Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Language Institute (MEDLI)

All MEDLI students can access the UW–Madison library system.

Explore a variety of databases to find resources for your projects and interests — including ones dedicated to the Middle East and International Affairs.

Database resources for MEDLI languages:

Arabic | Hebrew | Persian | Turkish

Catalog resources (find books, articles, films, etc.):

Arabic | Hebrew | Persian | Turkish

Dictionaries

• The AraMaster: A good dictionary for beginner and intermediate learners.
• Aratools: A useful tool for learning words and their root (masdar)
• Arabterm.org: A good database for translating technical and political terms.
• Reverso: Contains thousands of entries and their Arabic translation.

Colloquial Arabic (Egyptian & Levantine)

• Lisan Masry: An extensive set of learning colloquial Egyptian Arabic.
• Lughatuna: A great resource for both Egyptian and Levantine dialect including tens of thousands of definitions and proverbs.
• Culture App: A great comparison of Arabic and English scenarios.

Podcast, Radio, and Print Media

Podcast

• ArabicPod 101: This podcast gives you access to thousands of audio and text lessons, organized with the best content for your level and needs.
• SALIS: Helps expand your vocabulary and understand the nuances of Egyptian Arabic.
• The Arabic We Speak: This podcast is most appropriate for upper-beginner to intermediate learners. Each episode explores Arab traditions and everyday experiences.
• Levantine Arabic, Made Easier: Listen to captivating topics and lively interviews.
• Learn Levantine with Livi: Livi helps you improve your colloquial Arabic and develop a deeper understanding of the Arabic language.
• BilMasri: This podcast bridges the Egyptian dialect and Modern Standard Arabic.
• El Bulbul: A limited series podcast for intermediate and advanced learners of Jordanian Arabic.

Radio

• BBC Arabic: Listen to BBC Arabic live streaming 24 hours.
• Al Emarat FM: Listen to Al Emarat FM 95.8 internet radio online.
• Nogoum FM: Broadcasting from Cairo providing Arabic Contemporary Hits music, talk and information.
• Sawt El Shaab: Broadcast radio station from Beirut providing News, Talk, Interviews, and Old Arabic Songs.
• Top Arabic Music Stations: Just click, listen and enjoy Arabic Music.

Magazines

• Forbes Middle East: A vital source for the region’s latest business and financial news and analysis.
• National Geographic Arabic: Takes you on a journey that’s always enlightening, often surprising, and unfailingly fascinating.
• Nature: Contains high-quality science news from the original Nature Journal.
• Entrepreneur Alarabiya: This is the Arabic language edition of Entrepreneur Middle East.
• Sayidaty: A weekly Arabic women’s magazine published in both Riyadh and Beirut and distributed throughout the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and America.
• Arageek: An independent online platform focused on reporting the latest digital innovations, pop-culture and trends to Arab millennials.

Current Events

• Aljazeera: Stay up-to-date with world and Middle East news.
• Sky News Arabiya: A 24-hour Arabic rolling news channel broadcast primarily in the Middle East and North Africa.
• Aljazeera: Live reports on the latest news from the Arabic news channels, providing in-depth coverage of local and global breaking news.
• Al jazeera Arabic: Among the materials available on the site are articles from the media, communication in daily life, literary texts and grammar.

Media

Film and Television

• Neflix: Watch Arabic Movies & TV Romantic dramas, funny comedies, scary horror stories, and action-packed thrillers.
• Top 50: Arabic Contemporary Movies
• Joe Show: An Arabic talk show and political satire television program.
• #ABTalks: An interview with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and influencers.
• Kalam Nawa’em: A social talk show that discusses a number of family and social issues of concern to Arab women and respect for Arab family traditions.
• Nuqtat Hewar: Talking Point (Nuqtat Hewar) is a TV and Radio phone-in program broadcast on BBC Arabic Service.

