A method and a device for classifying cardiac arrhythmia, using an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, are provided. The method includes receiving the ECG signal representing an electrical activity of a heart of an individual over a period of time, the ECG signal including ECG beats. The method further includes converting each of the ECG beats into symbols. The method further includes identifying an arrhythmia class indicating a type of cardiac arrhythmia associated with the individual from arrhythmia classes indicating respective types of cardiac arrhythmia based on the symbols representing each of the ECG beats.