Language/Gulf-arabic/Vocabulary/Days-of-the-Week
Hi Gulf Arabic learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn the days of the week. Knowing the days of the week is essential for daily communication. We will also learn some interesting facts about the names of the days in Gulf Arabic.
Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Say Hello and Greetings in Gulf Arabic, Colors & Clothes.
The Days of the Week[edit | edit source]
The days of the week in Gulf Arabic are based on the Islamic calendar, which is based on the phases of the moon. Therefore, the names of the days are different from those in English. Here are the days of the week in Gulf Arabic:
| Gulf Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| الأحد | al-ʾaḥad | Sunday |
| الإثنين | al-ʾithnayn | Monday |
| الثلاثاء | al-thulaathaa’ | Tuesday |
| الأربعاء | al-ʾarbaʿaa’ | Wednesday |
| الخميس | al-khamees | Thursday |
| الجمعة | al-jumuʿah | Friday |
| السبت | al-sabt | Saturday |
To remember these days, I like to use the analogy of climbing up a ladder. Every day is a step up the ladder, and when we reach the top (Friday), we can slide down the other side (the weekend). 😊
Interesting facts[edit | edit source]
- Sunday is called “al-ʾaḥad” in Gulf Arabic, which is derived from the Arabic word “waḥid” meaning one. It is believed that Sunday is called this because it is the first day of the week in Gulf Arabic.
- Thursday is called “al-khamees” in Gulf Arabic, which comes from the Arabic word “khamsa” meaning five. It is believed that Thursday is called this because it is the fifth day of the week counting from Saturday.
- Friday is considered the most important day of the week in Islamic culture. Muslims attend Friday prayers and gather with family and friends to break bread together. In Gulf Arabic, Friday is called “al-jumuʿah”, meaning “the gathering”.
- Saturday is called “al-sabt” in Gulf Arabic, which comes from the Hebrew word “sabbath”. It is believed that this day was named by the Jewish people who lived in the Arab Peninsula at the time.
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Ahmed and Mariam are planning a trip to the beach:
- Ahmed: يعني لو نروح الأحد إلى الشاطئ، إيش رأيك؟ (What do you think if we go to the beach on Sunday?)
- Mariam: لأ، الأحد الجاي عندي امتحان. بس الخميس أو الجمعة بتناسبني. (No, I have an exam next Sunday. But Thursday or Friday works for me.)
- Ahmed: طيب، يمكن الخميس. (Ok, maybe on Thursday.)
Practice[edit | edit source]
To practice the days of the week in Gulf Arabic, try asking and answering the following questions:
- متى يوم الجمعة؟ (When is Friday?)
- ما هو يوم الأحد باللغة العربية؟ (What is Sunday in Arabic?)
- متى يوم الأربعاء؟ (When is Wednesday?)
To improve your Gulf Arabic Vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