Whether you’re a native speaker of Arabic or just someone who is interested in the language, finding out where modern standard Arabic is spoken throughout the world can be an interesting task.

What is Modern Standard Arabic?

Modern Standard Arabic, also known as MSA, is the language of instruction in schools and government offices across the Arab world. It is also used by Arabs in other parts of the world, including Europe and North America. Like other Arabic dialects, MSA has evolved over time, but it retains many of the features of classical Arabic.

Where did Modern Standard Arabic originate?

Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), which is the standard dialect of Arabic used today, originated in the early 19th century. Prior to that, there were numerous regional dialects of Arabic that varied significantly from each other. MSA was created as a compromise between these different dialects, and it became the official dialect of Arab countries in 1934.

What areas in the Middle East speak Modern Standard Arabic today?

There are a few areas in the Middle East where Modern Standard Arabic is spoken in everyday life only by some individuals not as a whole. These include Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia also have a very less population of speakers who use the dialect.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that modern standard Arabic is used around the world by millions, but does that mean it’s also a language widely spoken by Arab people? Not at all! There are many other Arabic dialects spoken throughout the Middle East and North Africa, and some of them are more commonly spoken than others. If you’re looking to conduct business with locals in those regions or simply want to improve your Arabic skills, it’s important to know about the various dialects and how they differ from modern standard Arabic. Then you can choose any specific Arabic dialect according to your need.