Arabic words in English

Arabic words have been moving into English slang for years, through music, football, streaming and friends from Arab families. Yalla means "let's go" or "hurry up". Habibi is a warm "my dear". Wallah means "I swear", and khalas means "enough, it's done". Yani is the Arabic "like" or "I mean".

Some of these words carry religious meaning, like inshallah, mashallah and alhamdulillah. The entries explain how they are used respectfully and when a joke version can land badly. The Arabic words in English guide covers them together. For the dialects themselves, see lowkey بالعربي.

How Arabic words entered English slang

Many of these words reached English through Arab and Muslim communities in the UK, the US and Australia, and through music, football and social media. "Habibi" and "yalla" are now used by people with no Arabic background, often in the same friendly way they are used in Amman or Dubai. Others, like "inshallah" and "mashallah", keep their religious meaning, and the entries explain when using them lightly can sound off.

Where to learn more

Each entry gives the Arabic spelling, a simple pronunciation and the reply you will usually hear back. For the dialects behind these words, the Jordanian, Saudi and Emirati phrasebook covers greetings, shopping and coffee manners, and the Arabic words in English guide tells the longer story of how each word travelled.