Arabic Words for Technology: Essential Vocabulary Guide

Mastering Arabic words for technology is essential for navigating the modern digital world. Whether you're discussing smartphones, browsing the internet, or working with computers, this guide covers the vocabulary you need to communicate confidently about technology in Arabic.

Essential Technology Vocabulary

These core Arabic words for technology form the foundation of digital communication. Learn these first to build your technical vocabulary.

Word	Pronunciation	English	Example
تِكْنولوجيا	tiknolojya	technology	التِكْنولوجيا تَتَطَوَّر بِسُرْعة (at-tiknolojya tataṭawwar bi-sur'a) - Technology evolves quickly
حاسوب	ḥāsūb	computer	أَعْمَل على الحاسوب كُلّ يَوْم (a'mal 'ala al-ḥāsūb kull yawm) - I work on the computer every day
هاتِف ذَكي	hātif dhakī	smartphone	اِشْتَرَيْت هاتِفاً ذَكِيّاً جَديداً (ishtaraytu hātifan dhakiyyan jadīdan) - I bought a new smartphone
شَبَكة الإنْتَرْنِت	shabakat al-internet	the internet	شَبَكة الإنْتَرْنِت بَطيئة اليَوْم (shabakat al-internet baṭī'a al-yawm) - The internet is slow today
بَريد إلِكْتروني	barīd iliktrūnī	email	أَرْسَلْت لَكَ بَريداً إلِكْترونِيّاً (arsaltu laka barīdan iliktrūniyyan) - I sent you an email
تَطْبيق	taṭbīq	application/app	هذا التَطْبيق مُفيد جِدّاً (hādha at-taṭbīq mufīd jiddan) - This app is very useful
شاشة	shāsha	screen	الشاشة كَبيرة وَواضِحة (ash-shāsha kabīra wa-wāḍiḥa) - The screen is big and clear
لَوْحة المَفاتيح	lawḥat al-mafātīḥ	keyboard	لَوْحة المَفاتيح لا تَعْمَل (lawḥat al-mafātīḥ lā ta'mal) - The keyboard doesn't work
فَأْرة	fa'ra	mouse (computer)	أَحْتاج فَأْرة جَديدة (aḥtāj fa'ra jadīda) - I need a new mouse
بَرْنامَج	barnāmaj	program/software	ثَبَّتُّ بَرْنامَجاً جَديداً (thabbattu barnāmajan jadīdan) - I installed a new program
مَوْقِع إلِكْتروني	mawqi' iliktrūnī	website	زُرْت مَوْقِعَهُم الإلِكْتروني (zurtu mawqi'ahum al-iliktrūnī) - I visited their website
كَلِمة السِّر	kalimat as-sirr	password	نَسيت كَلِمة السِّر (nasītu kalimat as-sirr) - I forgot the password
تَحْميل	taḥmīl	download	التَحْميل يَسْتَغْرِق وَقْتاً طَويلاً (at-taḥmīl yastaghriqu waqtan ṭawīlan) - The download takes a long time
رَفْع	raf'	upload	أُريد رَفْع هذِهِ الصّورة (urīdu raf' hādhihi aṣ-ṣūra) - I want to upload this picture
ذاكِرة	dhākira	memory/storage	ذاكِرة الهاتِف مُمْتَلِئة (dhākirat al-hātif mumtali'a) - The phone's memory is full
شَحْن	shaḥn	charging	الهاتِف يَحْتاج إلى شَحْن (al-hātif yaḥtāj ilā shaḥn) - The phone needs charging
واي فاي	wāy fāy	WiFi	ما كَلِمة سِرّ الواي فاي؟ (mā kalimat sirr al-wāy fāy?) - What's the WiFi password?

Common Phrases

These expressions will help you discuss technology in everyday Arabic conversations.

• الحاسوب لا يَعْمَل (al-ḥāsūb lā ya'mal) - The computer isn't working
• أُريد الاتِّصال بِالإنْتَرْنِت (urīdu al-ittiṣāl bil-internet) - I want to connect to the internet
• هَل يُمْكِنُني اسْتِخْدام الواي فاي؟ (hal yumkinunī istikhdām al-wāy fāy?) - Can I use the WiFi?
• أَحْتاج إلى شَحْن هاتِفي (aḥtāj ilā shaḥn hātifī) - I need to charge my phone
• أَرْسِلْ لي رِسالة نَصِّيّة (arsil lī risāla naṣṣiyya) - Send me a text message
• سَأَتَّصِل بِكَ عَبْر الفيديو (sa-attaṣil bika 'abr al-fīdyū) - I'll video call you
• الإشارة ضَعيفة هُنا (al-ishāra ḍa'īfa hunā) - The signal is weak here
• حَدِّث التَطْبيق (ḥaddith at-taṭbīq) - Update the app
• أَعِد تَشْغيل الجِهاز (a'id tashghīl al-jihāz) - Restart the device
• اِحْفَظ المَلَفّ (iḥfaẓ al-malaff) - Save the file

Usage Notes

Understanding how Arabic handles technology vocabulary will help you use these words correctly.

• Borrowed vs. Arabic Terms: Many technology words are borrowed from English (like internet, computer), but Arabic often has native alternatives. حاسوب (ḥāsūb) is preferred in formal contexts over كمبيوتر (kumbyūtar), though both are understood.
• Regional Variations: Some terms vary by region. In the Levant, you might hear موبايل (mōbāyl) for mobile phone, while Gulf Arabic often uses جوّال (jawwāl), and Egypt uses محمول (maḥmūl).
• Formal vs. Informal: Technical documentation and news media prefer Modern Standard Arabic terms, while casual conversation often uses transliterated English words.
• Gender of Borrowed Words: Most borrowed technology words are treated as masculine in Arabic, but there are exceptions like شاشة (shāsha - screen), which is feminine.
• The Definite Article: When referring to technology in general ("the internet," "technology"), Arabic typically uses the definite article ال (al-), as in الإنترنت (al-internet).

Practice Sentences

Use these example sentences to practice Arabic words for technology in context.

• التِكْنولوجيا الحَديثة غَيَّرَت حَياتَنا
  at-tiknolojya al-ḥadītha ghayyarat ḥayātanā
  Modern technology has changed our lives.
• أَسْتَخْدِم هاتِفي الذَّكي لِلتَّصْوير
  astakhdim hātifī adh-dhakī lit-taṣwīr
  I use my smartphone for photography.
• هَل تَعْرِف كَيْف تُصْلِح الحاسوب؟
  hal ta'rif kayf tuṣliḥ al-ḥāsūb?
  Do you know how to fix the computer?
• حَمَّلْت تَطْبيقاً لِتَعَلُّم اللُّغات
  ḥammaltu taṭbīqan li-ta'allum al-lughāt
  I downloaded an app for learning languages.
• البَطّارِيّة فارِغة، أَحْتاج شاحِناً
  al-baṭṭāriyya fārigha, aḥtāj shāḥinan
  The battery is empty; I need a charger.
• لا أَسْتَطيع الدُّخول إلى حِسابي
  lā astaṭī' ad-dukhūl ilā ḥisābī
  I can't log into my account.
• سُرْعة الإنْتَرْنِت مُمْتازة في هذا المَقْهى
  sur'at al-internet mumtāza fī hādha al-maqhā
  The internet speed is excellent in this café.
• أَرْسَلَتْ لي صَديقَتي رِسالة صَوْتِيّة
  arsalat lī ṣadīqatī risāla ṣawtiyya
  My friend sent me a voice message.