Saudi Dialect Arabic

1. Import into Anki

Getting your deck into Anki takes about 60 seconds.

1. Open Anki on your computer or phone
2. Go to File > Import (desktop) or tap the + button (mobile)
3. Select the .apkg file you downloaded from Lemon Squeezy

The deck will appear in your collection with all sub-decks, audio files, and tags intact. No extra setup needed.

2. Recommended settings

Anki's defaults work, but these adjustments will give you better results with this deck:

• New cards per day: 10-15. This builds recognition quickly without overwhelming your review pile.
• Maximum reviews per day: 200. The default of 200 is fine. If your daily reviews regularly exceed 150, reduce new cards for a few days.
• Learning steps: 1m 10m. Anki's default. Leave it.

To change these: click the gear icon next to the deck name, then "Options."

3. How the three card types work

Every word in this deck generates three cards. Each tests a different skill:

• Recognition (Arabic to English). You see the word in Arabic and produce the meaning. This is the easiest card type and builds passive vocabulary.
• Production (English to Arabic). You see the English meaning and produce the Arabic word. Harder, but this is what you need for speaking.
• Cloze (fill in the blank). You see a real sentence with one word missing. This tests whether you can use the word in context.

Feeling overwhelmed? Suspend the Production cards for the first week. Focus on Recognition and Cloze. Add Production back once your daily reviews feel manageable. To suspend: select cards in the browser, right-click, "Toggle Suspend."

4. Where to start

This deck is organized into 42 conversational themes plus CEFR-leveled sub-decks from A1 through B2. You can study them in any order, but some paths work better depending on your situation.

• Moving to Saudi Arabia. Start with "Greetings," "At the Airport," "Getting Around," and "At the Office." These cover the phrases you will use in your first week. Then move to "Shopping," "At the Restaurant," and "Saudi Culture" to handle daily life.
• Heritage speaker reconnecting. You probably already recognize more than you think. Start at A2 or B1 and see how many cards you already know. Suspend the ones that feel easy and focus your energy on the gaps. The cultural context notes will fill in the formal expressions your family might not have taught you.
• Learning Arabic from scratch. Start with A1 and the "Greetings" theme in parallel. A1 builds your grammar foundation while the theme gives you immediately usable phrases. Do 10 new cards per day maximum. Rushing leads to a review pile that burns you out.

Realistic timeline

Language learning timelines depend on how much time you put in daily and whether you are immersed. Here is what to expect with this deck at 10-15 new cards per day.

• Week 1-2. Basic greetings, numbers, yes/no questions. You can order coffee and greet people.
• Week 3-4. Simple conversations. Taxi directions, restaurant orders, introducing yourself.
• Month 2-3. Daily life vocabulary. Shopping, appointments, describing problems. You can handle most routine interactions.
• Month 4-6. Comfortable conversation. You can discuss topics, express opinions, and follow most casual Arabic around you.

Tips for your situation

Different learners face different challenges with Saudi Arabic. Find your situation below.

• Coming from MSA. Your reading and grammar instincts are solid. Focus on listening to the audio. Saudi pronunciation of common words often surprises MSA learners. 'What' is 'ايش' (aysh) not 'ماذا' (maadha). Let the audio retrain your ear.
• Complete beginner in Arabic. The Arabic script can feel intimidating, but every card includes ALA-LC transliteration (romanized pronunciation). Use the transliteration as training wheels. Within 2-3 weeks of daily practice, you will start reading the Arabic script naturally. Do not wait until you can read to start studying.
• Expat professional. Your colleagues likely speak English at work, so your practice window is outside the office. Focus on the themes that match your daily routine: commuting, restaurants, shopping, small talk. Even basic Arabic earns significant goodwill in Saudi culture.

Your first 10 phrases

These phrases will get you through your first interactions. They are all in the deck. Study these first, then branch out.

• السلام عليكم. as-salaamu alaykum. Universal greeting. Use it everywhere.
• شلونك؟ / شلونك؟. shloonak (m) / shloonich (f). 'How are you?' The Saudi way.
• يعطيك العافية. ya'teek al-aafiyah. 'May God give you strength.' Said to anyone working. Instant respect.
• بكم هذا؟. bikam haadha? 'How much is this?' Essential for shopping.
• وين...؟. wayn...? 'Where is...?' Add any destination.

The "Again" button is your friend

When Anki shows you a card and you don't know the answer, hit Again. Not "Hard." Not "Good." Again.

Spaced repetition works best when you're honest about what you don't know. Cards you mark "Again" come back sooner. Cards you know well space out further. The algorithm adjusts to you. Trust it.

Audio on every card

Every card has native speaker audio. On desktop, audio plays automatically when the card appears. On mobile, tap the speaker icon.

Tip: listen to the audio BEFORE reading the text. Train your ear first, then confirm with your eyes. This builds listening comprehension faster than reading alone.

Every card also includes ALA-LC transliteration, so you can follow along even if you're still learning the Arabic script.

Lifetime updates

Your purchase includes free updates for the life of the product. When we add new cards, fix audio, or improve translations, you can re-download the latest version from Lemon Squeezy at no extra cost.

We announce updates via email. Keep an eye on your inbox.

Need help?

Reply to any Eidetic email or reach out at hello@eidetic.cards. We read everything and respond fast.