Arabic, North Levantine Spoken

A language of Syria

Location

Al Ladhiqiyah and Tartus governorates; widespread along Mediterranean coast.

Also spoken in:

Expand All

Collapse All

Australia

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

159,000 in Australia (2016). Total Arabic speakers in Austalia: 322,000 (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Australia

Austria

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

17,600 in Austria (2003 UNSD).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Austria

Belgium

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

32,100 in Belgium (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Belgium

Brazil

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

700,000 in Brazil (Guedri 2008), increasing. Ethnic population: 7,000,000 (2015).

Location

São Paulo.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Wealthy businessmen. All also use Portuguese [por].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Brazil

Canada

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

135,000 in Canada (2016). Total Arabic speakers in Canada: 420,000 (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Canada

Côte d’Ivoire

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

30,000 in Côte d’Ivoire (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Côte d’Ivoire

Denmark

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

48,500 in Denmark (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Denmark

Dominican Republic

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

3,700 in Dominican Republic (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Dominican Republic

Egypt

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

173,000 in Egypt (2018).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Egypt

El Salvador

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

1,300 in El Salvador (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of El Salvador

Finland

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

14,000 in Finland (2018). Total Arabic speakers in Finland: 29,500 (2018 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Finland

France

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

46,400 in France (2008 census). Ethnic population: 300,000 (2021 A. Dusséaux).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of France

French Guiana

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

1,470 in French Guiana (2019), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of French Guiana

Germany

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

778,000 in Germany (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Germany

Guinea

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

5,200 in Guinea (Leclerc 2014a).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Guinea

Hungary

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

2,930 in Hungary (2011 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Hungary

Indonesia

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

283,000 in Indonesia (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Indonesia

Iraq

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

21,200 in Iraq (2020).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Iraq

Israel

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

93,700 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Israel

Jamaica

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

22,000 in Jamaica (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Jamaica

Jordan

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

1,300,000 in Jordan (2021 Reliefweb), all users. All are refugees from Syria.

Location

Major cities.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Jordan

Kuwait

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

214,000 in Kuwait (2011 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Kuwait

Lebanon

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

6,759,000 in Lebanon, all users. L1 users: 6,400,000 in Lebanon (2020). L2 users: 359,000 (2020).

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Lebanese-Syrian Arabic, Levantine Arabic, Syro-Lebanese Arabic

Dialects

North Lebanese Arabic, South Lebanese Arabic (Metuali, Shii), North-Central Lebanese Arabic (Mount Lebanon Arabic), South-Central Lebanese Arabic (Druze Arabic), Standard Lebanese Arabic, Beqaa Arabic, Sunni Beiruti Arabic, Saida Sunni Arabic, Iqlim-Al-Kharrub Sunni Arabic, Jdaideh Arabic.

Language Status

3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language.

Language Use

Used as L2 by Domari [rmt], Northern Kurdish [kmr], Western Armenian [hyw].

Other Comments

Muslim, Christian, Druze.

View other languages of Lebanon

Libya

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

72,500 in Libya (2020).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Libya

Malaysia

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

15,000 in Malaysia (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Malaysia

Mexico

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

Few speakers. Ethnic population: 630,000 (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001).

Location

Major cities.

Alternate Names

Lebanese, Libano-mexicano

Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Shifting to Spanish [spa].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Mexico

Netherlands

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

3,400 in Netherlands (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Netherlands

New Zealand

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

2,350 in New Zealand (2013). Total Arabic speakers in New Zealand: 10,700 (2013 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of New Zealand

Nigeria

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

62,000 in Nigeria (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Nigeria

Norway

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

41,600 in Norway (2021 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Norway

Palestine

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

14,800 in Palestine (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Palestine

Panama

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

16,400 in Panama (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Panama

Portugal

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

20,000 in Portugal (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Total Arabic speakers in Portugal: 28,500 (2021 Joshua Project).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Portugal

Qatar

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

561,000 in Qatar (2019).

Location

Widespread.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Lebanese comprise one of the largest expatriate communities in Qatar where they seek work opportunities and education (2016 J. Leclerc).

View other languages of Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

900,000 in Saudi Arabia (2020), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

88,300 in Senegal (2017).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Senegal

Serbia

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

22,000 in Serbia (Leclerc 2020c).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Serbia

Sierra Leone

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

46,400 in Sierra Leone (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Sierra Leone

Spain

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

9,630 in Spain (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Spain

Sudan

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

96,000 in Sudan (2017).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Sudan

Suriname

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

1,200 in Suriname (2018).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim, Christian.

View other languages of Suriname

Sweden

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

88,300 in Sweden (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Sweden

Switzerland

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

32,500 in Switzerland (2012 UNSD).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Switzerland

Togo

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

8,200 in Togo (2019).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Togo

Trinidad and Tobago

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

2,600 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Trinidad and Tobago

Tunisia

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

23,000 in Tunisia (2015 J. Leclerc).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Tunisia

Turkey

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

4,250,000 in Turkey (2021), including 3,000,000 refugees from Syria (World Bank, UNHCR, Anadolu Agency).

Location

Adana, Hatay, and Mersin provinces.

Dialects

Çukurova (Cilician Arabic, Çukurovan Arabic). Estimated 55,000 Alevi Çukurovan Arabic speakers and 247,000–329,000 ethnic Arab Alevis in Mersin and Adana provinces. Çukurovan Arabic used by people over age 35–40 (Procházka-Eisl and Procházka 2018).

Language Status

6b* (Threatened).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Domari [rmt], Mardin Sign Language [dsz].

Other Comments

Muslim.

View other languages of Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

244,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Location

Scattered.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

51,700 in United Kingdom (2011). Total Arabic speakers in the United Kingdom: 159,000 (2011 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of United Kingdom

United States

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

173,000 in United States (2019 census). Total Arabic speakers in the United States: 924,000 (2015 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of United States

Venezuela

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

127,000 in Venezuela (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Venezuela

Yemen

Language NameArabic, North Levantine Spoken

User Population

22,300 in Yemen (2020).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Yemen

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken

Primary tabs

A language of Syria

Also spoken in:

Browse by

25th Edition

Products

Related Sites