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I Built a Tool to Drill My Arabic. You Can Use It Too.
I built the Drillomator because I still believe in repetition, memory and getting things wrong. It serves fresh Arabic vocabulary every day, plus verb, harakat, synonym and antonym drills.
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September 18, 2026
I Built a Tool to Drill My Arabic. You Can Use It Too.
I built the Drillomator because I still believe in repetition, memory and getting things wrong. It serves fresh Arabic vocabulary every day, plus verb, harakat, synonym and antonym drills.
I Built a Tool to Drill My Arabic. You Can Use It Too.
I built the Drillomator because I still believe in repetition, memory and getting things wrong. It serves fresh Arabic vocabulary every day, plus verb, harakat, synonym and antonym drills.
Latest Stories
Sentence Autopsy: The Invisible Predicate of Praise in Sura 1:2
Four words hide a surprising amount of grammar. Why is الْحَمْدُ nominative, where is its predicate, what is رَبِّ doing, and why does الْعَالَمِينَ behave like a sound masculine plural?
Omar al-Mukhtar and the Airplanes Under the Throne
Omar al-Mukhtar, the Libyan resistance leader who fought Italian colonial rule, is credited with a famous reply about Italian airplanes and the Throne of God. But did he really say it?
What’s the difference between نَزَّلَ and أَنْزَلَ?
Why does the Quran use two different verbs for divine revelation? Classical scholars argue the subtle grammatical shift between nazzala (نَزَّلَ) and 'anzala (أَنْزَلَ) hides a profound difference: gradual delivery versus a sudden, complete whole.
Sentence Autopsy: The Invisible Predicate of Praise in Sura 1:2
Four words hide a surprising amount of grammar. Why is الْحَمْدُ nominative, where is its predicate, what is رَبِّ doing, and why does الْعَالَمِينَ behave like a sound masculine plural?
Omar al-Mukhtar and the Airplanes Under the Throne
Omar al-Mukhtar, the Libyan resistance leader who fought Italian colonial rule, is credited with a famous reply about Italian airplanes and the Throne of God. But did he really say it?
What’s the difference between نَزَّلَ and أَنْزَلَ?
Why does the Quran use two different verbs for divine revelation? Classical scholars argue the subtle grammatical shift between nazzala (نَزَّلَ) and 'anzala (أَنْزَلَ) hides a profound difference: gradual delivery versus a sudden, complete whole.
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Errabic: Latest & Random
Real-world Arabic fails, typos, and mistranslations spotted in the wild.
Pick Your Obsession
From street slang in Cairo to Classical Arabic grammar rules — choose your focus.
Grammar
Syntax without the headache. We strip down complex grammar rules, explain the logic of I’rab (case endings), and analyze sentence structures that confuse learners.
Tools and Apps
Tech that works. Honest reviews of dictionaries, flashcards, and software to help you build a digital toolkit that actually helps you learn.
Islam
Faith through a linguistic lens. Analyzing key Islamic terminology, the specific grammar of the Quran, and how religious history shaped the vocabulary
Interviews
Straight from the experts. Professional translators, linguists, and authors discuss their methods, their struggles, and their obsession with mastering Arabic.
Media Arabic Booster
Read the headlines. We tear apart real articles from Arabic newspapers, identifying the connectors, passive structures, and political terms.
A ClassIc
A randomly selected favorite from our deep archive of Arabic grammar, linguistics, and media analysis.
Foreign Words in Arabic: Farsi, Greek, & Turkish (Part 3)
This is Part 3 of a series on the etymology of foreign words in Arabic, focusing on traces left by Farsi, Greek, and Ottoman Turkish. Discover the origins of common Arabic words like بَقْشِيش (baksheesh), باشا (Pasha), أَفَنْدِي (effendi), دُلاب (cabinet), and تَرابِيزة (table), revealing their fascinating linguistic journeys into the Arabic lexicon.
How to Color Arabic Diacritics (Tashkeel) in LibreOffice: 3 Easy Methods
This guide offers solutions for coloring Arabic diacritical marks (tashkeel, تَشْكِيل) in LibreOffice and Microsoft Word. Learn to use macros, search-and-replace functions, and the Mishkallo extension to enhance Arabic text readability.
Inside the Arabic Language Academy’s Race to Finish Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabeer
Reflecting on his visit to Cairo's Arabic Language Academy, Ambassador Ulric Shannon shares new insights on المعجم الكبير. He breaks down their 90-year progress, the threat of dictionary piracy, and why this lexicon is trapped in print.
Latest Discussion
What other Arabic learners are saying about our grammar guides and media analysis.
I see another error: لتجارة العامة I would not accept this from my beginners students of Arabic after their third…
Wow – this is a great analysis!!! I am looking forward to seeing more of this new deep analysis “Sentence…
Thanks a lot for the kind words! I really appreciate it, and I’m glad you liked it. I’ll be releasing…
In case you missed it
Our newest rabbit holes into Arabic syntax, etymology, and tool reviews.
“Arabic is dead – and yet it keeps living” | Karina Karatamakova | 9273 Roots #40
Russian UX writer Karina Karatamakova runs the Telegram channel Karatique, documenting her journey through the Arabic language. She shares why Saudi Arabic holds a special place in her heart and how a 16-year study timeline gave her peace.
Lexicalization in Arabic: The Secret Life of Broken Plurals
Some Arabic words begin as tiny actions and end up as institutions. A scoop becomes a room (غُرْفَةٌ), a turn becomes a state (دَوْلَةٌ), a guest becomes a fixed social role (نَزِيلٌ). The clue is often hiding in the plural.
Kids, Screens & Somaliland | Media Arabic Booster 06/26 – Last Episode
In the final Media Arabic Booster, we look at a UAE social media ban for children and an Asas Media article on Israel, Somaliland, and the Red Sea.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 06/26
Quiz to practice vocabulary from Media Arabic Booster episode 06/26.
When the German Machines Run Over Elephants: Arabic Football Nicknames at the World Cup
Arabic football headlines do not always name the teams. Germany become machines, Côte d’Ivoire become elephants, Morocco roar as lions — and one verb, تَدْهَسُ, makes the match sound like a factory crashing into the pitch.
A Few Arabic Letters, Estonia, and a 900-Year-Old Mystery | al-Idrisi’s Famous Map
In 1154, al-Idrisi mapped a land called “Astlanda” — likely Estonia, the Baltic country south of Finland. He also wrote down a strange Arabic name: “qlwn.” Was it an early trace of Tallinn, today’s Estonian capital? The puzzle still survives.
The Truth About Emphatic Consonants in Arabic: Are They Really That Different?
While textbooks insist on the precise articulation of ṣād (ص), ḍād (ض), ṭāʾ (ط), and ẓāʾ (ظ), spoken Arabic tells a different story. Through vivid anecdotes of his respected teacher at the University of Exeter, guest author Andrew Cunningham explores how these rigid rules may soften in everyday conversation.
Fragile Truces & The UAE’s War Gamble | Media Arabic Booster 05/26
From Macron's staged morning jog in Egypt to deep geopolitical analysis on the UAE's future. We translate Youm7's diplomatic PR and dissect Al-Akhbar's take on Mohammed bin Zayed's war gamble, revealing key Media Arabic vocabulary.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 05/26
Quiz to practice vocabulary from Media Arabic Booster episode 05/26
A Note from Us: Add Arabic for Nerds as a Preferred Source on Google
If you read Arabic for Nerds and use Google, one quick click can help us stay visible in search — especially as AI snippets and scrapers make life harder for independent websites.
“Playing dominos gets you quick with Arabic numbers” | Andrew Cunningham | 9273 Roots #39
Banking expert Andrew Cunningham shares how playing dominos with native Egyptians helped him master Arabic numbers. He discusses his love for the Egyptian dialect, the elegant "Sisters of Kana," and weaving the language into his global career.
Why is شَمْسٌ (“sun”) Feminine? A Guide to Arabic Verb Agreement & Gender
Feminine subject, masculine verb? Yes, it happens in Arabic grammar. Learn the specific situations and types of feminine nouns where this unexpected agreement occurs.
