Differences between EASTERN and EGYPTIAN Arabic?

Question

I've been trying to learn Eastern Arabic online, and I noticed there is also an Egyptian Arabic program. I'd like to know if they differ much from one another, which countries speak each and which is the most used.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Egyptian is the common dialect often taught (Egyptian dialect is popularly understood in the Arab world because of its large population, movie and music industry, etc.). The Gulf (Eastern) has some Farsi (Persian) influence. North African dialect (Morocco, Algeria, Libya) seems the most different from the rest of the countries. I like the accent in the Levantine: Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria.

An example of the regional differences is the letter 'j' -- in Egypt, it's a hard 'g' like golf; in Lebanon/Syria/Jordan, it's pronounced more like a 'zh' like a French j as in bon jour, in other parts of the world, it's a 'j' like just.

Unless you plan to focus on a particular country/region, I'd recommend you take the Egyptian course.

Answer 2

I'd ahve to say that it is about a tie. Noone speaks eastern arabic west of the nile, but egyptian arabic is used harcore to the west and i'd have to say, i'm an expert.

Answer 3

Different pronouciations of some letters, and some words are different. The most understood is Modern arabic it is taught in all mid-eastern schools and can be spoken by most.

Answer 4

I have had friends from Saudi Arabia, to Lebanon, to Morocco. Each different area seems to have its own dialect, and way of speaking. Yet, there is a formal Arabic that they all use when they are all together.

Answer 5

They are about the same. Just the difference in dialect and use of tone in the sentence. Just like ...Sapnish, from Eurpoe and from mexican differs.....