Do You Speak Arabic Chat? ta7ki 3arabi?

Posted on September 25, 2009 by ArabicGenie

When chatting online Arabs often use the Latin letters to write in Arabic instead of the Arabic alphabet. And, because certain sounds in the Arabic alphabet don’t have a counterpart in Western languages, there are a number of symbols used to represent these special sounds.

So don’t be surprised to see numerals such as 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 being used online – these numbers represent distinct sounds in the Arabic language. For instance تحكي عربي؟, or “do you speak Arabic?” becomes “ta7ki 3arabi?”.

Below is a table that summarizes how the numbers are used to replace certain Arabic sounds. I also suggest some mnemonics for how to remember which number corresponds with which letter.

Arabic Letter	Transcription	Comments
ح	7	the letter Haa’ looks quite similar to a 7
خ	5, 7’	the apostrophe represents the dot on the letter khaa’; alternatively the numeral <5> is used
ص	9	imagine a <9> lying on the side, in which case the numeral looks very similar to the letter Saad
ض	9, 9’	the apostrophe represents the dot on the letter Daad
ط	6	the shape of the numeral <6> is not too different from the shape of the letter Taa’
ظ	6, 6’	the apostrophe represents the dot of the letter Zaa’
ع	3	the letter ‘ayn looks like a mirrored <3>
غ	3’	the apostrophe represents the dot on the letter ghayn
ق	8	imagine that the two dots of the letter qaaf closed the top, which would result in an eight lying on its side

Update: See my new article on the Arabic chat alphabet where I dissect two sample sentences and translate them into normal Arabic script.

104 thoughts on “Do You Speak Arabic Chat? ta7ki 3arabi?”

Tasha Renee on January 30, 2010 at 12:57 am said:

thanx man ^_^ ana 3arfa bas ma kootnesh 3arfa kool el 7agat
ArabicGenie on January 30, 2010 at 10:52 am said:

3ala ra2si ya Tasha!

Btw, the “2” as a replacement for “hamza” is something I forgot to mention in this article.
v1n337 on June 13, 2010 at 12:05 pm said:

plz could u provide a translator
ArabicGenie on June 15, 2010 at 9:35 pm said:

Please see my page here for custom tattoo design and translations.
sisi on August 9, 2010 at 10:51 pm said:

what is tesht2lk el 3afyh 7boobi ,, please?
ArabicGenie on August 14, 2010 at 1:31 pm said:

@sisi:
I guess the Arabic is:
تشتاق لك العافية حبيبي
which translates literally as “may the good health yearn for you darling”. In other words the other person is wishing that you may always be healthy.
iman on August 27, 2010 at 2:53 pm said:

slt asdi9aa momkin nt3araf moi imane a casa et toi
iman on August 27, 2010 at 2:58 pm said:

mayjaeb ahad
ArabicGenie on August 27, 2010 at 9:21 pm said:

Salut Imane! ArabicGenie n’est pas un forum. C’est pourquoi il n’ya pas de réponse ici. Néanmoins je suis à votre disposition si vous avez une question sur l’apprentissage des langues.

Hello Imane! ArabicGenie is not a messaging board. This is why there has been no response to your message. However, please do not hesitate if you have any questions about language learning.

For the convenience of our readers, here is what Imane typed in Moroccan Arabic (note the extensive use of French):

slt asdi9aa momkin nt3araf moi imane a casa et toi
Translation: Hello friends. Perhaps we can get to know each other. I am Imane from Casablanca and you?

mayjaeb ahad
Translation: no-one is answering
tasneem on February 3, 2011 at 9:36 am said:

i want to translte normal arabic to arabic chat (ارحل يا جبان ارحل يا عميل الا مريكان)
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Jazia on June 11, 2011 at 9:21 am said:

Can someone please translate, “hadi sourtik anti??? ”
Thank you.
ArabicGenie on June 11, 2011 at 10:27 am said:

Hi Jazia! This means:
“is this a picture of you???”
The question is addressed to a female person.
Jazia on June 11, 2011 at 11:18 am said:

