Egyptian Arabic A1, Unit 11: Days of the week

Days of the week

Egyptian Arabic A1 · Unit 11

GoalSay the seven days and talk about what happens on a day.

New words

السَّبْت (is-sabt) · Saturdayالحَدّ (il-ḥadd) · Sundayالاِتْنِين (il-itnēn) · Mondayالتَّلَات (it-talāt) · Tuesdayالأَرْبَع (il-arbaʿ) · Wednesdayالخَمِيس (il-khamīs) · Thursdayالجُمْعَة (il-gumʿa) · Friday

Explanation

The Egyptian week starts on Saturday. Four days are named after numbers: الاِتْنِين is «the second», التَّلَات «the third», الأَرْبَع «the fourth» and الخَمِيس «the fifth». Sunday is الحَدّ in Egyptian (the standard language says الأَحَد). To say «on» a day, use يَوْم (day): يَوْم الجُمْعَة, «on Friday». For a question, use إِمْتَى؟ (when?). Many people rest on Friday.

Day	Arabic	Say it
Saturday	السَّبْت	is-sabt
Sunday	الحَدّ	il-ḥadd
Monday	الاِتْنِين	il-itnēn
Tuesday	التَّلَات	it-talāt
Wednesday	الأَرْبَع	il-arbaʿ
Thursday	الخَمِيس	il-khamīs
Friday	الجُمْعَة	il-gumʿa

Worked examples

Omar

فِيه مَدْرَسَة يَوْم الخَمِيس؟

Dina

أَيْوَه، فِيه.

Omar

وِيَوْم الجُمْعَة؟

Dina

لَأ، مَفِيش مَدْرَسَة.

Omar asks Dina about school. Press each line.

Three days. Press each card.

A happy day.

Class activity

Write the seven days in order on small cards, starting with Saturday. Shuffle them and put them back in order, saying each one aloud. Then say on which days you are at home: أَنَا فِي البَيْت يَوْم … Write three sentences.

Practice

Which day comes after الاِتْنِين (Monday)?

Say «on Friday».

The picture shows a calendar. Which is the first day of the Egyptian week?

Press Listen. Is there school or not?

Say «I am happy on Thursday».

Days, time and numbers to 100

Days of the week