What is the Palestinian Arabic dialect?
The Palestinian dialect is one of the dialects of colloquial Arabic that follows the southern Levantine dialect sect and is spoken by the people of Palestine.
There is not just one Palestinian dialect, but there are several dialects that differ from one city to another and from one geographical area to another. The Palestinian rural or agricultural dialects have different advantages and characteristics, such as the pronunciation of the letter qaf, which is enough to distinguish them from the rest of the Arabic dialects, especially in Jenin and Tulkarm cities.
As for the dialects of major cities, especially Jaffa, Nablus (which is called Lesser Damascus), Jerusalem, Hebron, Acre, Haifa, Safed, and Nazareth, they are close in many of their words and expressions to the northern Levantine dialects.
What is the difference between the Palestinian dialect and other Arabic dialects?
At the outset, we want to point out that the dominant language in the Arab world is formal and classical Arabic, but it is divided into multiple local dialects. However, these dialects differ from one country to another according to their geographical location.
The Levant (Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon) share a lot of vocabulary and pronunciation, which differ from the dialect of the Arab Gulf as well as the Maghreb, which in turn differ from each other.
As for the Palestinian dialect, it is characterized by the diversity of its vocabulary due to its position and geographical location. Of course, the geographical location plays a role in determining the dialect, and it varies between the coast, the mountain, the plain, and the desert. What distinguishes it from other Levantine dialects is the way some letters are pronounced by moving from one region to another in Palestine.
It is noticeable that the Palestinian dialect contains a number of phonetic phenomena that are not found in the classical language. These phenomena can be traced back to the ancient Arabic dialects.
The Palestinian dialect is also related to the Arabic dialects that were carried by the Arab tribes at the beginning of the Islamic conquest and settled in Palestine. However, it is likely that there was a Semitic Aramaic influence in these phenomena because of the persistence of Aramaic in Palestine for a long period of time.
Where to study the Palestinian dialect in 2022?
There is no doubt that the best place to study the Palestinian Arabic dialect is Palestine, specifically: the West Bank. In the city of Hebron, there is the Palestinian Center for Education and Knowledge Exchange, a center that teaches the Levantine Arabic language, specifically the Palestinian dialect.
Why Study Arabic in the Palestinian Center?
The Palestinian Center for Education and Cultural Exchange is considered one of the oldest centers for teaching the Palestinian Arabic language. The center contains a team of highly experienced and qualified Arabic teachers.
The center’s teachers use the latest educational methods and materials. In addition, they do not simply use one textbook, but rather seek to develop and improve the educational material. The Palestinian Center has very suitable classrooms that help the students focus, understand, and enjoy the lesson.
Our LOVELY Teachers!
Majd
Duha
Dua'a
Bessan
Shourouk
Nadine
Moh’d
Ahlam
Ayah
Eyad
Shatha
Asmaa
Toqa Aljuneidi
Moh’d Nasser
Nadine Mahmoud
Ahalam Odeh
Can I study Arabic from scratch?
Yes, the Palestinian Center offers Arabic language courses for all levels, including the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Our teachers are well trained to know the needs of our students and focus on the skills students want.
For example, some students want to focus on conversation only or conversation and writing, and some want to focus on all skills. Some students like to combine Modern-Standard Arabic with Palestinian dialect, and this is also possible since our teachers are highly flexible and efficient.
Who are the courses for?
Anyone over the age of 18 can register and enroll in a Palestinian dialect course at the Palestinian Center. During our previous years, we taught Arabic to many participants from more than 40 countries around the world.
Registration is also available for children. In this case, one of the parents must accompany the child during their arrival to Palestine to learn the Arabic language.
Can I study the Palestinian dialect ONLINE?
Yes, of course. The Palestinian Center also offers also courses to teach the Palestinian Arabic language online using applications such as Zoom or Google Meet.
You can get a free trial hour with one of our Arabic teachers and then decide whether to continue or not. You can book a minimum of 10 hours and agree with the teacher on the times and dates of the lessons. Click HERE for more information!
Are there Arabic language courses for children online?
The center offers also Arabic language courses online for children, in which children learn the Arabic language through educational materials that suit their ages. Many Arab families, who live in non-Arab countries such as the United States of America or in the European continent and other countries want to teach their children the Arabic language or the Palestinian dialect.
The Palestinian Center offers Arabic language courses for children to help parents develop the level of their children in Arabic including writing & reading skills.
Registration
Please send an email to Mr. Tamimi, at info@gopalestine.org. Please type “Study Shami Arabic in Palestine Program” or “Study Palestinian Arabic in Palestine” in the subject line.
In the body of the email tell us of your interest, ask any questions you may have, and request an application. We will get back to you as soon as possible!