árabe
/AH-rah-beh/
Arab
Visualizing the culture: A traditional Arab coffee pot.
📝 In Action
El café árabe es muy fuerte y dulce.
A1Arabic coffee is very strong and sweet.
España tiene una gran influencia árabe en su arquitectura.
A2Spain has a great Arab influence on its architecture.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement Rule
This adjective is special because it stays the same whether the noun it describes is masculine (el país árabe) or feminine (la cultura árabe). You only change it for plural: 'los países árabes'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Capitalization
Unlike English, Spanish generally does not capitalize adjectives of nationality or origin (like 'árabe') unless they are part of a proper name.
Visualizing the inhabitant: A person wearing traditional Arab attire.
árabe(noun)
Arab (person)
?A native or inhabitant of an Arab country
Arabian
?Historical reference
📝 In Action
Conocí a un árabe que hablaba cuatro idiomas.
A2I met an Arab who spoke four languages.
Ella es árabe y vive en París.
A2She is Arab and lives in Paris.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Identification
The word 'árabe' itself refers to both men and women. To specify gender, use the definite article: 'el árabe' (the male Arab) or 'la árabe' (the female Arab).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Race vs. Religion
Mistake: "Using 'árabe' and 'musulmán' (Muslim) interchangeably."
Correction: Remember that 'árabe' is an ethnic/linguistic identity, while 'musulmán' is a religious one. They are not the same thing.
Visualizing the language: Tools used for traditional Arabic calligraphy.
📝 In Action
Estudiar árabe es muy desafiante.
A2Studying Arabic is very challenging.
El árabe se escribe de derecha a izquierda.
B1Arabic is written from right to left.
💡 Grammar Points
The Article is Essential
When using 'árabe' as the name of the language, you almost always need to use the definite article 'el' (el árabe, el español), unless it follows verbs like 'hablar' or 'estudiar' directly.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Omitting the Article
Mistake: "Saying 'Me gusta árabe.'"
Correction: Say 'Me gusta el árabe.' (I like Arabic.)
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: árabe
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'árabe' as a noun referring to the language?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'árabe' refer to religion or ethnicity?
'Árabe' refers to a person's cultural and linguistic heritage, usually associated with the Arab world. It is not a religion. An Arab person can be Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or non-religious.
How do I know if 'árabe' is being used as an adjective or a noun?
If it describes a thing (like 'comida árabe'), it's an adjective. If it replaces a person ('el árabe') or names the language ('el árabe es difícil'), it's a noun.