Thank you so much for your help. That was a quick response. 🙂
jazia on June 13, 2011 at 10:22 pm said:

Thank you for I posted the wrong message for translation but I will definitely like to use your site in the future for you guys are awesome in translating. I will definitely will recommend other friends to your website. Continue the good work. 🙂
sara on August 17, 2011 at 12:32 pm said:

salamo 3alikem
sara on August 17, 2011 at 12:33 pm said:

iman ana sara
ahmed on August 27, 2011 at 4:31 am said:

A9oomek Ne’6ar … Oo Af6erk Tafkeer
mushtaq on October 14, 2011 at 2:24 pm said:

Chat to learn Arabic this my mail
أذا كنت تريد تعلم العربية والدردشة تفضل على هذا العنوان
Mushtaq on October 14, 2011 at 3:44 pm said:

do you Chat to learn Arabic this my mail
KARAM on October 21, 2011 at 4:33 pm said:

SALUTMOI SANAA ET TOI
BASANT on December 17, 2011 at 9:31 am said:

تحكي عربي = بتتكلم عربي باللهجه المصريه ~ صح ؟؟
victoria on February 13, 2012 at 8:36 am said:

Can someone please translate this for me :

– 3ala 3l fadi
khasran makel khara

-Ma3ak ur fone?

-yes akeed

PLEASE! thank u so much 🙂
yassine on February 29, 2012 at 12:17 am said:

amot fèèk
بهاء on April 2, 2012 at 2:02 am said:

3ala 3l fadi = Whatever its nothing.
khasran makel khara = I cant speek like someone who ate some shit !
-Ma3ak ur fone? = Do you have a phone ?
-yes akeed = Yes of course !

its 100% true
luv4ever on April 4, 2012 at 12:34 am said:

ma7la ha9a mah7le s3ad ne i8ter
lebanon chat on April 4, 2012 at 4:31 pm said:

good place to learn arabic. do you have any laventine dialect?
Tricky on April 18, 2012 at 7:49 pm said:

Hi
Can someone please translate the following for me?

la mt5afsh ma mabro7sh wara m5alini dayman 2odam

Thanks in advance
salamlam on May 7, 2012 at 2:52 pm said:

how do you say kalam fadi in internet language?? how is the d in fadi written with numbers???
ArabicGenie on May 7, 2012 at 4:29 pm said:

@salamlam
I’d probably say it like this: “kalam fa9i” or “kalam fa9’i”. The “d” sound in the word “fadi” is a Daad. Note, however, that you might also encounter other transliterations, such as “fadhi” or simply “fadi”.
MOHAMMAD on September 9, 2012 at 6:12 pm said:

HI EVRY BODY I WANT FIND FRIEND IN ARABICE WORLD
alyaa on November 10, 2012 at 1:00 pm said:

Your first love will always have a special place in your heart♥.Your first love will always have a special place in your heart♥.
Tricky on November 28, 2012 at 6:20 pm said:

Can anyone tell me what this says please?

habeby b3d 48 sa3a hnp2a m3 p3d..ana msh adra astna da kolo
tomi on April 11, 2013 at 10:35 am said:

what does da3en l wafa (lebanese) mean in english??? pls help!!!
sarah on May 25, 2013 at 7:49 am said:

What does ‘b3d el shar’ mean in arabic chat?
ArabicGenie on June 2, 2013 at 9:35 am said:

Hi Sarah. I guess this could be بعد الشر which means “after the evil”.
Dan on June 7, 2013 at 6:11 am said:

What doe all this mean?

yawdi hadi heya lehfada
sbah l5IR
rah tan9lab 3la wahd l7aja
f you tub
fin rak ??
ewa heli sekyp
ok

strutt daniel

Thanks
seashell on October 26, 2013 at 8:28 pm said:

Hi, sorry this is abit of a longer than usual arabic text – can any translate please?

‫هلا اياد
ماعملت تاج ولا شيرينج ولا بعتت شي !!

