Traveling to or through Arabic-speaking countries can be a smoother experience if you know some essential vocabulary for navigating airports and flights. Whether you’re checking in, passing through security, or boarding your flight, these 50 Arabic words and phrases will help you communicate and understand the basics.
1. General Airport Vocabulary
- Airport: مطار (matar)
- Airplane: طائرة (ta’irah)
- Flight: رحلة جوية (rihlah jawiyyah)
- Terminal: محطة الركاب (mahattat al-rukkaab)
- Gate: بوابة (bawwabah)
- Runway: مدرج المطار (mudraj al-matar)
- Control tower: برج المراقبة (burj al-muraqabah)
- Departure: مغادرة (mughadarah)
- Arrival: وصول (wusool)
- Transit: عبور (‘uboor)
2. Check-In and Security Vocabulary
- Check-in counter: كاونتر تسجيل الوصول (kauntar tasjil al-wusool)
- Passport: جواز السفر (jawaz al-safar)
- Boarding pass: بطاقة الصعود (bitaqat al-su‘ood)
- Baggage: أمتعة (amtiah)
- Carry-on luggage: حقيبة اليد (haqeebat al-yad)
- Security check: تفتيش أمني (tafteesh amni)
- Customs: الجمارك (al-jamarik)
- Prohibited items: الأشياء الممنوعة (al-ashyaa’ al-mamnu‘ah)
- Metal detector: جهاز كشف المعادن (jihaz kashf al-ma‘adin)
- Liquids: سوائل (sawa’il)
3. Boarding and Flight Vocabulary
- Boarding: الصعود إلى الطائرة (al-su‘ood ila al-ta’irah)
- Seat: مقعد (maq‘ad)
- Window seat: مقعد بجانب النافذة (maq‘ad bijanib al-nafidhah)
- Aisle seat: مقعد بجانب الممر (maq‘ad bijanib al-mamar)
- Pilot: طيار (tayyar)
- Flight attendant: مضيف الطيران (mudheef al-tayaran)
- Overhead compartment: الحجرة العلوية (al-hujrah al-‘ulwiyyah)
- Seatbelt: حزام الأمان (hizam al-aman)
- Emergency exit: مخرج الطوارئ (makhraj al-tawari’)
- Tray table: طاولة الطعام (tawilat al-ta‘am)
4. During the Flight
- Takeoff: الإقلاع (al-iqlaa‘)
- Landing: الهبوط (al-huboot)
- Turbulence: مطبات هوائية (matabat hawaiyyah)
- Announcement: إعلان (i‘lan)
- Meal: وجبة (wajbah)
- Beverage: مشروب (mashroob)
- Headphones: سماعات الرأس (sam‘aat al-ra’s)
- Blanket: بطانية (bataniyyah)
- Pillow: وسادة (wisadah)
- Restroom: دورة المياه (dawrat al-miah)
5. After Landing Vocabulary
- Immigration: الهجرة (al-hijrah)
- Visa: تأشيرة (ta’shirah)
- Baggage claim: استلام الأمتعة (istilam al-amtiah)
- Lost and found: المفقودات (al-mafqoodat)
- Taxi: سيارة أجرة (sayarat ujrah)
- Shuttle bus: حافلة نقل (hafilat naql)
- Hotel: فندق (funduq)
- Currency exchange: صرف العملات (sarf al-‘omlat)
- Information desk: مكتب الاستعلامات (maktab al-istialamat)
- Delay: تأخير (ta’kheer)
6. Essential Travel Phrases
Here are some phrases to help you use these words in real-life situations:
“Where is the check-in counter?”
أين مكتب تسجيل الوصول؟
(Ayn maktabu tasjil al-wusool?)“I need a window seat, please.”
أريد مقعد بجانب النافذة، من فضلك.
(Ureed maq‘ad bijanib al-nafidhah, min fadlak.)“What time does the flight depart?”
متى تغادر الرحلة؟
(Mata tughadir al-rihlah?)“Is this the gate for Flight 123?”
هل هذه البوابة لرحلة 123؟
(Hal hathihi al-bawwabah li-rihlah 123?)“Where can I claim my baggage?”
أين يمكنني استلام أمتعتي؟
(Ayn yumkinuni istilam amti‘ati?)
Practice Tip
To master this vocabulary:
- Use flashcards to memorize words.
- Practice the phrases aloud, imagining real-life scenarios.
- Watch Arabic-language travel vlogs to see how these words are used in context.
Conclusion
These 50 words and phrases will give you confidence when navigating airports and flights in Arabic-speaking regions. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned traveler, this vocabulary is a valuable tool to make your journey stress-free and enjoyable.
Safe travels!
رحلة سعيدة!
(Rihlah Sa‘eedah!)