Fusha (Modern Standard Arabic) الفصحى
The written and formal Arabic shared across the entire Arab world — the language of news, books, and the Quran.
Lessons
Structured lessons covering greetings, family, food, travel and more.
Phrases
How to say hello, thank you, happy birthday and the rest, with audio and the forms for a man, a woman or a group.
Stories
Read and listen to Fusha (Modern Standard Arabic) stories with translation and a vocabulary glossary.
Vocabulary
Search the word database, hear each word, and save it to your review deck.
Conversation Practice
Talk to the AI tutor in Fusha (Modern Standard Arabic) and get corrections as you go.
Where Fusha (Modern Standard Arabic) is spoken
Not the native dialect of anyone, but the common written standard across all 22 Arab countries. Newspapers, novels, official documents, news broadcasts and formal speeches use it. Classical Arabic, the language of the Quran, is its older form.
What makes Fusha (Modern Standard Arabic) different
Every letter is pronounced as written
ق stays a q, ج stays a j, and ث stays a th. Where the dialects simplify or shift these sounds, Fusha keeps them, which makes it a useful starting point for pronunciation.
Case endings (i3raab)
Nouns take endings that mark their grammatical role — -u for subjects, -a for objects, -i after prepositions. In practice these are written but usually dropped in speech outside formal recitation.
The dual number
Arabic has a separate form for exactly two of something: kitaab (book), kitaabaan (two books), kutub (books). The dialects have mostly kept this only for a handful of words.
Verb-first word order
The neutral sentence order is verb-subject-object: kataba l-waladu risaalatan, "wrote the-boy a-letter". The dialects have largely shifted to subject-first.
Common questions
Can I have a conversation in Fusha?
You will be understood, but it will sound like speaking in the register of a news anchor. Arabic speakers switch to a dialect for everyday conversation. Fusha is best for reading, writing, and formal or academic settings.
What is the difference between Fusha and Classical Arabic?
Modern Standard Arabic is the contemporary form: same grammar, updated vocabulary for modern life. Classical Arabic is the language of the Quran and pre-modern literature. Someone comfortable in one can read the other.
Should I learn Fusha before a dialect?
It depends on your goal. Fusha first makes reading and formal study easier and gives you the full sound system. A dialect first gets you talking to people sooner. Neither order is wrong.