3
What time is it?
Egyptian Arabic A1 · Unit 11
GoalAsk and tell the time with hours, half and quarter.
New words
السَّاعَة كَام؟ (is-sāʿa kām?) · what time is it?السَّاعَة تَلَاتَة (is-sāʿa talāta) · it is three o'clockوِنُصّ (wi-nuṣṣ) · and a halfوِرُبْع (wi-rubʿ) · and a quarterإِلَّا رُبْع (illa rubʿ) · less a quarterالصُّبْح (iṣ-ṣubḥ) · in the morningالضُّهْر (iḍ-ḍuhr) · at noonبِاللَّيْل (billēl) · at night
Explanation
To ask the time say السَّاعَة كَام؟ (is-sāʿa kām?). To answer, say السَّاعَة and a number: السَّاعَة تَلَاتَة, «it is three o'clock». For half past, add وِنُصّ: تَلَاتَة وِنُصّ. For quarter past, add وِرُبْع. For quarter to, say the next hour with إِلَّا رُبْع: أَرْبَعَة إِلَّا رُبْع is 3:45. To say the part of the day, add الصُّبْح (morning), الضُّهْر (noon) or بِاللَّيْل (at night).
| Time | Say |
|---|---|
| 3:00 | تَلَاتَة |
| 3:15 | تَلَاتَة وِرُبْع |
| 3:30 | تَلَاتَة وِنُصّ |
| 3:45 | أَرْبَعَة إِلَّا رُبْع |
Worked examples
Yusuf
السَّاعَة كَام؟
Hana
السَّاعَة تَمَانْيَة وِنُصّ.
Yusuf
الصُّبْح؟
Hana
أَيْوَه، الصُّبْح.
Two times. Press each card.
Parts of the day. Press each card.
Class activity
Look at a clock three times today and say the time aloud: السَّاعَة … Practise 3:00, 3:15, 3:30 and 3:45 on a paper clock. Then write when you get up (الصُّبْح) and when you sleep (بِاللَّيْل).
Practice
1
Ask «what time is it?».
السَّاعَة كَام؟
2
It is half past two. Say the time.
السَّاعَة اِتْنِين وِنُصّ.
3
Press Listen. What time is it?
9:15: السَّاعَة تِسْعَة وِرُبْع.
4
Say «it is a quarter to eight» (7:45).
السَّاعَة تَمَانْيَة إِلَّا رُبْع.
5
The picture shows the moon. Which phrase fits: «in the morning» or «at night»?
بِاللَّيْل (at night).