Read Arabic text word by word — click any word for an instant translation, free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arabic Word By Word really free?
Yes. Reading, translating, and saving words to My Cards are all completely free, with no account, login, or payment required.
What file types can I upload?
Plain text files (.txt), PDFs, Word documents (.docx), images (photos or scans of a page), and audio files. Scanned or photographed pages are automatically converted to text before translation, and audio is automatically transcribed.
Can I upload audio instead of text?
Yes. Upload an audio file the same way as a document and it's transcribed automatically, with the word currently being spoken highlighted as it plays, and tapping any word both shows its translation and jumps playback there.
Is the audio transcription free, and what is the ElevenLabs option?
The default transcription engine is free and runs in your own browser, with no account or payment needed. For higher accuracy, you can switch to ElevenLabs in Settings and paste your own ElevenLabs API key — transcription then runs on ElevenLabs directly from your browser, billed to your own ElevenLabs account at their normal rate. This site never sees your key and takes no cut.
Does it work with Arabic text that has harakat (diacritics)?
Yes, both typed text and text recognized from scanned images or photos can include harakat. Recognition accuracy on harakat depends on image quality and OCR engine — clean, high-resolution scans work best, and the optional Google Cloud Vision engine (your own API key, in Settings) is noticeably better at harakat than the free default.
What's the best way to read a scanned PDF?
This reader works best with plain text, so for a scanned or photographed PDF, converting it to text first usually gives cleaner results than uploading the PDF directly. Google Drive's free built-in OCR (upload the PDF, then open it with Google Docs) works well for shorter documents; i2OCR is a good free option for longer ones. Then upload the resulting .txt file here.
Which languages can I translate Arabic into?
Over 130 languages, covering every language Google Translate supports, not just English.
Can I translate a whole sentence instead of one word at a time?
Yes. Select or highlight any run of text with your mouse or finger and it will be translated as a full sentence, in addition to clicking individual words for their dictionary meaning.
Do I need to create an account?
No. There is no login or signup anywhere on the site. Saved words are stored locally in your own browser.
Where are my saved cards stored?
In your browser's local storage, on your own device. They are not uploaded to any account, so they won't follow you to a different browser or device, and clearing your browser data will remove them.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes, the site is fully responsive. On phone or desktop, tap "Full display read" to expand the reading area to fill your entire screen, with buttons to shrink or enlarge the Arabic text.