Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic (Arabic-English)

This dictionary presents the vocabulary and phraseology of modern written Arabic. It is based on the form of the language which, throughout the Arab world from Iraq to Morocco, is found in the prose of books, newspapers, periodicals and letters. This form is also employed in formal public address, over radio and television, and in religious ceremonial.

Why This Is the One Serious Students Own

Because it is arranged by root rather than alphabetically by spelling, which is how Arabic actually works.

Every derived word sits under its three-letter root alongside its relatives, so a reader looking up an unfamiliar word sees the whole family and understands the pattern rather than memorizing an isolated entry. That takes some learning, and it is why Hans Wehr is a tool for students rather than for beginners.

It has been the standard scholarly Arabic-English dictionary for over half a century, and nothing has displaced it.

Other Dictionaries and References