Directions

1. أين هو؟

   Ayna huwa?

   Where is it?

   Usage

   The most basic way to ask for a location. Replace "huwa" with "hiya" for feminine nouns

   Grammar Note

   Arabic pronouns agree with noun gender. The word order can also be: "al-mat'am ayna huwa?" (Where is the restaurant?), placing the noun first

2. كيف أصل إلى الفندق؟

   Kayfa aṣilu ilā al-funduq?

   How do I get to the hotel?

   Usage

   Ask how to get to a specific place. Replace "al-funduq" with your destination

   Grammar Note

   "Kayfa asilu ila" is a versatile "how do I get to" pattern. Combine with place words: "al-matar" (airport), "al-mahatta" (station)

3. اتجه يسارًا

   Ittajih yasāran

   Turn left

   Usage

   Used when giving or understanding directions to turn left

   Grammar Note

   "Yamīnan" (right) and "yasāran" (left) use tanwīn (-an) as adverbial accusatives. Also learn "ala al-yasar" (on the left) and "ala al-yamin" (on the right)

4. اتجه يمينًا

   Ittajih yamīnan

   Turn right

   Usage

   Used when directing or understanding a right turn

   Grammar Note

   "Yamin" means right, "yasar" means left. "Al-yamin" also carries cultural weight in Arabic, associated with goodness and auspiciousness

5. امشِ مستقيمًا

   Imshi mustaqīman

   Go straight ahead

   Usage

   Used to direct or understand instructions to continue straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   "Mustaqim" is an adjective meaning "straight/upright", famously used in the Quran as "al-sirat al-mustaqim" (the straight path)

6. هل هذا قريب أم بعيد؟

   Hal hādhā qarīb am baʿīd?

   Is it near or far?

   Usage

   Used to check whether a destination is close or far away

   Grammar Note

   "Am" is used in alternative questions (A or B?). Unlike "aw" (or in statements), "am" only appears within questions

7. على بُعد كم دقيقة مشيًا؟

   ʿAlā buʿd kam daqīqa mashyan?

   How many minutes away on foot?

   Usage

   Used to find out how far away a place is on foot

   Grammar Note

   "Mashyan" is the adverbial form of "mashi" (walking) with tanwīn. Replace with "bis-sayyara" (by car) or "bit-taksi" (by taxi)

8. هل يمكنك أن تريني على الخريطة؟

   Hal yumkinuka an turiyanī ʿalā al-kharīṭa?

   Can you show me on the map?

   Usage

   Used when verbal directions are unclear and you want to see on a map

   Grammar Note

   "Hal yumkinuka an" + verb infinitive is a polite "can you...?" pattern. Works well when showing your phone map (Google Maps etc.)

9. أضعت طريقي

   Aḍʿatu ṭarīqī

   I am lost

   Usage

   Used to inform someone that you are lost and need help

   Grammar Note

   Literally "I lost my way". The colloquial "ana dayyi'" (I am lost) is also widely used. Combine with "min fadlak sa'idni" (please help me)

10. هل هذا الطريق يؤدي إلى السوق؟

    Hal hādhā aṭ-ṭarīq yuʾaddī ilā as-sūq?

    Does this road lead to the market?

    Usage

    Used to confirm whether a road leads to a market (souk) or attraction

    Grammar Note

    "Al-suq" refers to the traditional Arab market (souk). Replace with other landmarks: "al-haram" (holy site), "al-burj" (tower), "al-kornish" (corniche promenade)

11. يمين

    yamīn

    Right

    Usage

    Shown inside a taxi to indicate which way to turn

12. يسار

    yasār

    Left

    Usage

    Shown inside a taxi; dialects also say shimāl for left, which collides with the word for north

13. إلى الأمام مباشرة

    ilā al-amām mubāsharatan

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Tells a driver to keep going straight; colloquially ʿalā ṭūl in the Gulf and Egypt, dughrī in the Levant

14. ارجع

    irjaʿ

    Go back

    Usage

    Used when the driver has overshot; to a woman it becomes irjaʿī

15. قف

    qif

    Stop

    Usage

    The same word used on Arabic stop signs; show it when you want to get out here

16. الشَّمَال

    ash-shamāl

    North

    Usage

    The compass north; without vowel marks it is spelled the same as left, so show it together with a map or compass

17. الجنوب

    al-janūb

    South

    Usage

    The compass south; used when reading maps and road signs

18. الشرق

    ash-sharq

    East

    Usage

    The compass east; used when reading maps and road signs

19. الغرب

    al-gharb

    West

    Usage

    The compass west; used when reading maps and road signs

20. موقف الحافلات

    mawqif al-ḥāfilāt

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Shown as a destination; Egyptians also say mawqif al-utūbīs

21. المترو

    al-mitrū

    Metro, subway

    Usage

    The word on signage in Cairo, Dubai, and Riyadh; formal Arabic uses qiṭār al-anfāq

22. السفارة

    as-sifāra

    Embassy

    Usage

    Shown as a destination, e.g. after losing a passport

23. الصراف الآلي

    aṣ-ṣarrāf al-ālī

    ATM

    Usage

    Shown when asking where you can withdraw cash

24. مكتب صرافة

    maktab ṣirāfa

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    Shown when asking where money can be exchanged

25. مغسلة ذاتية الخدمة

    maghsala dhātiyyat al-khidma

    Self-service laundry

    Usage

    Asks where you can do laundry; most Arab-world maghsalas are drop-off shops, and coin-op self-service exists only in parts of the Gulf

Browse all TravelPhrases languages