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Lesson 9 of 10

Time and days in Arabic

Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please. Play the ten Arabic words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.

The historic Hijaz Railway station at Mada’in Salih, Saudi Arabia
Time and days
10 words · 20 seconds each · 8 of 10 to pass
What it meansHow to say it
Richard Mortel, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

All 10 Arabic phrases in this lesson

الآنal-AN
Now

"Hala'" (ha-LAH) or "dhalhin" (DHAL-hin) in Gulf dialect. "Dilwa'ti" (dil-WA-tee) in Egyptian. "Hala" is perhaps the most widely understood colloquial now. "Al-aan" is the formal form that works in any context.

لاحقاًLA-hi-qan
Later

"Ba'dayn" (BAH-dayn) in Gulf speech (literally afterwards). "Ba'd shuwaya" (after a little) is the soft version. Time in much of the Arab world is relational rather than clock-based; important things happen when the people are ready, not when the schedule dictates.

اليومal-YAWM
Today

Al-yawm (today). Tomorrow: ghadan (formal), bukra (BUK-ra, colloquial and widely used). Yesterday: ams (AMS). "Bukra" is one of the most useful words; it also carries the cultural implication that things do not always happen on the timeline you expect them to.

غداًGHA-dan
Tomorrow

"Bukra" in speech. There is a famous Arab proverb: "bukra fil mishmish" (tomorrow when the apricots bloom), meaning never. The real meaning of "bukra" therefore depends entirely on context, relationship, and how urgent the matter is.

الليلةal-LAY-la
Tonight
متى؟MA-ta
When?

In the Gulf "mita" (MI-ta), in Egypt "imta" (IM-ta).

متى يفتح؟MA-ta YAF-tah
What time does it open?

Opening hours shift during Ramadan, when shops often open late and stay open past midnight.

لحظة من فضلكLAH-tha min FAD-lak
One moment, please

Literally "a moment, please". You will also hear "dqiqa" (DGEE-ga), one minute.

دقائقda-QA-iq
Minutes

Used after three to ten: "khams daqa'iq", five minutes. From eleven up it turns singular, "daqiqa".

ساعاتsa-AT
Hours

Used after three to ten. Saa'a (SA-a) also means the clock.

Where Arabic is spoken

Next lesson: Help and emergencies →