arabic/ Arabian

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magdalena

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What is the difference between arabic and Arabian, can I say arabic/ Arabian culture interchengeably?
 

*Sama*

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What is the difference between arabic and Arabian, can I say arabic/ Arabian culture interchengeably?
Hi,
We use the word Arabic to describe the language.
EX: I speak Arabic.
But we use Arabian to descirbe the nationality.
EX: I am Arabian.
So, you can say Arabian culture.

I hope this helps:)
 
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Atchan

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Hi,
We use the word Arabic to describe the language.
EX: I speak Arabic.
But we use Arabian to descirbe the nationality.
EX: I am Arabian.
So, you can say Arabian culture.

I hope this helps:)
Excellent answers.
 

magdalena

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so, does it mean that I can't say arabic culture/ architecture/ style ?
 

Rover_KE

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So, does it mean that I can't say Arabic culture/ architecture/ style ?

Yes, it does. Use Arabic only for the language. Say Arab or Arabian culture etc, and always use a capital letter for these words and for the first word in a sentence.

If you do not believe the Arabian posters who have already responded to your question, see message #5 in this thread, written by another poster who is an Arab himself:

Arab/Arabic/Arabian - WordReference Forums

Rover
 

emsr2d2

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Hi,
We use the word Arabic to describe the language.
EX: I speak Arabic.
But we use Arabian to descirbe the nationality.
EX: I am Arabian.
So, you can say Arabian culture.

I hope this helps:)

May I ask what you mean by "nationality"? In BrE, nationality refers to the country from which you have a passport. As there is no country simply called "Arabia", when you say "I am Arabian", would that translate to "I am Saudi Arabian", or that the ethnicity is Arabian.
 

Atchan

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May I ask what you mean by "nationality"? In BrE, nationality refers to the country from which you have a passport. As there is no country simply called "Arabia", when you say "I am Arabian", would that translate to "I am Saudi Arabian", or that the ethnicity is Arabian.
Arabian doesn't depend on names of countries, it depends on ethnicity or race. For example, Saudi Arabia isn't the only country which is Arabian. Somalia, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan, Tunisia, etc. All of them are Arabians.

Just like Europe, England, France, Italy, Germany, etc. All of them when we talking generally we said Europe/European countries.
 

emsr2d2

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Arabian doesn't depend on names of countries, it depends on ethnicity or race. For example, Saudi Arabia isn't the only country which is Arabian. Somalia, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan, Tunisia, etc. All of them are Arabians.

Just like Europe, England, France, Italy, Germany, etc. All of them when we talking generally we said Europe/European countries.

OK, thanks, so it's ethnicity, not nationality.
 
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