Omani Arabic

Omani Arabic (Arabic: اللهجة العمانية, romanized: al-Lahjah al-ʻUmānīyah; also known as Omani Hadari Arabic) is a variety of Arabic spoken in the Al Hajar Mountains of Oman and in a few neighboring coastal regions. It is the easternmost traditional Arabic dialect. It was formerly spoken by colonists in Kenya and Tanzania, but these days, it mainly remains spoken on the island of Zanzibar.

It is also spoken in parts of East Africa, especially in Zanzibar, due to Oman’s historical presence there. Omani Arabic is considered a variety of Gulf Arabic but includes unique features in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar that set it apart from other regional dialects. It varies between rural and urban speakers, and across different regions of Oman. The dialect is used mainly in informal settings, while Modern Standard Arabic is used in schools, media, and official contexts.

Omani Arabic has some unique sounds that are different from other Arabic dialects. For example, the letter "qāf" (ق) is often pronounced as a "g" sound. In some regions, older Arabic sounds have been preserved, while in others, changes have occurred due to outside influences. The way people speak can often show where they are from or what social group they belong to.

Omani Arabic is mainly used in everyday conversation. It is not used for writing in schools or formal settings, where Modern Standard Arabic is preferred. In Zanzibar, older generations still speak the dialect, although Swahili is more common now. The dialect is a key part of national and cultural identity, especially in poetry and oral traditions.