How to Learn to Read and Speak Arabic from Scratch

Why reading and conversation are trained together

Many Indonesian beginners assume they must read fluently first before daring to speak. In truth the two skills reinforce each other. When you recognise a letter along with its vowel mark, your ear and tongue also learn to pronounce it, and that pronunciation is the very foundation of conversation. Conversely, phrases you say often make vocabulary stick quickly, so when you meet the word in a text it already feels familiar. One thing to understand early: Arabic has two faces. There is Fusha, the formal register used in the Quran, books, news, and official texts across more than twenty countries. There is also Amiyah, the everyday dialect that differs from region to region. Linguists call this phenomenon diglossia, the coexistence of two language varieties each with its own function. For beginners, Fusha is the safest footing because it is widely understood and immediately useful for reading. Another reassuring point is that Arabic sound rules are regular. Once you know the letters and vowel marks, almost every vowelled word can be read exactly as it is written. Your study energy can then focus on training articulation, growing vocabulary, and getting used to simple sentence patterns.

8 Steps to Learn to Read and Speak Arabic from Scratch

The eight steps below follow the order teachers usually use when guiding a student from zero. Finish each step until it feels solid before moving to the next, and slip a little speaking practice into every stage.

1. Step 1

   Recognise the Hijaiyah letters and their joined forms

   The first step is getting to know the 28 Hijaiyah letters one by one, along with their names. Each letter has a different shape depending on whether it sits at the start, middle, or end of a word, or stands alone, so a single letter can look like it changes form. Some letters cannot join the letter after them, such as alif, dal, and ra, which breaks the word midway. Understand too that Arabic runs from right to left. Begin with simply shaped letters, then group letters that look alike so they are easier to tell apart, for example ba, ta, and tsa which differ only in dots. Writing each letter while saying its name helps visual and auditory memory grow together.

   Tips

   • Group letters that differ only in the number and position of their dots so you do not mix them up
   • Write each letter in all four positional forms so you get used to spotting it inside words
2. Step 2

   Master the vowel marks and train correct articulation

   Vowel marks, the harakat, are the small signs that set the vowel sound of each letter. Fathah gives an a, kasrah gives an i, and dhammah gives a u, while sukun marks a silent letter. Learn the tanwin sounds an, in, un, and the tasydid that doubles a letter. Alongside this, train the makhraj, the point where a letter's sound is produced in the mouth and throat. Several letters feel foreign to an Indonesian tongue because they have no equivalent, such as ain from the throat, the deep ha that hisses from the throat base, and the heavy dhad and tha. Say them slowly while feeling the tongue position, and check with a mirror. Clean articulation from the outset makes your reading clear and your spoken words easier to understand.

   Tips

   • Train throat letters like ain and ha one at a time while holding the sound for a few seconds
   • Record your voice and compare it with native audio to hear the difference
   Memorising a reading without minding articulation often lets similar letters swap, such as sin with tsa or ha with kha, and that habit is hard to undo later.
3. Step 3

   Read syllables, then join them into vowelled words

   Once each letter's sound is solid, combine letters with their vowel marks into syllables, then build them into whole words. This is the heart of staged methods like Iqra that are widely used in Indonesia. Start with two-letter words, move up to three letters, then to short fully vowelled sentences. Read aloud so your eyes, ears, and tongue work at once. Watch for elongated sounds or mad, vowels held longer because they are followed by a mad letter such as alif, wau, or ya. Practising with short Quranic verses or simple vowelled sentences gives you authentic and meaningful material. Reading aloud consistently every day builds fluency far faster than reading silently once in a while.

   Tips

   • Read aloud so your tongue's fluency is trained too, since silent reading leaves it idle
   • Briefly revise yesterday's reading before adding new material so the foundation stays strong
4. Step 4

   Build core conversation vocabulary early

   While training your reading, prioritise the words that appear most in conversation, and set rarely used ones aside for now. Prioritise greetings, numbers, family members, pointing words like this and that, question words, and basic verbs such as eat, go, and study. Aim to add a few new words each day, then revise old ones on a widening schedule using flashcards. Always memorise a word together with its vowel marks and one short example sentence so it carries context. Group vocabulary by theme, for instance at home or at the market, so it is easy to weave into real dialogue. Words spoken repeatedly stick faster than those merely glanced at.

