Arabic dialects / Libyan Arabic
🇱🇾 Learn Libyan Arabic
Libyan Arabic is spoken across Libya and sits between the dialects of the Maghreb and Egypt. Learning resources for it are rare, which is a big part of why Lahja teaches it.
What makes Libyan Arabic distinct
- Italian colonial rule left words that are still in daily use.
- Speech differs noticeably between the west around Tripoli and the east around Benghazi.
- It mixes Maghrebi features with some closer to Egyptian, reflecting where Libya sits.
Essential Libyan Arabic phrases
These come straight from the first sections of Lahja’s Libyan Arabic course.
| English | Say it | Arabic |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | hala | هلا |
| How are you | shin 7al | شن حال |
| What's your name | shin smak | شن سماك؟ |
| Thank you | sa77it | صحيت |
| Please | billah 3alik | بالله عليك |
| I love you | n7ebbek | انحبك |
| Let's go | hayya nsegdu | هي نسقدو |
| How much? | bikam | بكم |
| Delicious | bnin | بنين |
| No problem | ma fi mushkila | ما في مشكلة |
In the spelling, 3 is the letter ayn, 7 is a breathy h, 2 is a glottal stop, 5 is kh and 9 is qaf.
Lahja’s Libyan Arabic course
- 84 words and phrases across 11 sections
- 59 of those have recordings by native speakers so far, with more being added
- Short lessons, practice rounds and a test for each section
- Sections 1 to 3 are free. Pro is $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year, with a 7-day free trial
Best for: Libyan heritage speakers and anyone with Libyan family.
Questions about learning Libyan Arabic
- Is Libyan Arabic different from Modern Standard Arabic?
- Yes. Libyan Arabic is the spoken language of Libya, with its own pronunciation, grammar and everyday words. Modern Standard Arabic is the formal written language, so learning it alone will not prepare you for ordinary conversation in Libya.
- How do I start learning Libyan Arabic?
- Start with greetings and everyday phrases you can use straight away, and listen to native speakers as often as you can. Lahja’s Libyan Arabic course has 84 words and phrases across 11 sections, in five minute lessons.
- Is the Libyan Arabic course free?
- Sections 1 to 3 are free and stay free. Lahja Pro unlocks the rest for $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year, with a 7-day free trial.
- Does the course use native Libyan Arabic speakers?
- Yes. 59 of the 84 words in this course have recordings by native speakers so far, and more are being added.
Other dialects
Lahja teaches 11 dialects in all, including: