Learn Modern Standard Arabic A1 from zero, in English
You don't need to read a single Arabic letter yet. From the alphabet and how letters connect, to greetings, introducing yourself, and your first full sentences — explained in a language you actually understand.
Try the first unit freeHow long does this level take? 4-6 weeks
What does A1 mean in Modern Standard Arabic?
A1 is the first level of the six CEFR-style levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2). For Modern Standard Arabic there is no official CEFR-native exam, so Lerniyo uses the levels to describe its own curriculum. At A1 you read and write the 28 letters in their different shapes, understand and use very simple everyday phrases, introduce yourself and read short, fully voweled sentences.
In practice, A1 is the stage of the alphabet, the greetings and the first full sentences. Many Darija speakers already read the script from school or Quranic education, and a lot of everyday vocabulary will look familiar, so this stage can go quickly. The grammar and the formal register are still new.
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A1 vs A2: what actually changes
| Skill | A1 | A2 |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | You use memorized greetings and very short sentences about yourself. | You describe your day, people and places in simple connected sentences. |
| Listening | You understand slow, clear phrases and very familiar words. | You follow short conversations and simple narrated stories. |
| Reading | You read letters, words and short, fully voweled sentences. | You read short simple paragraphs and understand the main idea. |
| Writing | You write the letters and a few simple lines about yourself. | You write short connected sentences about everyday life. |
| Grammar | The alphabet, how letters connect, the definite article and simple nominal sentences. | The past tense, plurals and the idafa possessive construction. |
Who needs Modern Standard Arabic A1?
A1 is the right starting point for several kinds of learners.
Complete beginners in reading
You do not need to read a single Arabic letter yet. A1 starts from the alphabet.
Darija speakers who want to read and write properly
You speak Arabic every day, but Fusha is a separate written register. A1 builds the script and the first sentences.
Learners aiming at the Quran or the news
A1 is the first step on the road to B1 and B2, where those goals become realistic.
People who read the script but not the grammar
If you already read letters, A1 is fast and lets you start on grammar sooner.
Exams around A1
Modern Standard Arabic has no single, widely recognized CEFR-native exam, so the levels describe Lerniyo’s own curriculum.
No official A1 diploma
Unlike German or French, there is no widely recognized, standard CEFR-based A1 diploma for Modern Standard Arabic. Some providers report results against CEFR levels, so check the official source.
ALPT and the Hamza Test
These are the closest real assessments, and their providers report results against CEFR levels, but they are separate tests and not comparable to the exams of other languages. Lerniyo does not offer prep for them.
Lerniyo’s A1 progress check
At the end of the level, a short check on the alphabet, simple vocabulary and short sentences confirms that you are ready to move on. It is not an official exam.
Unlike German, French, Spanish, or Italian, there's no single official diploma body for Modern Standard Arabic equivalent to Goethe or DELF. CEFR levels here describe Lerniyo's own curriculum, referenced against the same framework other languages use. The closest real proficiency assessments are things like the ALPT or the Hamza Test — neither is CEFR-native or directly comparable. Lerniyo's own progress checks follow our curriculum; they're not a substitute for any institution's test.
What you study in Modern Standard Arabic A1
A1 is mostly the script, the sounds and the simplest sentence patterns.
- The alphabet and letter shapes
- The 28 letters, and how each one changes shape at the start, middle and end of a word.
- The short vowels (harakat)
- Fatha, damma and kasra, and the sukun, which tell you how to pronounce each word.
- The definite article
- “كتاب” (a book) and “الكتاب” (the book).
- Nominal sentences
- “أنا طالب.” “هذا كتاب.” Arabic has no word for “is” in the present.
- Gender and “this”
- “هذا كتاب، وهذه سيارة.” Masculine and feminine, with “هذا” and “هذه”.
- Personal pronouns
- “أنا، أنتَ، أنتِ، هو، هي.”
- Numbers 1 to 10
- Counting and reading the digits.
- Greetings and introductions
- “السلام عليكم.” “اسمي ليلى.” “من أين أنتَ؟”
Mistakes to avoid at A1
- Pronouncing ث, ذ and ظ as ت, د and ض, as many Darija speakers do. In Fusha these are separate sounds.
