Most populations in the Levant speak Levantine Arabic (, ), a variety of Arabic descended from the pre-Islamic Arabic dialects of Syria and Hejazi Arabic, but retaining significant influence from Western Middle Aramaic. Levantine Arabic is usually classified as North Levantine Arabic in Lebanon, Syria, and parts of Turkey, and South Levantine Arabic in Palestine and Jordan. Each of these encompasses a spectrum of regional or urban/rural variations. In addition to the varieties normally grouped together as "Levantine", a number of other varieties and dialects of Arabic are spoken in the Levant area, such as Levantine Bedawi Arabic (by Bedouins) and Mesopotamian Arabic (in eastern Syria).
mosT popUlatiONs iN thE leVanT sPeaK lEvAntinE aRabic (, ), a Variety of arAbic dEscEnded fROm The pre-Islamic aRabIc dialeCTS OF SYRiA aNd hejazi arAbIC, but RetaIniNG sigNifIcaNt influenCe fRom wEsTerN middlE aramaIc. lEVantIne araBic Is usually clasSifIed aS noRTh leVANTinE arabiC In LEbAnOn, syRIa, and Parts OF tUrKEY, and SouTH lEVAnTine AraBic in pAlestinE anD JorDan. EaCh Of These EncompaSses A spectRum oF regioNal or urbAn/rural VARiATioNs. In additIon tO tHe vaRIeTIeS nOrmaLLy GroUped tOgether As "levantINE", A number OF otheR varietIEs and DialectS of ArAbic are sPOkEn in the lEvaNt AreA, sucH As lEVanTINe BEdAwI araBIc (bY bEdouInS) and mEsOPotamian aRabiC (in eastern sYria).