Sandstorms in Egypt & The Survival of Civilizations | Media Arabic Booster 04/26
From paralyzing Egyptian sandstorms to deep geopolitical analysis on the survival of civilizations. We translate Al-Masry Al-Youm's weather alerts and dissect Al-Akhbar's take on US threats against Iran, revealing key Media Arabic vocabulary.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 04/26
Quiz to practice vocabulary from Media Arabic Booster episode 04/26
How Do You Say the F-Word in Arabic? The MSA vs. Dialect Dilemma
English uses one obscene root for everything, but Arabic splits the "F-word" into two worlds: the sanitized MSA of subtitles (تبًا, اللعين) and the raw dialect of the street (like the root ن-ي-ك). Learn why Netflix subtitles delete 48% of curses and how Arabs actually swear.
Inside the Arabic Language Academy’s Race to Finish Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabeer
Reflecting on his visit to Cairo's Arabic Language Academy, Ambassador Ulric Shannon shares new insights on المعجم الكبير. He breaks down their 90-year progress, the threat of dictionary piracy, and why this lexicon is trapped in print.
The Language of “Epic Fury” and Houthi Restraint | Media Arabic Booster 03/26
As US-Israeli strikes hit Iran, Arab front pages capture a region on the brink. Yet, for the war's first 4 weeks, the Houthis kept quiet. We translate reports exposing their exhausted arsenals and break down the key Media Arabic vocab.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 03/26
Quiz to practice vocabulary from Media Arabic Booster episode 02/26
Remembering the Architect of Words: The Legacy of Dr. Abdul Ghani Abu Al-Azm
Behind the Arabic words you search for on almaany.com or your favorite dictionary app often lies the lifelong devotion of a single scholar. In March 2026, we bid farewell to Dr. Abdul Ghani Abu Al-Azm (الدكتور عبد الغني أبو العزم), the creator of Al-Ghani Al-Zaher — the unseen bridge connecting the depth of classical Arabic with the pulse of the modern world.
“View Arabic as an identity you’re adopting” | Sherif Elmetwally | 9273 Roots #38
New Jersey-based Egyptian-American developer Sherif Elmetwally built Parallel Arabic, an AI-powered platform for acquiring dialects. He argues that embracing the language as a lifelong identity eliminates friction in the journey.
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Latest Discussion
A randomly selected favorite from our deep archive of Arabic grammar, linguistics, and media analysis.
I see another error: لتجارة العامة I would not accept this from my beginners students of Arabic after their third…
Wow - this is a great analysis!!! I am looking forward to seeing more of this new deep analysis "Sentence…
Thanks a lot for the kind words! I really appreciate it, and I'm glad you liked it. I'll be releasing…
In Case You Missed It
What other Arabic learners are saying about our grammar guides and media analysis.
Some Arabic words begin as tiny actions and end up as institutions. A scoop becomes a room (غُرْفَةٌ), a turn becomes a state (دَوْلَةٌ), a guest becomes a fixed social role (نَزِيلٌ). The clue is often hiding in the plural.
In the final Media Arabic Booster, we look at a UAE social media ban for children and an Asas Media article on Israel, Somaliland, and the Red Sea.
Quiz to practice vocabulary from Media Arabic Booster episode 06/26.
Arabic football headlines do not always name the teams. Germany become machines, Côte d’Ivoire become elephants, Morocco roar as lions — and one verb, تَدْهَسُ, makes the match sound like a factory crashing into the pitch.
In 1154, al-Idrisi mapped a land called “Astlanda” — likely Estonia, the Baltic country south of Finland. He also wrote down a strange Arabic name: “qlwn.” Was it an early trace of Tallinn, today’s Estonian capital? The puzzle still survives.
While textbooks insist on the precise articulation of ṣād (ص), ḍād (ض), ṭāʾ (ط), and ẓāʾ (ظ), spoken Arabic tells a different story. Through vivid anecdotes of his respected teacher at the University of Exeter, guest author Andrew Cunningham explores how these rigid rules may soften in everyday conversation.
From Macron's staged morning jog in Egypt to deep geopolitical analysis on the UAE's future. We translate Youm7's diplomatic PR and dissect Al-Akhbar's take on Mohammed bin Zayed's war gamble, revealing key Media Arabic vocabulary.
