Arabic Learning Resources > Arabic Dictionaries
An Arabic dictionary does not work like an English one. Serious Arabic dictionaries arrange entries by root rather than by spelling: each entry sits under the consonants that carry a word's core meaning, with the derived verbs and nouns grouped beneath it. The best-known example is Hans Wehr, the standard Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) reference for English speakers, where "maktab" (office) is listed not under the letter meem but under its root k-t-b, next to "kitab" (book) and "katib" (writer).
Dictionaries aimed at beginners sort words alphabetically by full spelling instead, which is easier to search before you know any grammar but hides the root system that ties Arabic vocabulary together. The other split is MSA versus dialect: most dictionaries cover MSA only, so learners of Egyptian or Levantine Arabic need one that includes the spoken language - the Levantine "biddi" (I want) appears in no MSA reference.
How to look up an Arabic word
To use a root-ordered dictionary you first have to find the root, which means stripping away everything the grammar has added: prefixes such as al- (the) and conjugation letters, suffixes like possessive pronouns, and the extra letters inserted by the ten verb form patterns. What is left, usually three consonants, is the root you look up - "istiqbal" (reception) traces back to q-b-l.
Beginners struggle because Arabic's weak letters (waw, ya, and alif) vanish or change shape in many patterns, and pattern letters can look exactly like root letters. Apps and online dictionaries solve the problem: type a full conjugated word into Almaany or the Living Arabic app and the software finds the root for you. Paper lookup is slower but trains you to spot the patterns yourself. Start with online lookup, then learn manual root lookup once the verb forms are familiar.
Which dictionary should you get?
For everyday online lookup, Almaany is the strongest free option: it accepts full conjugated words and translates in both directions between Arabic and English. In print, Al-Mawrid is the easiest to use early on, since its roughly 50,000 entries are arranged alphabetically. Hans Wehr is the dictionary to grow into - root-ordered and still the standard MSA reference. Ejtall puts searchable scans of Hans Wehr and other classics online for free, so you can practice root lookup before buying a paper copy.
Two entries serve more specialized needs. Lane's Dictionary is the great nineteenth-century lexicon of Classical Arabic, and the free software version listed below makes its dense entries searchable - the right tool for Quranic and classical texts. Living Arabic is the pick for dialect learners, covering Classical, Egyptian, and Levantine Arabic in one search, with Android and iPhone apps.
The table below lists every dictionary we recommend.
| Resource | Description | Extra Links |
|---|---|---|
| Almaany | The best and most detailed Arabic dictionary found online. | |
| Hans Wehr Arabic Dictionary | Considered one of the best dictionaries of the Arabic language. | |
| Al-Mawrid Dictionary | Excellent dictionary of 50,000 words | |
| Lane's Dictionary | Software based off of Lane's Dictionary that allows easy word search. | Download |
| Ejtall | Searchable online dictionary of the most popular dictionaries such as Hans Wehr. | |
| Living Arabic | Online dictionary with Classical, Egyptian, and Levantine Arabic. Also offers Android and iPhone apps. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Arabic dictionary for beginners?
For online lookup, Almaany - it is free and accepts full conjugated words, so you do not need to identify the root yourself. In print, Al-Mawrid is the most beginner-friendly choice because its entries are alphabetical. Save Hans Wehr for after you have covered the verb forms.
Why are Arabic dictionaries organized by root?
Almost every Arabic word is built from a root of three consonants that carries the core meaning, expanded by fixed patterns of added letters. Grouping entries by root keeps related words together - "kataba" (he wrote), "kitab" (book), "maktab" (office), and "maktaba" (library) all appear under k-t-b - and helps learners see the connections between words.
Is there a good free online Arabic dictionary?
Yes. Almaany is the most complete free Arabic-English dictionary on the web, Ejtall offers free searchable scans of Hans Wehr and other classic references, and the software version of Lane's Dictionary is a free download for Classical Arabic. Living Arabic also covers dialects alongside MSA.
Related resources
- Arabic vocabulary resources, for word lists and decks to retain what you look up
- Arabic grammar books, for learning the verb forms behind root lookup
- Arabic browser extensions, for instant lookup while reading Arabic online
- Arabic learning resources, our full directory of recommended tools