Questions & answers

Questions, answered.

A few things people ask before they begin. If something here is still unclear, the quickest answer is to try a lesson.

What is Shifahi?

Shifahi is a calm way to learn Arabic by ear. You meet whole sentences, hear them, and say them out loud — again and again — until they become yours. It revives an old, oral way of learning and brings it into the digital age.

How is this different from other language apps?

No grammar drills, no streak guilt, no noise. You learn whole, natural sentences in context rather than lists of isolated words, and the pace stays gentle. The feeling is closer to reading a quiet, well-set page than grinding through a game.

Do I need to know any Arabic to start?

No. You begin with a single word and build it into a phrase, then a full sentence. The scaffolding is in English; the Arabic is always set properly, right to left, so it reads the way it should.

What does a lesson actually feel like?

A few calm minutes. You hear a sentence, say it back out loud, and Shifahi counts the repetition for you. Sentences return a little later, then later still, until you know them by heart.

How many lessons should I do a day?

Aim for at least fifteen minutes a day. A little every day works much better than one long session now and then, so keep it short and come back tomorrow. Shifahi saves your progress automatically, so you can stop any time and pick up where you left off.

What is spaced repetition, and why does it work?

It means bringing each sentence back at widening intervals — just before you would forget it. That gentle spacing is what moves a sentence from effortful to automatic, so you remember it for the long term instead of cramming and losing it.

Will I just memorise sentences, or actually understand?

Both, in the right order. Because every sentence is learned in context and built from pieces you already know, the patterns start to feel natural. Before long you read and respond without translating in your head.

Does it work on my phone?

Yes. Shifahi runs in any modern browser, and you can install it as an app on your phone or tablet. Your progress follows you, so you can pick up a few sentences wherever you are.

How much does it cost?

Your first lesson is free, so you can feel how it works before deciding anything. There is no pressure and nothing to install to try it.

Still wondering about something? Try your first lesson — it is the quickest way to feel how it works.