Arabic

Arabic is part of the Central Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. The language first appeared around the first century CE and spread across much of Africa and Western Asia in the seventh century. During the Middle Ages, Arabic came to influence many European languages including Bulgarian, Greek, and Spanish. 

Arabic is a macrolanguage with 30 different variants. These colloquial dialects vary enough that Arabic speakers from different geographic areas may not be able to successfully communicate. Modern Standard Arabic is used in academia, media and law and is widely taught in formal education though rarely spoken as a mother tongue.

Arabic is the fifth most widely spoken language in the world today. It is the official or co-official language in 25 countries across Western Asia, North Africa, and the Horn of Africa. In addition, 6 sovereign states recognise Arabic as a national or minority language.

Due to its wide presence across this region of the globe, Arabic is particularly important in the world of business. Industries such as technology, construction, energy, and real estate are particularly likely to benefit from an understanding of Arabic. In addition, any business that wishes to expand into the part of the world described above would also benefit from understanding Arabic. Arabic is also important for international politics and is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.

Arabic speakers can be found across the world in Brazil, the United States and Europe, with notable numbers in Belgium and France. In the United Kingdom approximately 1.5% of the population speaks Arabic as a mother tongue, making it an increasingly relevant language for connecting with local communities.