   Tips

   • Focus on everyday conversation words first and delay advanced literary vocabulary
   • Stick small labels with the names of objects around the house to strengthen memory
5. Step 5

   Learn simple Arabic sentence patterns

   To assemble speech, get to know Arabic's two basic sentence patterns. The nominal sentence, jumlah ismiyah, begins with a noun, for example stating that something is big or that someone is a teacher. The verbal sentence, jumlah fi'liyah, begins with a verb, for example stating that someone goes or reads. Learn the pronouns, the dhamir, such as ana for I, anta for you addressing a man, and anti for you addressing a woman, because Arabic verbs adjust to their doer. Begin with very short sentences to introduce yourself, name what you like, and ask how someone is. Make your own sentence for each new pattern, then ask a tutor or a knowledgeable friend to correct it. Composing active sentences sticks far deeper than reading ready-made examples.

   Tips

   • Make five of your own sentences for every new pattern before moving on
   • Memorise the basic pronoun forms first so adjusting verbs to their doer comes easily
6. Step 6

   Begin muhadatsah with everyday phrases

   Muhadatsah is conversation practice, and this stage can begin even when your vocabulary is still small. Memorise ready-to-use phrases such as greetings, asking how someone is, introducing yourself, and giving thanks. Practise through role play, for instance pretending to shop, asking directions, or greeting a neighbour. Speak with a real voice so your tongue gets used to Arabic rhythm. Silent reading alone does little for pronunciation. It is normal for sentences to stumble at first, and that is a natural part of the process. Beginners aiming for Fusha conversation will find standard phrases enough for daily situations, while pilgrims can add practical worship vocabulary. The more a phrase is spoken, the faster it comes out without long thought.

   Tips

   • Practise role-play dialogues with a friend or tutor so you get used to responding spontaneously
   • Record a short conversation and listen back to judge how clear your pronunciation is
7. Step 7

   Move up to unvowelled text while training your ear

   Once you read vowelled words fluently and have a vocabulary base, start getting used to Arabic text without vowel marks, since that is how most books and real writing appear. The key is vocabulary: when you already know a word, your brain guesses its vowels correctly even when they are not written. Start with short texts on familiar themes, then lengthen them gradually. At the same time, listen to authentic Arabic regularly, such as recited verses, slow dialogues for learners, or short talks, so your ear gets used to the speaker's pace and rhythm. Combining reading, listening, and imitation at this stage speeds the shift from merely decoding toward understanding.

   Tips

   • Re-read a text you already know vowelled in its unvowelled form to test your guesses
   • Pick listening material at your level, starting with slow dialogue before fast conversation
   Jumping to unvowelled text before your vocabulary is enough often makes reading guesses miss. Strengthen your word bank first before adding difficulty.
8. Step 8

   Keep it consistent with measurable targets

   The journey from scratch demands continuity, and that matters more than a big burst of enthusiasm that fades quickly. Set clear, measurable targets so the direction feels concrete, for example finishing one Iqra volume in a set period, memorising a certain number of conversation phrases per week, or reading a short chapter fluently. Note your progress in a simple journal so you can see how far you have come. Alternate reading and speaking practice to avoid boredom, and celebrate every small milestone. Where possible, studying with a tutor gives direct correction of articulation and reading before mistakes become habits. A steady daily rhythm, however short, is the main engine that carries a beginner to fluency.

   Tips

   • Set a specific, measurable target, for example reading Juz Amma fluently within a few months
   • Alternate reading days with conversation-focused days so both skills grow in balance

Matching Your Path to Your Learning Goal

Fusha vs Amiyah: Which for a True Beginner?

Many beginners start with Fusha to build a reading and standard-conversation foundation, then add a particular dialect when preparing for travel or work in a specific Arab country.

A 30-Minute Daily Routine: Read and Speak

Questions About Learning to Read and Speak Arabic from Scratch