The best apps for Arabic speakers to speak English
For live conversation, Cambly, Preply and italki connect you with English tutors. ELSA Speak is the one for pronunciation, including the sounds Arabic speakers often find hard, such as p, v and th. 333 Sentences gives you everyday English sentences with Arabic meanings to say out loud, Duolingo is the best free start with an English course taught in Arabic, and HelloTalk is free practice with English speakers.
للمحادثة مع شخص حقيقي: Cambly وPreply وitalki تربطك بمعلمين للإنجليزية. للنطق: ELSA Speak، خصوصاً لأصوات مثل p وv وth. لتقول جملاً إنجليزية يومية بصوتك مع معناها بالعربي: 333 Sentences. للبداية المجانية: Duolingo بدورة إنجليزية بالعربي، وHelloTalk للتدرب مجاناً مع متحدثين بالإنجليزية.
At a glance
| App | Best for | Speaking | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 333 Sentences | Everyday English sentences with Arabic meanings | Record and compare, every sentence | First 3 sentences free, no account. Then pay once: 1 week $5, 3 months $18 or 1 year $48. No auto-renewal. |
| ELSA Speak | Pronunciation and accent | Pronunciation scored | Free to start; paid subscription for full access. |
| Cambly | Talking with English tutors on demand | Live conversation | Paid plans. |
| Preply | A tutor who also speaks Arabic | Live lessons | Pay per lesson; each tutor sets a price. |
| italki | Affordable conversation practice | Live lessons | Pay per lesson; each teacher sets a price. |
| Duolingo | A free start, taught in Arabic | Short speaking prompts | Free with ads; paid plans remove ads and add features. |
| HelloTalk | Free practice with English speakers | Real conversation | Free; paid plan adds features. |
How we chose
- You speak English out loud, not only read it.
- Instructions or meanings in Arabic, for beginners.
- Help with the sounds Arabic does not have, such as p and v.
- A clear price, and a free way to start.
The picks
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1. 333 Sentences
Made by us · Everyday English sentences with Arabic meanings333 everyday English sentences in ten topics, from greetings to small talk at work, each with its meaning in Arabic and a native English voice. The app is in Arabic. Each sentence takes about two minutes: hear it, build it, fill the gap, then record yourself and compare. Recordings stay on your phone.
- Price
- First 3 sentences free, no account. Then pay once: 1 week $5, 3 months $18 or 1 year $48. No auto-renewal.
- Skip it if
- You want a teacher to correct you live, or exam preparation such as IELTS.
-
2. ELSA Speak
Pronunciation and accentSpeech recognition scores your English pronunciation word by word and sound by sound, and shows you what to fix. English only.
- Price
- Free to start; paid subscription for full access.
- Skip it if
- You need to build vocabulary and sentences first.
-
3. Cambly
Talking with English tutors on demandVideo calls with English tutors, booked ahead or started on the spot.
- Price
- Paid plans.
- Skip it if
- You are a complete beginner who cannot yet say a few sentences.
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4. Preply
A tutor who also speaks ArabicA marketplace of English tutors you can filter by the other languages they speak, so a beginner can find one who explains in Arabic.
- Price
- Pay per lesson; each tutor sets a price.
- Skip it if
- You want to practise alone, at any time, for a fixed price.
-
5. italki
Affordable conversation practiceProfessional teachers and community tutors for one-to-one lessons, including informal conversation practice.
- Price
- Pay per lesson; each teacher sets a price.
- Skip it if
- Same as Preply: you want to practise alone, any time.
-
6. Duolingo
A free start, taught in ArabicAn English course for Arabic speakers, with instructions in Arabic and short game-like lessons.
- Price
- Free with ads; paid plans remove ads and add features.
- Skip it if
- Your goal is conversation soon: it is better for vocabulary than for speaking.
-
7. HelloTalk
Free practice with English speakersLanguage exchange: text, voice messages and calls with English speakers who are learning Arabic.
- Price
- Free; paid plan adds features.
- Skip it if
- You want structure: the quality depends on the partner you find.
Which one should you pick?
You are a beginner and freeze when someone talks to you
333 Sentences for everyday sentences with Arabic meanings, then a tutor on Preply who speaks Arabic.
People understand you but your accent gets in the way
ELSA Speak, ten minutes a day.
You can speak a little and need real conversation
Cambly or italki two or three times a week, and HelloTalk in between.
You want to spend nothing
Duolingo and HelloTalk, plus the free English sentence list with audio on this site.
Who should skip 333 Sentences
- You are preparing for an exam such as IELTS or TOEFL.
- You want a teacher to correct you live; book a tutor on Preply, italki or Cambly.
- You already speak comfortably and want advanced or business English.
Know them. Then say them without freezing.
333 Sentences takes you through these one at a time: hear it, build it, fill the gap, say it and compare with the native voice.
Free phrase lists with audio
Questions
What is the best app for Arabic speakers to learn English conversation?
A tutor app such as Cambly, Preply or italki for live conversation, with ELSA Speak for pronunciation. For practice on your own with Arabic meanings, 333 Sentences; for a free start, Duolingo’s English course taught in Arabic.
Which English sounds are hard for Arabic speakers?
Most often p (said as b), v (said as f), the th sounds, and short against long vowels, such as ship and sheep. ELSA Speak scores these; in 333 Sentences you record yourself and compare with the native voice.
Is there a free app to practise speaking English?
Yes. HelloTalk is free practice with English speakers, Duolingo is free with ads, and the full list of 333 everyday English sentences on this site is free to read and hear.
What English sentences should a beginner learn first?
Greetings, then how to introduce yourself, then how to ask for help. The free English lists on this site are in that order.