What Language Do They Speak in Yemen?
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
The official language of Yemen is Arabic. Arabic is also an official language in 24 other countries worldwide.
Learn some Arabic before you go
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The essentials for ordering food, asking directions and being polite.
Languages of Yemen at a glance
| Official language | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Number of official languages | 1 |
| Countries on this site where Arabic is official | 25 |
| People (demonym) | Yemeni |
| Capital | Sana'a |
| Internet domain | .ye |
Other countries where Arabic is official
Arabic is also an official language in 24 other countries covered here:
- Algeria
- Bahrain
- Chad
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Oman
- Palestine
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
Languages of neighbouring countries
| Oman | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Arabic |
Yemen in context
- Yemen covers 527,968 km², making it the 49th largest of the 196 countries on this site.
- Its population density of about 62 people per km² ranks 124th of 196 (1st = most crowded).
- It shares a land border with 2 countries: Oman, Saudi Arabia.
- With 32,684,503 people, Yemen holds about 10.8% of the population of Western Asia.
- Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Sunday.
- Yemen is a member state of the United Nations.
Compare Yemen
Useful phrases for visitors to Yemen
Everyday Arabic phrases you will hear and use in Yemen:
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Hello | مرحبا (marhaba) |
| Thank you | شكرا (shukran) |
| Please | من فضلك (min fadlak) |
| Goodbye | مع السلامة (ma'a as-salama) |
| Yes | نعم (na'am) |
| No | لا (la) |
Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.
Languages in Yemen — FAQ
What language do they speak in Yemen?
The official language of Yemen is Arabic.
How many official languages does Yemen have?
Yemen has 1 official language: Arabic.
Is Arabic spoken anywhere else?
Arabic is also an official language in 24 other countries.
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