Life as an Expat in Kuwait
Learning the Language of Home
One of the most fascinating and humbling parts of living in Kuwait has been learning the Arabic language—especially the Kuwaiti dialect. While I could navigate life here without knowing much Arabic, embracing the language has deepened my connection to the culture and people in ways I didn’t expect.
After some time here, I’m proud to say I can read Arabic fairly well now. The road to fluency, however, is long and winding—and I’m still very much working on my speaking and writing skills. Like many expats, I started with formal Arabic (Fus-ha), but quickly realized that the spoken dialect in everyday life is quite different. That’s when I began tuning into the Kuwaiti dialect, which is warm, rhythmic, and full of local personality.
Some of the most commonly used phrases I’ve picked up include:
Shlonik? / شلونك؟ – How are you?
Zain / زين – Good
La, shukran / لا، شكراً – No, thank you
Yalla / يلّا – Let’s go / Hurry up
Inshallah / إن شاء الله – God willing
Ma fi mushkila / ما في مشكلة – No problem
Ahlan / أهلاً – Hello
Ma’assalama / مع السلامة – Goodbye
These words have found their way into our daily rhythm. Whether we're chatting with neighbors, shopping at the co-op, or just navigating our way around the city, it’s empowering to understand and participate—even if it’s just a few phrases at a time.
This summer, Arabic will be a central focus for me and the boys. With school out and a bit more time on our hands, we plan to study together—reviewing vocabulary, practicing speaking, and hopefully building confidence in both conversation and written Arabic. It’s not just about language learning; it’s about deeper assimilation and truly feeling at home here in Kuwait.
We know we still have a long way to go, but every “yalla” and “shukran” feels like a small victory. It’s a journey we’re embracing wholeheartedly, and we’re excited to see how far we can go.
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Comments (1)
Learning a new language is no easy feat. You're doing great picking up Arabic phrases. I remember when I started learning Spanish. At first, it was tough, but little by little, it became second nature. How do you plan to make your summer Arabic study fun for the boys? And what's been the most challenging part of learning the Kuwaiti dialect so far?