Arabic\'s Global Reach
Arabic has influenced more languages than almost any other. From Urdu and Persian sharing its script, to Spanish inheriting 4,000+ words from Al-Andalus, to Malay using Arabic for all religious vocabulary — your Arabic knowledge gives you a head start in dozens of languages.
Urduاردو
Indo-Aryan230 millionEasy
Very easy for Arabic speakers — 40% shared vocabulary, same script base
آداب عرض ہے(Adab arz hai)Greetings (formal)
Persian (Farsi)فارسی
Indo-Iranian110 millionEasy
Easy — same script, 40% Arabic loan words, simpler grammar
سلام(Salaam)Peace / Hello
TurkishTürkçe
Turkic85 millionMedium
Medium — different script now, but Ottoman Turkish was 60% Arabic/Persian
Merhaba(Merhaba)Hello (from Arabic مرحبا)
SpanishEspañol
Romance560 millionMedium
Medium — 4,000+ Arabic-origin words (al-cohol, al-gebra, azúcar)
Hola(Ola)Hello
FrenchFrançais
Romance320 millionMedium
Medium — widely spoken in North Africa alongside Arabic
Bonjour(Bonzhoor)Good day
Malay / IndonesianBahasa Melayu
Austronesian290 millionEasy
Easy — simple grammar, no conjugation, many Arabic religious terms
Selamat(Selamat)Peace/Safety (from Arabic سلامة)