in writing and broadcast, while each region speaks its own dialect. You effectively choose to learn two varieties, and Moroccan and Iraqi speech are not mutually intelligible. - **Broken plurals**: Many plurals restructure the whole word rather than adding an ending, so kitāb becomes kutub. Each plural has to be learnt with its singular. - **The dual**: Arabic has a separate grammatical number for exactly two, with its own endings on nouns, verbs and adjectives. - **Emphatic and pharyngeal consonants**: Sounds like ع, ح and ق are produced deep in the throat and have no English counterpart, yet they distinguish unrelated words. ## How you practise Arabic in NativePal - [Reading Lessons](https://nativepal.app/features/reading-lessons/): Arabic stories generated for your level, every word tappable for a translation, comprehension quiz at the end. - [Vocabulary & Dictionary](https://nativepal.app/features/vocabulary-and-dictionary/): themed Arabic vocabulary lessons plus a personal dictionary feeding spaced-repetition flashcards. - [Speaking Practice](https://nativepal.app/features/speaking-practice/): read Arabic aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual sounds, prosody, fluency, and connected speech. - [Daily Challenges](https://nativepal.app/features/daily-challenges/): 60 seconds of freeform Arabic every day, analysed for grammar, vocabulary, and phrasing. - [Learning Scenarios](https://nativepal.app/features/learning-scenarios/): structured Arabic lessons from the alphabet for absolute beginners. ## FAQ ### How long does it take to learn Arabic? The US Foreign Service Institute puts Arabic at roughly 2200 hours of instruction — about 88 weeks full-time — to reach professional working proficiency. Holding a simple conversation comes much sooner: most learners manage it inside the first few months. NativePal shortens the part you control: reading at your level every day, vocabulary that returns before you forget it, and speaking practice that scores your pronunciation instead of just ticking a box. ### What is hardest about Arabic grammar? Root-and-pattern morphology: Words are built by slotting a three-consonant root into a template. From k-t-b you get kitāb (book), kātib (writer) and maktab (office), so vocabulary is systematic once you see the pattern. Diglossia: Modern Standard Arabic is used in writing and broadcast, while each region speaks its own dialect. You effectively choose to learn two varieties, and Moroccan and Iraqi speech are not mutually intelligible. Broken plurals: Many plurals restructure the whole word rather than adding an ending, so kitāb becomes kutub. Each plural has to be learnt with its singular. The dual: Arabic has a separate grammatical number for exactly two, with its own endings on nouns, verbs and adjectives. Emphatic and pharyngeal consonants: Sounds like ع, ح and ق are produced deep in the throat and have no English counterpart, yet they distinguish unrelated words. ### Is Arabic hard for English speakers? Among the hardest for English speakers. Letters connect and change shape by position, and short vowels are normally left out. Reading the letters takes a few weeks, but reading unvowelled text fluently takes much longer. ### What writing system does Arabic use? Arabic uses arabic abjad, 28 letters, written right to left. Letters connect and change shape by position, and short vowels are normally left out. Reading the letters takes a few weeks, but reading unvowelled text fluently takes much longer. ### What proficiency levels does NativePal use for Arabic? NativePal levels your Arabic practice with CEFR, so reading lessons, vocabulary, and speaking prompts are generated for the level you select rather than a generic average. The ladder runs A1 through to C2. ### Where is Arabic spoken? Arabic is spoken in the Middle East and North Africa, official in more than twenty countries, with 400+ million speakers worldwide. ### Can I learn Arabic as a complete beginner? Yes. NativePal's Learning Scenarios start from the alphabet, numbers, greetings, and how to introduce yourself, with no prior Arabic assumed. Once those land, reading lessons and vocabulary packs pick up from wherever you are. ### Does NativePal correct my Arabic pronunciation? Yes. You read Arabic aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual vowels and consonants, stress, rhythm and intonation, fluency, and connected speech — not just a pass or fail. The 60-second daily speaking challenge adds freeform practice on top. ### Can I practise speaking Arabic, not just reading it? Yes, and it is the most-used part of the app. Speaking Practice is a teleprompter you read aloud for scored pronunciation feedback, the daily challenge gives you 60 seconds of freeform talk, and you can reply with your voice in any chat or roleplay scenario. ### Is NativePal free for learning Arabic? NativePal is free to start, with a daily allowance across reading, vocabulary, speaking practice, and chats. A premium subscription removes the daily limits and unlocks the longer formats. Prices are set in the App Store and Google Play and vary by region. ### Do I need an account to start learning Arabic? No. NativePal uses anonymous sign-in, so you can start practising Arabic without an email address or social login. ## More - [All supported languages](https://nativepal.app/languages.html) - [All features](https://nativepal.app/features/) - [Compare NativePal with other apps](https://nativepal.app/compare/) - [llms.txt](https://nativepal.app/llms.txt)