How to Write English Names in Arabic

If you are taking an Arabic class or if you just want to see your name written in another alphabet, you will want to know how to write your name in Arabic. Unless you are lucky enough to have a name that is common in Arabic, this will not be straightforward. Arabic uses a completely separate alphabet for its writing, and not all letters in English have direct counterparts in Arabic. You can still successfully write your name if you are willing to make some compromises when it comes to the sounds of each letter.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Arabic alphabet
• Arabic pronunciation guide

Steps to Write English Names in Arabic

1. Familiarize yourself with the Arabic alphabet. Arabic has 28 letters, plus 3 diacritical markings that represent short vowel sounds. You need a good basic understanding of these letters before you can write your name.

2. Listen to the sounds of each Arabic letter. There are on-line sites that provide pronunciations for each letter. It is also a good idea to listen to on-line audio to hear the alphabet sounds combined into words.

3. Learn the difference between short and long vowels. Arabic has three long vowels, "alif" (long a), "ye" (long ee) and "waw" (long oo). The three short vowels, represented by diacritical markings are the "fatha" (short a), "kasra" (short i) and "damma" (short u).

4. Pronounce your name with both short and long vowels. One version will probably sound better and closer to the English pronunciation.

5. Make consonant substitutions. Arabic has no letter to correspond with the English "p" or "ch," for example. If your name includes these letters, you have to choose a similar-sounding letter for Arabic.

6. Practice writing your name in Arabic. Arabic letters must connect to each other, like in cursive writing, so it will probably take some practice before you can write your name easily in Arabic.

Tips & Warnings

• The standard Arabic substitution for "p" is the "ba" (corresponding to the letter "b"). For the "ch" sound in English, try the "shin" (sh sound) or "khaf" (a guttural kh) in Arabic.
• There will be alternative spellings to any English name when it is written in Arabic. Learn all the variations so that you can recognize your name when others try to write it. There are several handwriting styles in Arabic that form the letters somewhat differently from the standard. Watch out for letters written in this different style when looking for your name.

References

• Written Arabic information

Resources

• Arabic alphabet with pronunciation
• Arabic writing exercises