Quiz to practice vocabulary from Media Arabic Booster episode 05/26
If you read Arabic for Nerds and use Google, one quick click can help us stay visible in search — especially as AI snippets and scrapers make life harder for independent websites.
Banking expert Andrew Cunningham shares how playing dominos with native Egyptians helped him master Arabic numbers. He discusses his love for the Egyptian dialect, the elegant "Sisters of Kana," and weaving the language into his global career.
Feminine subject, masculine verb? Yes, it happens in Arabic grammar. Learn the specific situations and types of feminine nouns where this unexpected agreement occurs.
From paralyzing Egyptian sandstorms to deep geopolitical analysis on the survival of civilizations. We translate Al-Masry Al-Youm's weather alerts and dissect Al-Akhbar's take on US threats against Iran, revealing key Media Arabic vocabulary.
Quiz to practice vocabulary from Media Arabic Booster episode 04/26
English uses one obscene root for everything, but Arabic splits the "F-word" into two worlds: the sanitized MSA of subtitles (تبًا, اللعين) and the raw dialect of the street (like the root ن-ي-ك). Learn why Netflix subtitles delete 48% of curses and how Arabs actually swear.
Reflecting on his visit to Cairo's Arabic Language Academy, Ambassador Ulric Shannon shares new insights on المعجم الكبير. He breaks down their 90-year progress, the threat of dictionary piracy, and why this lexicon is trapped in print.
As US-Israeli strikes hit Iran, Arab front pages capture a region on the brink. Yet, for the war's first 4 weeks, the Houthis kept quiet. We translate reports exposing their exhausted arsenals and break down the key Media Arabic vocab.
Quiz to practice vocabulary from Media Arabic Booster episode 02/26
Behind the Arabic words you search for on almaany.com or your favorite dictionary app often lies the lifelong devotion of a single scholar. In March 2026, we bid farewell to Dr. Abdul Ghani Abu Al-Azm (الدكتور عبد الغني أبو العزم), the creator of Al-Ghani Al-Zaher — the unseen bridge connecting the depth of classical Arabic with the pulse of the modern world.
New Jersey-based Egyptian-American developer Sherif Elmetwally built Parallel Arabic, an AI-powered platform for acquiring dialects. He argues that embracing the language as a lifelong identity eliminates friction in the journey.
How do you turn someone who simply lies into a relentless, habitual liar (كَذَّاب)? You trigger the Arabic intensive form. The rules of صِيغَةُ المُبَالَغَةِ baffle many students, but beneath the apparent chaos lies a brilliant, centuries-old system.
Lexicalization in Arabic: The Secret Life of Broken Plurals
Some Arabic words begin as tiny actions and end up as institutions. A scoop becomes a room (غُرْفَةٌ), a turn becomes a state (دَوْلَةٌ), a guest becomes a fixed social role (نَزِيلٌ). The clue is often hiding in the plural.
Kids, Screens & Somaliland | Media Arabic Booster 06/26 – Last Episode
In the final Media Arabic Booster, we look at a UAE social media ban for children and an Asas Media article on Israel, Somaliland, and the Red Sea.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 06/26
Quiz to practice vocabulary from Media Arabic Booster episode 06/26.
When the German Machines Run Over Elephants: Arabic Football Nicknames at the World Cup
Arabic football headlines do not always name the teams. Germany become machines, Côte d’Ivoire become elephants, Morocco roar as lions — and one verb, تَدْهَسُ, makes the match sound like a factory crashing into the pitch.
A Few Arabic Letters, Estonia, and a 900-Year-Old Mystery | al-Idrisi’s Famous Map
In 1154, al-Idrisi mapped a land called “Astlanda” — likely Estonia, the Baltic country south of Finland. He also wrote down a strange Arabic name: “qlwn.” Was it an early trace of Tallinn, today’s Estonian capital? The puzzle still survives.
The Truth About Emphatic Consonants in Arabic: Are They Really That Different?
