Mehri is one of the Modern South Arabian languages. The name of this group is misleading. These languages are not related to any form Arabic but constitute a separate branch of the South-Semitic languages. Beside Mehri, Modern South Arabian languages include Harsusi, Hobyot, Bathari, Jibbali, Hobyot, Soqotri.

According to Johnstone, who studied the Modern South Arabian languages Mehri is a language of prestige, which is quite remarkable in the context of the Arabic oriented societies of Yemen and Oman.

A course in Mehri is given at Leiden University by Prof.dr. Harry Stroomer. The course is intended for students of Arabic and Semitic languages, and students of oral literature and folklore. The course has two orientations:

Mehri Course - the linguistic / Arabist-Semitist orientation, comprising:

• an introduction to Modern South Arabian languages in general.
• an introduction to Mehri phonology, morphology and syntax.
• linguistic analysis of Mehri texts.

• an introduction to Mehri phonology, morphology and syntax.
• analysis of Mehri texts in relation to oral literature and folklore studies.

Literature used in the course on Mehri:
T.M. Johnstone, Mehri Lexicon and English-Mehri Word-list, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 1987.
Harry Stroomer, Mehri texts from Oman, based on the field materials of Prof. T.M. Johnstone (+ 1983), Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden, (series Semitica Viva, editor Otto Jastrow) 1999, xxix + 302p.
Wilhelm Hein, Mehri- und arami-Texte gesammelt im Jahre 1902 in Gischin von Dr. Wilhelm Hein, bearbeitet und herausgegeben von Dav. Heinr. Müller, Südarabische Expedition, Band IX, Kaiserliche Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien 1909.