First Steps to Understanding Arabic

A novel and comprehensive introduction to Arabic, written in English and presented in an easy-to-understand, concise format that makes acquiring the language straightforward.

This is the full edition — the complete course, with the full set of exercises and worked examples.

An Innovative Approach to Classical Arabic

• Ample exercises to solidify understanding and develop accuracy in translation
• Rules simplified and explained clearly with illustrated examples
• Concepts introduced in an order that builds rather than assumes
• Written for English speakers rather than adapted from a text for Arabic speakers

Why That Last Point Matters

Most classical Arabic grammar reaches English students in translation from books written for people who already spoke the language and needed only its formal analysis.

Those texts assume an ear the student does not have. A course written from the beginning for English speakers can start where the learner actually is — and that difference accounts for a good deal of why people abandon Arabic.

Who It Is For

Anyone learning classical Arabic outside a traditional madrasah: self-taught students, part-time learners, and adults who have tried once and stopped.

Related Reading

• First Steps to Understanding Arabic — the abridged edition
• First Steps to Understanding Sarf — the companion volume on Sarf
• Arabic Course (3 Vol Set) — the Madinah Arabic Course

Available Editions