Common English Mistakes Arabic Speakers Make, With Easy Examples

Quick Answer

The most common English mistakes Arabic speakers make include overusing "the", missing "a"/"an", dropping the verb "to be", confusing he/she, pronouncing P like B, and translating expressions like "open the TV" directly from Arabic. All of these are fixable with simple rules and daily practice.

Learning English can be difficult for Arabic speakers because Arabic and English are very different languages. Many learners make the same grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary mistakes. The good news is that these mistakes are normal and easy to fix with practice.

In this guide, you will learn the most common English mistakes Arabic speakers make, along with simple explanations and examples.

1. Using "the" Too Much

Many Arabic speakers use "the" before every noun because Arabic uses "ال" very often.

Incorrect	Correct
The life is beautiful	Life is beautiful
The people are friendly	People are friendly
I like the football	I like football

Why this happens: In Arabic, nouns often need "ال". In English, general ideas usually do not use "the".

Tip

Do not use "the" when speaking generally about things.

2. Missing "a" and "an"

Arabic does not have articles like "a" or "an", so learners often forget them.

Incorrect	Correct
I bought car	I bought a car
She is engineer	She is an engineer
He has big house	He has a big house

Simple Rule

Use "a" before consonant sounds. Use "an" before vowel sounds.

a teacher
a university (sounds like "you")
an apple
an hour (silent "h")

3. Confusing "He" and "She"

This is a very common mistake, especially in speaking.

Incorrect	Correct
My sister, he is smart	My sister, she is smart
My father, she works here	My father, he works here

Why it happens: Arabic pronouns work differently, and learners sometimes translate directly from Arabic.

Tip

Practice using pronouns daily:

He = رجل / man
She = امرأة / woman

4. Using Present Continuous Incorrectly

Arabic speakers sometimes say:

Incorrect	Correct
I am knowing him	I know him
She is understanding	She understands
We are liking pizza	We like pizza

Some verbs (called stative verbs) are not normally used with -ing. These include:

know
understand
believe
like
love

5. Problems With Verb "To Be"

Arabic sentences often do not use is, am, or are in the present tense.

Incorrect	Correct
He happy	He is happy
I tired	I am tired
They students	They are students

Quick Reminder

Always use am / is / are in present tense English sentences.

6. Pronouncing "P" Like "B"

Arabic does not have the "P" sound in many dialects.

Incorrect Pronunciation	Correct Pronunciation
Bizza	Pizza
Baper	Paper
Barking	Parking

Practice words:

people
problem
pencil
passport

Tip

Put your hand near your mouth when saying "P". You should feel a small puff of air coming out — that's the difference between P and B.

7. Using "Open" and "Close" Incorrectly

Arabic speakers sometimes translate expressions directly.

Incorrect	Correct
Open the TV	Turn on the TV
Close the light	Turn off the light

Correct expressions:

Turn on the light
Turn off the computer
Open the door
Close the window

8. Confusing "Do" and "Make"

This is one of the most common vocabulary mistakes.

Use "Do"	Use "Make"
do homework	make food
do work	make coffee
do exercise	make money

Example sentences:

I need to do my homework.
My mother makes delicious cake.

9. Saying "I Have 20 Years"

Arabic speakers often translate directly from Arabic.

Incorrect	Correct
I have 20 years	I am 20 years old
She has 15 years	She is 15 years old

Correct Structure

Use I am / He is / She is + age + years old.

10. Word Order Mistakes

Arabic sentence structure can be flexible, but English word order is very important.

Incorrect	Correct
Very I like football	I like football very much
Always he comes late	He always comes late

Basic English Order

Subject + Verb + Object

Ahmed eats pizza.
Sarah studies English.

11. Using "Since" and "For" Incorrectly

Incorrect	Correct
I live here since 2 years	I have lived here for 2 years
She works here since Monday	She has worked here since Monday

Easy Rule

For = duration (a length of time).
Since = starting point (a specific moment).

for 3 years
for 10 minutes
since 2020
since Monday

12. False Friends Between Arabic and English

Some English words look easy but have different meanings.

Word	Common Mistake	Correct Meaning
Sensitive	means sensible	easily affected emotionally
Library	confused with bookstore	place for borrowing books
Sympathetic	confused with nice	understanding others' feelings

You can also read our guide on false friends in English words for more tricky vocabulary.

Most Common Grammar Problems Summary

Problem	Example Mistake	Correct Form
Missing articles	I bought car	I bought a car
Missing "to be"	He tired	He is tired
Wrong pronouns	My mother, he works	My mother, she works
Wrong verb form	I am knowing	I know
Wrong word order	Always he late	He is always late

How Arabic Speakers Can Improve Faster

1. Think in English

Do not translate every sentence from Arabic. Start with short, simple English thoughts.

2. Read Simple English Daily

Read short stories, blog posts, and news for beginners. Just 10 minutes a day adds up fast.

3. Listen to Native Speakers

Watch YouTube videos, podcasts, and interviews. See our list of the best English teachers on YouTube.

4. Practice Speaking Every Day

Even 10 minutes daily helps a lot. Talk to yourself, record voice notes, or use language exchange apps.

5. Learn Common Patterns

Instead of learning single words, learn full expressions:

How are you?
Nice to meet you.
I'm looking forward to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Arabic speakers struggle with English articles?

Because Arabic grammar uses articles differently from English, especially "the". Arabic nouns often need "ال", while English uses "the" only for specific, identifiable things.

What is the hardest English sound for Arabic speakers?

Many learners struggle with P, V, and CH because these sounds do not exist in some Arabic dialects.

How can Arabic speakers improve English pronunciation?

Listening daily, repeating native speakers, and practicing minimal pairs (P/B, V/F) can help a lot.

Is translating from Arabic a bad habit?

Yes. Direct translation often creates grammar mistakes and unnatural sentences.

How long does it take to improve English fluency?

With daily practice, many learners see improvement within a few months.

Final Thoughts

Making mistakes is a normal part of learning English. Most Arabic speakers struggle with the same grammar and pronunciation problems at the beginning. The key is practice, consistency, and learning from your mistakes.

Focus on small improvements every day, and your English will become much more natural over time.

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