How to Tell the Time in Arabic
Are you considering traveling to an Arabic-speaking country? When is your departure date? And do you know how to ask for the time in Arabic?
It is crucial to have a good understanding of how to tell time in Arabic to ensure that you can navigate effectively and arrive on time. It is astonishing how many travelers become bewildered and frustrated at transportation hubs worldwide, including bus stations, taxi stands, airports, and train terminals, due to their inability to communicate about time accurately in the local language.
That’s why we’ve created this blog post to provide you with everything you need to know about asking for the time in Arabic, along with some interesting facts you may not have considered.
Let’s get started!
Vocabulary for Time in Arabic
Below is a comprehensive list of words and phrases related to time in Arabic language:
| English | Arabic | Pronunciation in Arabic |
| Time | وقت | Waqt |
| Hour/watch/o’clock | الساعة | Al-Saa3a |
| Minutes | دقائق | Daqaiq |
| Seconds | ثواني | Thwani |
| Morning | صباح | Sabah |
| Afternoon | بعد الظهر | Baed Al-dhuhur |
| Evening | مساء | Masaa |
| Night | ليل | Layl |
| Midnight | منتصف الليل | Muntasaf Allayl |
| Noon | الظهر | Al-dhuhur |
| AM | صباحًا | Sbahan |
| PM | مساءً | Msa’an |
Note that the pronunciation in Arabic can vary depending on the dialect and region, but these should be generally understood across most Arabic-speaking countries.
Asking about the Time in Arabic
To ask about the time, use:
| English Phrase | Arabic | Pronunciation in Arabic |
| What time is it? | كم الساعة؟ | Kam Al-saa3a? |
| Which time? | أي ساعة؟ | Ayy saa3a? |
Hours in Arabic
This table provides the English translations, Arabic phrases, and pronunciations for talking about hours in Arabic:
| English | Arabic | Pronunciation in Arabic |
| one o’clock | الساعة واحدة | Al-Saa3a wahda |
| two o’clock | الساعة ثنتين | Al-Saa3a thentain |
| three o’clock | الساعة ثلاثة | Al-Saa3a thalaatha |
| four o’clock | الساعة اربعة | Al-Saa3a arba3a |
| five o’clock | الساعة خمسة | Al-Saa3a khamsa |
| six o’clock | الساعة ستة | Al-Saa3a seta |
| seven o’clock | الساعة سبعة | Al-Saa3a sab3a |
| eight o’clock | الساعة ثمنية | Al-Saa3a thammaaniya |
| nine o’clock | الساعة تسعة | Al-Saa3a tes3a |
| ten o’clock | الساعة عشرة | Al-Saa3a 3ashra |
| eleven o’clock | الساعة احد عشرة | Al-Saa3a Ahada 3ashara |
| twelve o’clock | الساعة اثنا عشرة | Al-Saa3a Ithna 3ashara |
Normally, we use the 12-hours system. We say 5 in the morning or 5 in the evening to specify Am or Pm.
Minutes and Seconds in Arabic
When it comes to talking about minutes and seconds in Arabic, there are some important phrases to learn.
Here are a few examples:
| The hour | Arabic | Pronunciation in Arabic |
| 9:05 | الساعة تسعة وخمسة | al-saa3a tes3a wa khamsa |
| 7:15 | الساعة سبعة وربع | al-saa3a sab3a wa rub3 |
| 3:20 | الساعة ثلاثة وثلث | al-saa3a thalaatha wa thulth |
| 4:25 | الساعة أربعة ونث الا خمسة | al-saa3a arba3a wa nus illa khamsa |
| 5:30 | الساعة خمسة ونص | al-saa3a khamsa wa nus |
| 6:35 | الساعة ستة ونص الا خمسة | al-saa3a seta wa nus wa khamsa |
| 7:70 | الساعة ثمانية الا ربع | al-saa3a thamaaniya illa thulth |
| 8:45 | الساعة تسعة الا ربع | al-saa3a tes3a illa rub3 |
| 9:50 | الساعة عشرة الا عشرة | al-saa3a 3ashra illa 3ashra |
Below are some important topics you should also master as an Arabic learner:
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FAQs
Q: Why is it important to learn how to ask for time in Arabic?
Knowing how to ask for the time in Arabic ensures smooth navigation in Arabic-speaking countries, especially in transportation hubs and daily activities.
Q: How do I ask for the time in Arabic?
You can ask كم الساعة؟ (Kam Al-Saa3a?) which means “What time is it?”
Q: What are the Arabic words for specific times of day?
صباح (Sabah) refers to “morning,” بعد الظهر (Baed Al-Dhuhur) is “afternoon,” مساء (Masaa) is “evening,” and ليل (Layl) is “night.”
Q: How do you express hours in Arabic?
You can say الساعة واحدة (Al-Saa3a wahda) for “one o’clock,” الساعة عشرة (Al-Saa3a 3ashra) for “ten o’clock,” and other hours similarly.
Q: How do I express minutes and seconds in Arabic?
For example, الساعة خمسة ونص (Al-Saa3a khamsa wa nus) means “5:30” and الساعة تسعة وخمسة (Al-Saa3a tes3a wa khamsa) means “9:05.”
Q: Do I need to learn the 12-hour clock in Arabic?
Yes, the 12-hour system is commonly used, with AM (صباحًا) and PM (مساءً) to differentiate morning and evening times.
Q: How do I say “What time do you sleep on the weekend?” in Arabic?
You would say: متى تنام في عطلة نهاية الأسبوع؟ (Mata tanam fi ‘utlat nihayat al-usbu’?)
Q: How can I practice telling time in Arabic?
Regular practice of vocabulary and phrases, such as asking for the time or expressing hours and minutes, will improve fluency in real-life situations.
Conclusion
Knowing how to ask for the time in Arabic is essential for any traveler planning a trip to an Arabic-speaking country.
This knowledge will not only help you navigate more effectively but also avoid frustration and confusion. In this blog post, we have provided you with a comprehensive list of vocabulary related to time in Arabic, including the relevant phrases and pronunciations.
We have also highlighted some essential phrases related to minutes and seconds. With this information, you should feel more confident and prepared to communicate about time in Arabic during your travels.
After you finish reading this blog post, Please answer the questions below.
- How do you tell the following times in Arabic?
3:30 = Al-sa3a thalatha wa nus
6:10 =
5:55 =
4:45 =
1:25 =
10:35 =
9:05 =
8:20 =
9:40 =
7:25 =
2. Translate the following sentences from into Arabic:
- Excuse-me! What is the time?
- What time do you sleep on the weekend?
- I have breakfast at 6am every day except Friday and Saturday
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Join 100s of happy learners. This online, self-paced Arabic language course is designed to help you learn the Arabic language in a simple and practicle way.