ليش هيك بتبعتلي !!؟

ولا بفتح صفحتك اصل

‫اعمل زفت بلوك على اسمي اذا لهدرجه خايف افتح صفحتك
مابعتت ولا شي ولا عملت اي شي‬

‫ان شالله كمان عمرك مابتشوفني اياد
شو اللي حاكي لمرتك عني عشان تخاف حتى يوصلك مني تعليق!!!!!

حسبي الله ونعم الوكيل بس

انسى انو عندك بنت عم
وفهم مرتك انها تغار من كل النسوان وماتفكر تغار مني لاني بطلت اشوفك اصلا
واتمنى اني بحياتي كلها مااشوفك ولااا حتى صدفه وانتي اللي رجاء لاتبعت شي وتأكد اني مارح يوصلك مني ولا شي ولا حتى لايك‬
sara on January 1, 2014 at 10:43 pm said:

aheb t3aruf
Kyra on March 16, 2014 at 7:55 am said:

Could someone please translate this as soon as possible? I need to know

Da ana hb2a a7san mn I.wad shasten pepar.
Please help translate on September 29, 2014 at 9:15 am said:

Hello, could someone help me please. Could you translate these:
1) Y’a ma7roum
2) Y’a gibtek ta zeki
3) Ta Ramzi 7ata enti y’a gibtek aya ta5let sahreya mazelet ki bdet…..
4) loool nn mak ta3tref

Thanks for help!
Varsha on October 12, 2014 at 5:24 pm said:

Salaam Valekum! How would I say “Your first love will always have a special place in your heart♥.Your first love will always have a special place in your heart♥.” in Morrocan Arabic?

Chokran c; Tesbah al khyer
dimazaza on November 15, 2014 at 9:13 pm said:

7ob l7oriaa
Bob on November 25, 2014 at 3:33 am said:

What does this mean “9wd a oudeta3k”
Kate on March 25, 2015 at 8:25 pm said:

Please translate this for me:

Kont fi London wallah makan 3andi el wakt toujours khadam ou doka rani vacance fi alger rani m3amar wakt lol 3labiha

Thank you very much in advance, you will be a life saver)))
Dc on January 5, 2016 at 6:29 pm said:

Ya allah fnan yali swrak 😀 . Can someone translate this to English :
Ria on January 26, 2016 at 12:14 am said:

Hi. Can someone please help me translate this “b3d al ana shfto” please and thank you. I would really appreciate it 🙂 hugs
CB on March 3, 2016 at 8:14 pm said:

Can someone please translate this from English into Arabish.
“do you prefer goats or camels?”
Amirah on March 19, 2016 at 1:47 am said:

B3atni lik Rabeh ta3 m’sila. 9ali 9olilha debloquini 3andi m3aha hadra. Talayli fi Rabeh diri plusir merc What does this mean
Jdee on May 4, 2016 at 4:36 am said:

Can some one tell me what wajawbni means in Arabic chat?
Natalja on August 30, 2016 at 9:25 pm said:

Help, how to translate: az3tek, ya hbbteh alebh? Its Egyptian dialect of Arabic
ArabicGenie on September 5, 2016 at 1:10 pm said:

Hi Natalja, that translates as “how are you my darling?”
Natalja on September 7, 2016 at 7:04 pm said:

ArabicGenie- thank u very much!!!!!
Natalja on September 7, 2016 at 7:08 pm said:

and how to translate yslam?
Myram on September 9, 2016 at 7:07 am said:

What is

mazyan daba
siftihomlo
Myram on September 9, 2016 at 7:10 am said:

Mawsina hata 6 dylah Sbah he meaning please 🙂
Myram on September 9, 2016 at 7:15 am said:

Sbah Lkhir haki HaDoo Akhti
siftihom L MOHamad

Please transfer
Natalie on September 13, 2016 at 8:59 am said:

eh ya heba- translate please!!!
Natalie on October 5, 2016 at 5:55 pm said:

Hi, u can translate this : al3 abo gdr?
Stephanie on October 30, 2016 at 4:00 pm said:

Ki siba b3athtli invitation willa just par hasard!! Desolé menjawibich directement rani fi 5idma 😡

Can someone please translate!