Learning Arabic with Music

• “ألوان الرياح” “Colors of the Wind” song from Pocahontas with lyrics and translation.
• “حوار الحجاب”: “The Hijab Conversation” by Toyor al-Janah.
• “The Sea Creatures Song” by Arabian Sinbad.
• “حبيتك بالصيف”: “I Love You in the Summer” by Fayrouz with Arabic lyrics and translation.
• “أنت عمري”: “You are My Life” by Oum Kulthum.
• “نور العين”: “The Light of the Eye” by Amr Diab.

Browse Other Arabic-language Resources by Topic

Sports

• Egyptian Premier League
• Saudi Pro League
• English Premier League
• Basketball
• Swimming
• Horse Race

Cuisine and Recipes

• Samira Cholagh: Samira Cholagh takes you step-by-step through some of the most delicious Arabic dishes on her YouTube channel.
• Just Food: Learn more about Arabic cuisine.

Entertainment

• Arabic Music Radio Stations: Listen to various Music genres from different Arab countries.
• Classics: Listen to Traditional and classical Arabic Music on YouTube.
• Bassem Yousef: Dubbed the Jon Stewart of the Arab World, Bassem is the host of the political satire show El-Bernameg.

Literature

• الأدب العربي: Enjoy pre-Islamic and contemporary Arabic poetry.
• Arabic Literature: Cornell University Library’s study guide for Arabic literature.
• Arabic Literature Books: Different genres of Arabic literature are available for free download.
• Arabic Literature: Michigan State University Library, with available books to read.

Arts and History

• الفن الإسلامي: A brief history of Islamic arts.
• فن العمارة الإسلامية: Find out more about Islamic architecture.
•  روائع من العمارة الإسلامية: The eight masterpieces of Islamic architecture.
• Baianat: Take a look at the different types of Arabic calligraphy.
• Arabic Calligraphy: Learn and practice Arabic calligraphy with Muhammad Abu al-Layl.
• Islamic Pottery: A brief history of Islamic pottery.
• خزف الاسلامي: A documentary about Islamic pottery.
• كتاب تاريخ العرب القديم: Discover the ancient history of the Arabs.

Science and Tech

• العلوم والتكنولوجيا: News on science and technology from Akhbar al-Yawm.
• Arab48.com: Learn more about science and technology from Arab48.
• Sputnikarabic: News on science and technology.

Contributors: Jibril Gabid and Reem Itani

Dictionaries

• Aryanpour: An English to Persian and Persian to English dictionary.
• Vajehyab: A comprehensive Persian dictionary comprised of more than 17 dictionaries including Persian dictionaries alongside four Iranian dialects dictionaries. Also available as an iOS and Android app.
• Farsi123: A very popular Persian-English dictionary, and very easy to use.
• Hayyim: Persian-English dictionary
• Farvo: This is the largest pronunciation dictionary available. Search words in Persian and hear them pronounced by native speakers.
• Platts: This is a valuable resource for finding etymologies of Persian words found in Urdu.
• Hobson-Jobson: A good resource for English words of Persian origin.  All diacritics are viewable with a Unicode font.

Study Tools

• Memrise: A flashcard site featuring existing decks in Persian at various levels.
• Study Blue: Customizable flashcard decks that allow you to create and share your own flashcards and also use flashcards and quizzes made by others which yo can sort by least reviewed, newest, or hardest words and phrases.
• DLI Online Assessment: This online Diagnostic tool will provide individual feedback on areas and skills you can improve in through reading and listening exams.
• Jahanshiri.ir: This online verb conjugator can conjugate Persian verbs in all tenses, aspects and moods.

Encyclopedias

• Encyclopeadia Iranica: A a comprehensive research tool dedicated to the study of Iranian civilization in the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent
• Britannica-Iran: A good source to learn about Iran’s land, history, economy, people, government and society, cultural life and beyond.