While textbooks insist on the precise articulation of ṣād (ص), ḍād (ض), ṭāʾ (ط), and ẓāʾ (ظ), spoken Arabic tells a different story. Through vivid anecdotes of his respected teacher at the University of Exeter, guest author Andrew Cunningham explores how these rigid rules may soften in everyday conversation.
Fragile Truces & The UAE’s War Gamble | Media Arabic Booster 05/26
From Macron's staged morning jog in Egypt to deep geopolitical analysis on the UAE's future. We translate Youm7's diplomatic PR and dissect Al-Akhbar's take on Mohammed bin Zayed's war gamble, revealing key Media Arabic vocabulary.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 05/26
Quiz to practice vocabulary from Media Arabic Booster episode 05/26
A Note from Us: Add Arabic for Nerds as a Preferred Source on Google
If you read Arabic for Nerds and use Google, one quick click can help us stay visible in search — especially as AI snippets and scrapers make life harder for independent websites.
“Playing dominos gets you quick with Arabic numbers” | Andrew Cunningham | 9273 Roots #39
Banking expert Andrew Cunningham shares how playing dominos with native Egyptians helped him master Arabic numbers. He discusses his love for the Egyptian dialect, the elegant "Sisters of Kana," and weaving the language into his global career.
Why is شَمْسٌ (“sun”) Feminine? A Guide to Arabic Verb Agreement & Gender
Feminine subject, masculine verb? Yes, it happens in Arabic grammar. Learn the specific situations and types of feminine nouns where this unexpected agreement occurs.
Sandstorms in Egypt & The Survival of Civilizations | Media Arabic Booster 04/26
From paralyzing Egyptian sandstorms to deep geopolitical analysis on the survival of civilizations. We translate Al-Masry Al-Youm's weather alerts and dissect Al-Akhbar's take on US threats against Iran, revealing key Media Arabic vocabulary.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 04/26
Quiz to practice vocabulary from Media Arabic Booster episode 04/26
How Do You Say the F-Word in Arabic? The MSA vs. Dialect Dilemma
English uses one obscene root for everything, but Arabic splits the "F-word" into two worlds: the sanitized MSA of subtitles (تبًا, اللعين) and the raw dialect of the street (like the root ن-ي-ك). Learn why Netflix subtitles delete 48% of curses and how Arabs actually swear.
Inside the Arabic Language Academy’s Race to Finish Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabeer
Reflecting on his visit to Cairo's Arabic Language Academy, Ambassador Ulric Shannon shares new insights on المعجم الكبير. He breaks down their 90-year progress, the threat of dictionary piracy, and why this lexicon is trapped in print.
The Language of “Epic Fury” and Houthi Restraint | Media Arabic Booster 03/26
As US-Israeli strikes hit Iran, Arab front pages capture a region on the brink. Yet, for the war's first 4 weeks, the Houthis kept quiet. We translate reports exposing their exhausted arsenals and break down the key Media Arabic vocab.
Quiz: Media Arabic Booster 03/26
Quiz to practice vocabulary from Media Arabic Booster episode 02/26
Remembering the Architect of Words: The Legacy of Dr. Abdul Ghani Abu Al-Azm
Behind the Arabic words you search for on almaany.com or your favorite dictionary app often lies the lifelong devotion of a single scholar. In March 2026, we bid farewell to Dr. Abdul Ghani Abu Al-Azm (الدكتور عبد الغني أبو العزم), the creator of Al-Ghani Al-Zaher — the unseen bridge connecting the depth of classical Arabic with the pulse of the modern world.
“View Arabic as an identity you’re adopting” | Sherif Elmetwally | 9273 Roots #38
New Jersey-based Egyptian-American developer Sherif Elmetwally built Parallel Arabic, an AI-powered platform for acquiring dialects. He argues that embracing the language as a lifelong identity eliminates friction in the journey.
The Mechanics of the Arabic Intensive Form: Cracking صِيغَةُ المُبَالَغَةِ
How do you turn someone who simply lies into a relentless, habitual liar (كَذَّاب)? You trigger the Arabic intensive form. The rules of صِيغَةُ المُبَالَغَةِ baffle many students, but beneath the apparent chaos lies a brilliant, centuries-old system.
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