Thanks you
Blulilli on October 31, 2016 at 1:39 am said:

Assf 3la ghebah taoweelah aghty 3azizia Amal… anti t3rafi ana meen ..3oumery ma nassetic , arjou ma3therah , samheeni …
Can someone please translate this??
Thank you…
Natalie on November 13, 2016 at 11:22 am said:

Hi, can translate please : u blblb
almy on November 13, 2016 at 1:10 pm said:

what does this mean tra 8smnblah 4laitoona, i got the first bit but what does the 4 stand 4
Tam on December 16, 2016 at 4:13 pm said:

I am receiving Arabic tweets of 5/5, 10/10, and 15/15, can you explain what these mean please?
Beck on January 17, 2017 at 7:36 pm said:

Hussein ali hekene w sr y2rle eno mane eben 3mk krmel nour w eja m3a w be7ba w 3m yshoof 7ko beheba w eno df3 4na w 2le fd7a mtl ejra w 2l 5aya eza shfne 3ndon bil 7ay 7a ydrub nour w rj3 2le hussein enta b3dk bth3ba ya hrmmm w 2le btje 3a hay l sellom krmela
Translate pls…
d on January 24, 2017 at 1:20 pm said:

can you translate this “rwa7”
Jessie on March 8, 2017 at 9:14 pm said:

What does this sentence mean? Wa7shny lama bnboos b3d kda? Thanks in advance
Christiaan on April 17, 2017 at 12:48 pm said:

How do I write someone’s name in English if it is A3amat?
Strawberry shortcake on May 10, 2017 at 7:48 pm said:

What does 2 mean?
ArabicGenie on May 14, 2017 at 3:47 pm said:

The numeral 2 usually is a replacement of hamza (ء) or a glottal stop, so it might also be a replacement for qaaf (ق) in some instances.
Izyy on May 22, 2017 at 10:31 pm said:

What is 4?
ArabicGenie on May 23, 2017 at 10:36 pm said:

Hi Izzy, not sure, I haven’t seen 4 being used before.
Vanilla on June 15, 2017 at 12:23 am said:

Hi arabic genie this helped me a lot because I didn’t know how to use arabic with numbers because I’m Arab and I didn’t know we could use numbers thanks because now I understand thank alot 🙂
financialaid on July 20, 2017 at 7:51 pm said:

hi, i have many messages written online in CHAT ARABIC.
is there anyway you can suggest that i could translate them online?
I tried and search EVERYWHERE…
is there any translator or site?
Maya on July 31, 2017 at 10:15 pm said:

hi, i have the EXACT PROBLEM.
So I just will ask EXACTLY THE SAME.
PLEASE I HOPE U CAN HELP. ITS SO IMPORTANT TO ME.. 🙁
I have many messages written online in CHAT ARABIC.
is there anyway you can suggest that i could translate them online?
I tried and search EVERYWHERE…
is there any translator or site?
Alyssa on September 11, 2017 at 8:51 am said:

Hi can someone please help me translate:

Ahla wsahla ahla wsahla

Bss fish teez

Bidi afarjeek ana shu 3melet bi scotland

Thank you 🙂
Rana on September 26, 2017 at 12:28 pm said:

What does ” el7 ” mean ?
Meryam on November 4, 2017 at 7:42 pm said:

Makaynach tika fbnadm means?
Meryam on November 5, 2017 at 4:15 pm said:

Figured it out shokran anyway means you don’t trust anyone anymore
Tunisian on November 6, 2017 at 12:33 am said:

could some one tell me the meaning of…neket sakretha
9altelha kif jit mara Eli fetet ken 3andi dar kbira w taw badeltha kif enty mchit
klemha mnayek mch mafhoum

jabriya
Ta7aye7 biya rabi ken bilmnaikin

Ma3inhech fiha jemla
Faz on November 19, 2017 at 10:16 am said:

Can someone please let me know what the following means:

ymkin enti 3arabya sa7? ana lobneni, w 7aliyan ana fi Stuttgart bs tiji
mn Dubai 7akini w ba3tiki l Brief inshalla
Hamid Roberts on November 22, 2017 at 12:07 am said:

Is this site still up?
amjad on December 12, 2017 at 7:08 am said:

translate this:
ana mara ba7ebek 3shan anti 3mri
b on December 17, 2017 at 1:45 am said:

Literally it’s:

I time love you because you’re my life @ amjad

inital grammar is weird but that’s literal
Rokiah Samsee on February 6, 2018 at 3:12 am said:

Uhibika anta arabic genie . uridu anta arabic alphabet chat
Lilly on February 7, 2018 at 12:34 pm said:

What does ” esba3 ” mean????
Unknown:P on March 10, 2018 at 2:57 pm said:

and 4 means ش
keeks on March 22, 2018 at 1:24 pm said:

l2 wllahy tyb m3l4 what does this mean?
Ospf on March 25, 2018 at 8:37 am said:

7ta le shafi2a ) Lesa elly kaan Ely kan bena zman kan zaman bena mwada )))))
Mohammad R on May 13, 2018 at 7:36 am said:

And what about ث please?
hasan on August 11, 2018 at 9:03 am said:

hi, thank u so much fir this article. It is really helpful. I wanna ask a sentence “ana 3arfak ghar9a fl 7ozn” thank u in advance
ArabicGenie on September 9, 2018 at 11:05 pm said:

@hasan, that would probably best be translated as: I know you’re drowning in sorrow.
Emir.Nihaar on October 20, 2018 at 4:07 pm said:

What Does:
7amzooz 2el 3asal Mean?
Also Tell What
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Mean While Chatting In Arabic.
And Also Conditions In There.
Them.
Ahmad on January 26, 2019 at 9:44 am said:

What means 4 like e4ta
Zainab Alkhayyat on April 1, 2019 at 9:18 pm said:

How to write عيب in Arabic like t7ki 3rabi
Sandry on September 23, 2019 at 7:26 am said:

Would love a translator urgently
sideeque on December 7, 2019 at 7:47 am said:

I Sir I need chatting in Arabic language or English, ok I see you bye mahasalama.
mat on December 10, 2020 at 1:00 pm said:

what does 3fwn ya5i mean?
maslamah on January 19, 2021 at 11:59 am said:

mat, im no pro in arabic, but
3fwn ya5i (عفواً) means “excuse me bro”
lisa on February 9, 2021 at 2:16 pm said:

can you translate for me please, this is lebanese

hyk bit5tafiy walo
walo hyk bakyti 3al kalmat bi7kyki ba3ad la hel2 maser 3aindak inat
3amlat matal 2aym so3odi 2la2 magdi ino 7akyto akid la kaint falal w raina 3amtla ad w ba3tala masag w kaint badi ea7ki 3al mtat3am basyta herob

5atfiy 2ad ma badak w 3amal balok da2ad la magadi w s2lto 3ain mastashfa w 3amlat ad la raina bas ma s2lat a3inak ra7 eas2al 2loin 5aly 5ayk sheaf yab3at amain mish hyk asol gara7 adad ma badak 3am mish la3abi

mara7 tarod

ma tarod ente 7or bas ana ma azytak la ta2zyiniabdain la tasraf hyk ma3i ana 3amlat bi asli la ea5er day2a dalyt intra la ta7ki bas la ma 5layt aza 8ayr ma 3amto

ba3tli masri 3amal ma3rof

ala yar7am
Moooooviee on May 23, 2021 at 11:03 am said:

shukran l2ni makunt 3rif sho hiya al6 wal 8 😀😀
Jamie on July 28, 2021 at 2:30 am said:

BRRU CE W ∩771 A SLEU MELIND
Could someone translate not sure if I’m correct order it was written in a ring. THE B IN BRRU kinda looks like a 15. Please and thanks. Found the ring and trying to find owner
Soso on October 23, 2021 at 9:28 am said:

Can someone translate ( sho it7b tl3b)
Tee on December 14, 2021 at 11:00 pm said:

Yle9..
What’s translate?