Farsi dialects/accents

• Dari, Tajik, Farsi, different dialects or languages?
• Shirazi
• Esfahani
• Yazdi
• Tehrani

Podcasts, Radio & Print Media

Podcasts

• PersianPod 101: Gives you access to thousands of audio and text lessons, organized with the best content for your level and needs.
• Linguaboost: Helps expand your everyday Persian phrases over the course of 30 lessons.
• PodGap: Provides you Persian conversation for beginners to advanced level, learning vocabularies, grammar, Persian literature, & interview with different people.
• Chai & Conversation: Teaches you conversational Persian in a fun and casual manner in weekly lessons of about 15-20 minutes each
• Rokh: The life story of those who marked a part of the history of Iran and the world. (App for both Android and IOS devices)
• ChannelB: Tells you the report of a real story quoted from a reliable English-speaking media in Persian. (App for both Android and IOS devices)
• Koron: A podcast about music of Iran. (App for both Android and IOS devices)

Radio

• Radio Farda: Listen to Persian news and music live streaming 24 hours.
• Radio Zamaneh: An Amsterdam-based radio  providing Persian news, talk, interviews on a variety of topics.
• Radio Javan: Listen to Persian music and podcasts from the largest collection available online.
• Radio Hamrah: Broadcasting from Los Angles providing topics ranging from news, psychology, literature, and more.
• Radio Darvish: Just click, listen and enjoy Persian traditional music.

Magazines & Newspapers

• Daneshmand: A weekly published Persian magazine based out of Vancouver, British Columbia.
• Etemad: A source for the region’s latest political, cultural, social and economic news.
• Shargh: One of the most popular Reformist newspapers in Iran
• Entekhab: Focuses on foreign policy and domestic affairs.
• Khabaronline: Provides the latest analyzes and reports of the most important events in Iran and the world.

Current Events

• BBC Persian: Stay up-to-date with the political, social, economical and sport news related to Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, and the world
• VOA Farsi: A governmental international broadcaster of the United States of America in Persian language
• Iran International: Reports on current affairs, health, technology, human rights violations, human rights and more in Iran as well as global politics
• IRIB News Agency: The Islamic Republic of Iran News channel, headquartered in Tehran, Iran, reporting on political, sports, science and medical news

Media

Films and TV Shows

• Netflix, Hulu, Prime & Cinema list:  Top Iranian/Persian movies on different genres to watch on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+ & other Streaming service.
• Amazon prime: Watch Iranian movies & dramas.
• Top movies: The top Iranian movies.
• چند شنبه با سینا: A Persian show of interviews with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and influencers including political satire.
• Manototv: Manoto is a TV and Radio program broadcasted in London. It shows latest series dubbed in Farsi, historical and political documentaries and videos, the latest news of Iran, the Middle East and the world.

Learning Persian with Music

• “دیشب” “last night” This song is performed by Marjan Farsad whose style is relaxed and elegant. The song is accompanied by Persian lyrics, English translation, and a list of useful words at the end of the video.
• “بیا کزعشق تو دیوانه گشتم” This song is performed by Homayoon Shajarian (Singer) and Sohrab Pournazeri (instrumentist). It is one of Rumi’s poems.
• “رویای ما” “Our dreams” by Ebi and Shadmehr with Persian lyrics and translation. This Song comes with a Persian lesson on its vocabularies and their pronunciations.
• “برای” “For” by Shervin Hajipoor. It is a power ballad inspired by the death of Mahsa Amini and its aftermath.
• “بهت قول میدم”: “I promise you” by Mohsen Yeganeh with translation.
• “خونه ی ما”: “Our home” by Marjan Farsad.

Browse Persian-language Resources by Topic

Sports

• Khabarvarzeshi: Latest sports news of sports and premier leagues in Iran and the world
• Varzesh3: Provides sports news, game results and sports league tables live.
• Footballi: Latest news about football in Iran and the world.
• Persian Gulf Pro League: The Persian Gulf Pro League, formerly known as the Iran Pro League, is the highest division of professional football in Iran
• Volleyball super league: Watch some of the games of the professional volleyball league of Iran.
• Futsal super league: is a professional futsal league competition for clubs which are located at the highest level of the Iranian futsal league system.
• Wrestling league: is a form of submission grappling that has been practiced since ancient times in Iran.
• Freestyle wrestling: Learn about and watch the news, interviews and freestyle wrestling matches here.

