The official language in Jordan is Arabic. There are two forms of Arabic you would likely hear here. Fusha ( Modern Standard Arabic), is the more formal literary form that is often used in formal settings, newspapers and literary work. There is also Amiyya (colloquial dialect spoken Arabic). There are many dialects, such as the Egyptian dialect (Masri), Gulf Arabic (Khaliji), and Levantine (Shami). In day-to-day conversations, people often use Shami (what we refer to as Amiyya). Many people also speak English.
Here are some basic Arabic phrases:
- Hi/Hello: Marhaba or Ahlan wa Sahlan
- My name is: Ismi ______
- Bye: Ma Salaama
- Thank you: Shukran
- You're Welcome: Afwan
- Yes: Naam or Aiwa
- No: La
