Levantine Arabic

The Levantine dialect emerges from the linguistic evolution from Aramaic to Arabic within the region (both languages belong to the Semitic language family). It is divided into the Northern Levantine sub-dialect (in Syria and Lebanon) and the Southern Levantine sub-dialect (in Palestine and Jordan). However, there is no clear distinction between the two sub-dialects. For instance, certain areas in southwestern Syria and specific regions in Lebanon speak the Southern Levantine dialect, while some locales in Palestine and Jordan exhibit characteristics of the Northern Levantine dialect. Therefore, the division between the Northern and Southern dialects is somewhat fluid, with the primary distinctions across the Levant lying in small nuances of pronunciation rather than in fundamental linguistic differences.

How to learn Levantine Arabic online?

Arabic dialects differ from Modern Standard Arabic in general, but the Levantine dialect is considered one of the closest in terms of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation to Modern Standard Arabic. This makes learning Levantine (Shami) easier for those familiar with Modern Standard Arabic.

To learn Shami Arabic, it is important to follow these steps:

Learn the basics of Modern Standard Arabic (primarily the alphabet)

When you want to learn Shami Arabic, it is useful, but not necessary, to start by learning the basics of Modern Standard Arabic, such as the alphabet and general rules. While learning through listening can be effective, it becomes even better when accompanied by writing what we hear and understanding its meaning.

Watch real world Levantine (Shami) Arabic videos

With realistic daily conversations between Levantine people. These videos include common words and phrases, made fully accessible through interactive captioning.

Learn how to pronounce Levantine Arabic letters and words

Learning how to read and pronounce Levantine Arabic is an essential step. This can be accomplished with the help of our unique cross-dialectical Audio Dictionary, which helps you pronounce any word in any variety of Arabic you prefer and use them in context.

Strengthen your listening skills

This will help you easily understand Levantine speakers: You can practice this through Cloze Listen, an activity that helps you enhance your listening skills by writing the missing words or choosing them from a word box and placing them in blanks.

Immerse yourself in the culture of the Levant region

Understanding the culture of the Levant region is crucial for engaging with the community of that region and learning the language. If you’re eager to learn Levantine Arabic, immersing yourself in the cultural and artistic productions of the Levant region, including theater, series, and songs in the Levantine dialect, will greatly enhance your grasp of both the language and the local culture.

Here are a few videos from the series:

• When eyes meet | عين بتجي بعين
• Yes, delete! | إيه، ديليت
• Lovers (comedy)
• Introducing the boyfriend

Repeat, review, and persevere

Learning Levantine Arabic is not easy or quick, so you always need repetition, review, and continuous learning to achieve satisfactory results. You can easily do this through comprehension check exercises available in some Playaling videos, allowing you to answer some questions while watching the video with interactive captioning to ensure your understanding. Additionally, you can review what you heard and repeat it for additional practice.