Cuisine and Recipes

• Ariana Bundy: Ariana Bundy takes you step-by-step through some of the most delicious Iranian dishes on her YouTube channel.
• Navab Ebrahimi: Navab teaches you how to make authentic and local Iranian food.
• Zahra: Try Zahra’s unique recipes as you enjoy her culinary journey of traditional and modern interpretations of Middle Eastern cuisine
• Persian mama: Homa shares with you the Persian recipes that have been in her family for generations.
• Family spice: Easy and delicious Persian and campfire recipes inspired from around the world.
• The Persian Kitchen: An Iranian food blog.
• Fig and Quince: Recipes and all the tools and tricks of Iranian cooking.
• Turmeric Saffron: Azita shares traditional recipes that she has learned from her late mother with a lot of love and care.

Literature and eBooks

• Ganjoor: Online collection of poems by Persian-speaking poets. You can search by poet or poem and find their various readings of poems.
• Rare literary materials: Collection of rare Persian language manuscripts, lithographic books and early imprints, as well as printed books.
• Persian periodicals: Rare old article and newspapers.
• Mix of art and poetry: Let’s explore paintings from an illustrated manuscript of the Shahnameh — or ‘Book of Kings’ composed by the national epic of Iran, Firdawsi around 1010.
• Proverbs: A list of some common proverbs.
• Persian Literature: Michigan State University Library, with available books to read.

Arts and History

• هنرایرانی: A brief introduction of ّIranian arts and handicrafts.
• Handicrafts of Iran: Learn more about Iran’s handicarfts.
• Iranian handicrafts: Watch some of the Iranian handicrafts and cultural elements.
• کجارو: Find out more about Iranian architecture.
• Calligraphy: Take a look at different styles of calligraphy in the Arab, Ottoman, and Persian traditions.
• قالی بافی: Learn about the history and methods of carpet weaving
• Pottery making: Watch the traditional process of pottery making from scratch.
• قلم زنی: Learn more about this beautiful artwork and how it is made.

Cultural Celebrations and Festivities

• Norooz or Nowruz (نوروز):  Norooz meaning ‘New Day’ is a festival which dates back 3000 years to when King Jamshed called astrologers and declared that 21st March, the day that the sun leaves Pisces, the twelfth sign of the zodiac and enters into Aries, the very first zodiac sign would be the day when his kingdom would celebrate ‘New Year’. It has been celebrated with pomp and fervor ever since. Learn more about Norooz here..
• Chaharshanbe Souri (چهارشنبه سوری): If Norooz is the Persian equivalent of Easter, Chaharshanbeh Souri, in many ways is the equivalent of Halloween. The event is celebrated on the eve of Navroz. Chahar-Shanbeh means Wednesday and Souri means both ‘Red’ and ‘Celebration’. In this “red celebration” which takes place on the last Wednesday of the solar calendar, people go out and make bush fires and keep them burning till the next morning. This is symbolic of burning all that was bad…pain, unhappiness, sickness and worry and looking forward to a new beginning. Learn more about Chaharshanbeh here..

Content Curator: Hadis Ghaedi

The Kemal H. Karpat Center for Turkish Studies at UW-Madison brings together faculty, staff, students, and visiting scholars to promote excellence in the study of Turkish history and society, including Ottoman studies and Turkish diaspora studies. The Center recognizes the diversity of Turkish society in its past and present, and that excellence in Turkish Studies requires approaches that are interdisciplinary and inclusive of scholars from a variety of backgrounds. The Center may provide funds for faculty hiring; student research, travel, and language training; course enhancements; library acquisitions; events; and other priorities set by the Center’s governing committee. The Center is named in memory of Kemal H. Karpat, who taught Ottoman and Turkish History at UW-Madison for 35 years.

Karpat Center Turkish Language Scholarship for UW Students

Karpat Center Turkish Language Scholarship

Karpat Center Summer Graduate Fellowships

Summer Graduate Fellowships