The main language spoken in Palestine (the West Bank and Gaza) is Palestinian Arabic, which is a dialect of Standard Modern Arabic (Classical Arabic). There is not a huge difference between the dialects of Gaza and the West Bank.
Palestinian Arabic is in a subgroup of dialects known as Levantine Arabic, also known as shaami Arabic. Arabs who live in the Levant countries or originate from them – such as Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine – speak Levantine Arabic.
The Classical Arabic Language in Palestine
The Classical Arabic language, known as fusHa, is the official language of government use in areas such as courts, parliament, and administrative agencies in Palestine, as well as legal business. FusHa is in use in all administrative agencies of the Palestinian Authority within Palestine and it is also importantly the language of the Koran.
Hebrew Language in the West Bank
Because of the presence of six hundred thousand Jewish settlers who live in the Palestinian territories, Hebrew has become more common; however, not very many Palestinians can speak Hebrew.
Do Palestinians speak English?
Although English is the unofficial second language of Palestine, not all people can speak it fluently. In some cities, such as Ramallah, Jerusalem, Hebron, or Bethlehem, you will find more people speaking conversational English, while in other cities, people may speak only a very rudimentary English that was learned during their time in school.
Availability of Learning English in Palestine
All local Palestinian schools teach English starting from the first grade through high school. Moreover, most Palestinian universities’ curriculums are available in English, especially scientific disciplines such as Medicine and Engineering.
Private international and local institutions teach English in Palestine as well, including the British Council, Amideast, and, of course, our organization Travel to Palestine. Private language schools and organizations also teach other languages such as Hebrew, Turkish, and German.
You may also find French, Russian, Italian, and other languages spoken in Palestine because it is a destination for numerous international travelers.
