100 Useful English Words Arabs Commonly Misuse

A practical guide for Arab learners who want clearer, more natural English.

Arabic and English differ in structure, idioms, and verb–noun combinations, which causes predictable mistakes. Below are 100 of the most common misused words and expressions, grouped by category, with clear corrections.

1. Common Verb–Noun Collocations

1. Do a mistake → Make a mistake

2. Do homework? (correct: Do homework)

3. Do a decision → Make a decision

4. Do a plan → Make a plan

5. Do noise → Make noise

6. Do progress → Make progress

7. Do an effort → Make an effort

8. Do a phone call → Make a phone call

9. Do money → Make money

10. Do a reservation → Make a reservation

2. Incorrect Literal Translations

1. Open the TV → Turn on the TV

2. Close the TV → Turn off the TV

3. Close the light → Turn off the light

4. Open the light → Turn on the light

5. I will close the mobile → I will turn off my phone

6. I will open the mobile → I will turn on my phone

7. I want water? (when meaning permission) → I would like some water.

8. Bring the salt (from the kitchen far away) → Go get the salt

9. Come with the car → Bring the car / Come by car

10. I will return back → I will return (avoid double meaning)

3. Arabic-Influenced Word Order

1. I very like it → I like it very much

2. I want to eat chicken today only → I only want to eat chicken today

3. This is for you good → This is good for you

4. I to school went → I went to school

5. My friend he came → My friend came

4. Misused Prepositions

1. Married with him → Married to him

2. Different than → Different from

3. Depend from → Depend on

4. Discuss about → Discuss

5. Explain me → Explain to me

6. I am good in English → I am good at English

7. I am interested for → I am interested in

8. I arrived to the airport → I arrived at the airport

9. I prefer coffee than tea → I prefer coffee to tea

10. I’m waiting you → I’m waiting for you

5. Misusing “Take,” “Get,” and “Bring”

1. Take me the book → Bring me the book

2. Get the book to me → Bring the book to me

3. Come get me → Come pick me up

4. I got breakfast → I had breakfast

5. He got a shower → He took a shower

6. Misused Adjectives

1. More better → Better

2. More easier → Easier

3. More faster → Faster

4. Very amazing → Truly amazing / absolutely amazing

5. Very wonderful → Absolutely wonderful

6. More taller → Taller

7. More strong → Stronger

8. More big → Bigger

9. More small → Smaller

10. More beautiful → More beautiful (correct; learners confuse comparatives here)

7. Confusing Similar Words

1. Quiet vs. Quite

   Quiet = not noisy

   Quite = very

   2. Advice vs. Advise

   Advice = noun

   Advise = verb

   3. Borrow vs. Lend

   Borrow = take

   Lend = give

   4. Fun vs. Funny

   5. Lose vs. Loose

   6. Price vs. Prize

   7. Affect vs. Effect

   8. Say vs. Tell

   Say something

   Tell someone

   9. See vs. Look vs. Watch

   10. History vs. Story

8. Expressions Translated Directly from Arabic

1. I feel cold in my body → I feel cold

2. My age is 12 years → I am 12 years old

3. I didn’t understand anything, zero → I didn’t understand anything

4. He entered on me → He walked in on me / He entered the room

5. He closed on the door → He closed the door

6. I will do a party → I will throw / have a party

7. I want to relax my head → I want to relax / rest

8. He made an accident → He had an accident

9. I am boring → I am bored (boring = causes boredom)

10. I am exciting → I am excited

9. Misused Time Expressions

1. In the weekend → On the weekend

2. On night → At night

3. In Monday → On Monday

4. After two days → In two days

5. I didn’t see him from long time → I haven’t seen him in a long time

6. I was in a hurry yesterday? (correct usage varies with context)

10. Action Verbs Misused

1. Take a photo for me → Take a photo of me

2. Take my opinion → Ask for my opinion

3. Take your time fast → Take your time

4. Let me concentrate with you → Let me focus

5. Open your camera → Turn on your camera

6. Close your camera → Turn off your camera

7. He broke his fast → He ended his fast

8. He wake up me → He woke me up

9. She put makeup? → She put on makeup

I will take medicine now? → correct if context is literal; learners misuse with “drink medicine”

11. Misused Politeness Expressions

1. Can you close the light? → Can you turn off the light?

2. Bring me water → Could you bring me some water?

3. Give me the menu → Could I have the menu?

4. Open the AC → Turn on the AC

5. Close the AC → Turn off the AC

6. Listen me → Listen to me

7. Explain me please → Explain to me please

8. I want this → I would like this

9. Give me your phone → Could you give me your phone?

10. Come take me → Come pick me up

12. Final Four Common Mistakes

1. I am agree → I agree

2. I am not agree → I disagree

3. This is more important than me → This is more important than to me (correct depends on context)

4. I will not late → I will not be late

Conclusion

These 100 common misuses come from predictable Arabic–English differences. By correcting them and practicing regularly, Arab learners speak more naturally and confidently.