How to Write Arabic in Latin Letters
Complete Arabizi (Franco-Arabe) Guide
What is Arabizi?
Arabizi (also known as Franco-Arabe, 3arabi, Arabish, or simply "Franco") is the informal writing system used to type Arabic using Latin letters and digits. It was born from the need to write Arabic on devices that lacked Arabic keyboards, and is now widely used in chat, social media, and text messages across Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, and the broader Arab world.
The key innovation is using numbers to represent Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent. Once you learn the seven numbers below, you can write any Arabic word phonetically.
The Seven Numbers (most important)
These are the letters that make Arabizi unique. Learn these first.
| Number | Sound | Arabic | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Hamza | ء | 2anta→انت |
| 3 | Ain | ع | 3ein→عين |
| 5 | Kha | خ | 5ubz→خبز |
| 6 | Ta (emphatic) | ط | 6awila→طاولة |
| 7 | Ha | ح | 7abibi→حبيبي |
| 8 | Ghain | غ | 8arbi→غربي |
| 9 | Qaf | ق | 9alb→قلب |
Consonants
Most consonants map directly to their closest English sound. Digraphs (two-letter combinations) handle sounds like sh and kh.
Vowels
Vowels are the trickiest part because Arabic has both long and short vowels, and short vowels are often omitted in written Arabic. In Arabizi, vowels are usually written to represent the sound you hear.
Short A
Write a for a short vowel.
katab → كتب
Long A
Write aa or just a in context.
salam → سلام
Long I / EE
Write i, ee, or ii.
beit → بيت
Long U / OO
Write ou, oo, or u.
nour → نور
Greetings
| Arabizi | Arabic | English |
|---|---|---|
| salam | سلام | Hello / Peace |
| mar7aba | مرحبا | Hello |
| ahlan | اهلا | Welcome |
| kif 7alak | كيف حالك | How are you (m) |
| kif 7alik | كيف حالك | How are you (f) |
| mnih | منيح | Good |
| tamam | تمام | Fine / OK |
Common expressions
| Arabizi | Arabic | English |
|---|---|---|
| shukran | شكرا | Thank you |
| 3afwan | عفوا | You're welcome |
| inshallah | انشالله | God willing |
| yalla | يلا | Let's go / Come on |
| 7abibi | حبيبي | My love / My friend (m) |
| 5alas | خلاص | Done / That's it |
| wallah | والله | I swear to God |
| mashallah | ماشالله | What God wills (admiration) |
Questions
| Arabizi | Arabic | English |
|---|---|---|
| shu | شو | What (Levantine) |
| wein | وين | Where (Levantine) |
| lesh | ليش | Why (Levantine) |
| min | من | Who / From |
| kif | كيف | How |
| imta | امتى | When |
Arabizi by Dialect
Arabizi varies between countries. The number system is universal but vocabulary and pronunciation differ.
🇱🇧 Lebanese / Levantine
Uses shu (what), wein (where), kifak/kifik. Heavy use of the number system. 3 and 7 very common.
shu 3am ta3mol→شو عم تعمل(What are you doing)
wein rayeh→وين رايح(Where are you going)
🇪🇬 Egyptian
Uses eh (what), fein (where), izzayak. The letter ج is often pronounced as G.
izzayak→إزيك(How are you)
el nas dol→الناس دول(These people)
🇲🇦 Moroccan (Darija)
Mixes French, Arabic, and Berber. Vowels are often dropped. Ash (what), fin (where).
labas→لاباس(Fine / No problem)
mzyan→مزيان(Good)
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