- Skipping the short vowels. Reading fully voweled sentences first is what makes unvoweled reading possible later.
- Confusing ة with ه at the end of a word, and ا with the hamza forms.
- Using Darija words in Fusha sentences, such as “كاين” or “ديال”, instead of the Fusha forms.
- Writing the letters disconnected when they should connect.
- Not reading aloud. Fusha needs to be heard and said to stick.
A realistic study plan for A1
Lerniyo’s A1 track is planned as about 4 to 6 weeks at 15 to 20 minutes a day. That is only an estimate. A simple weekly rhythm:
- 1
Learn the letters in small groups
Study a few letters a day, with all their shapes, and write each one by hand.
- 2
Study 15 to 20 minutes every day
Short daily sessions beat long irregular ones. Review old letters and words before adding new ones.
- 3
Read aloud with the vowels
Read every short sentence out loud, vowels included, and listen to the sounds.
- 4
Speak from lesson one
Say each greeting and practice the introduction with Nour.
- 5
Take the A1 progress check
At the end of the level, sit the short check, then move on to A2.
What you'll be able to do after A1
- Read and write all 28 Arabic letters, in their different shapes
- Introduce yourself: your name, where you're from, your age
- Greet people and answer simple questions
- Count and read numbers 1-10
- Recognize and read short, fully-voweled sentences
What you'll do every day
Vocabulary
Everyday words: greetings, family, numbers, simple objects
Grammar
The alphabet, how letters connect, and simple sentence patterns
Listening
Short, clearly-spoken phrases at a beginner-friendly pace
Speaking
Record your voice from lesson one and get instant feedback
Sample sentences you'll learn in A1
اسمي أمينة، وأنا من المغرب.
How you introduce yourself: your name + your country.
مِن أين أنتَ؟
مِن أين = from where — how you ask where someone is from.
هذا كتاب، وهذه سيارة.
هذا (masculine) and هذه (feminine) — Arabic's two words for 'this'.
أنا بخير، شكراً.
A simple, polite reply to 'how are you'.
A first introduction
السلام عليكم! ما اسمك؟
Peace be upon you! What's your name?
اسمي يوسف. وأنتِ؟
My name is Youssef. And you?
اسمي فاطمة. من أين أنتَ؟
My name is Fatima. Where are you from?
أنا من الدار البيضاء.
I'm from Casablanca.
What will you learn in Arabic A1?
- The Arabic alphabet and how letters connect
- Greetings and introductions
- Numbers 1-10
- Family words
- Simple nouns and 'this/that'
- Masculine and feminine, the basics
- Reading short, fully-voweled sentences
- Everyday questions: what, who, where
Learn Modern Standard Arabic A1 in English with Lerniyo
Most resources explain Arabic grammar with dense terminology or assume you already read the script. Lerniyo explains everything in plain English, step by step, so you focus on Arabic — not on decoding the explanation.
Modern Standard Arabic A1: frequently asked questions
What does A1 mean in Modern Standard Arabic?
A1 is the first level of Lerniyo’s CEFR-style curriculum. You read and write the 28 letters, understand and use very simple phrases and read short, fully voweled sentences.
How long does it take to reach A1?
About 4 to 6 weeks at a steady 15 to 20 minutes a day, based on Lerniyo’s estimates. It is faster if you already read the script.
What is the difference between A1 and A2?
At A1 you work on the script and very short sentences. At A2 you handle the past tense, plurals and the idafa and read short simple paragraphs.
Is there an official A1 exam for Modern Standard Arabic?
No. There is no widely recognized CEFR-native exam. The ALPT and the Hamza Test are the closest, but they are different and Lerniyo does not offer prep for them.
Can I learn it if I speak Darija?
Yes. Darija gives you a head start in vocabulary, but the script, the grammar and the formal register are new, so A1 is a real starting point.
Do I need to know the alphabet already?
No. A1 starts from the alphabet. Many Darija speakers already read the script, which makes this stage faster.
Keep going
After A1 comes A2
See A2