Arabic language guide
Understand the context before translating into or out of Arabic.
Practical guides for translating files, emails and reviewing results
Language overview
Arabic is listed in the translation catalog under the language identifier ar. Selecting this entry sets the source or target language; it does not specify every regional variety or specialist vocabulary.
Writing system
The default writing system associated with this catalog entry is Arabic. Preserve accents, punctuation and personal names. This default script information is derived from Unicode locale data and is not an exhaustive list of scripts used by speakers.
Common usage
Use the Arabic translator to understand correspondence, study material, travel information and short workplace drafts. For a specialist text, supply a complete sentence rather than an isolated term, and retain any context that identifies the subject.
Translation tips
Arabic uses right-to-left script; review regional vocabulary and number formatting.
Check negation and the subject of each sentence. Compare quantities, currencies and dates with the original. A fluent reader should review important text for meaning and tone before it is published.