Days of the Week in Arabic

The days of the week in Arabic (أيام الأسبوع, ayyām al-usbū') follow a numerical system that differs from many Western languages. Instead of being named after gods or celestial bodies, most Arabic weekday names are based on numbers, reflecting their position in the week.

Arabic traditionally considers Saturday (السبت, as-sabt) as the first day of the week, which is derived from the Hebrew word "Sabbath." The following five days (Sunday through Thursday) are numbered from "first" to "fifth," and Friday (الجمعة, al-jumu'ah) has a special name referring to the day of congregation or gathering for communal prayer in Islam.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about days of the week in Arabic, including proper script representation, pronunciation guides, cultural significance, and practical usage.

Arabic pronunciation can be challenging for non-native speakers due to several sounds that don't exist in English. Here's a detailed guide to help you pronounce each day correctly:

Key Pronunciation Points

• The article "al-" at the beginning of each day (except Saturday) is pronounced differently depending on the first letter of the word it precedes. If the word begins with a "sun letter," the "l" sound assimilates to that letter's sound (e.g., "ath-thulāthā'" rather than "al-thulāthā'").
• The apostrophe (') in the romanization represents a glottal stop (hamza) or a specific Arabic letter ('ayn), which are pronounced by briefly closing the throat.
• The long vowel "ā" should be held approximately twice as long as a regular "a" sound.

Breakdown by Day

• الإثنين (al-ithnayn): al-ith-NAYN. The "th" is pronounced like in English "thin."
• الثلاثاء (ath-thulāthā'): ath-thu-LAA-thaa'. Note that the initial "al-" changes to "ath-" due to assimilation with the following "th" sound.
• الأربعاء (al-arbi'ā'): al-ar-bi-'AA'. The apostrophe represents a glottal stop, like a slight catch in your throat.
• الخميس (al-khamīs): al-kha-MEES. The "kh" is a guttural sound made by constricting the back of the throat (similar to the "ch" in Scottish "loch").
• الجمعة (al-jumu'ah): al-JU-mu-'ah. The "j" is like the "s" in "measure" or the "g" in "beige" in many Arabic dialects, though in Egyptian Arabic it would be a hard "g" as in "go."
• السبت (as-sabt): as-SABT. The "al-" changes to "as-" due to assimilation with the following "s" sound.
• الأحد (al-aḥad): al-A-had. The "ḥ" is a voiceless pharyngeal fricative, produced by tensing the muscles of the throat.

First Day of the Week

In the Arab world, the week traditionally begins with Saturday (السبت, as-sabt), not Sunday or Monday as in many Western countries. This is reflected in the numerical naming system:

• الأحد (al-aḥad) means "the first" (Sunday)
• الإثنين (al-ithnayn) means "the second" (Monday)
• الثلاثاء (ath-thulāthā') means "the third" (Tuesday)
• الأربعاء (al-arbi'ā') means "the fourth" (Wednesday)
• الخميس (al-khamīs) means "the fifth" (Thursday)

The pattern breaks for:

• الجمعة (al-jumu'ah) - "the gathering" (Friday), reflecting its status as the day of communal prayer in Islam
• السبت (as-sabt) - derived from "Sabbath" (Saturday), reflecting Semitic linguistic influences

Weekend in Arab Countries

Traditionally, the weekend in most Arab countries was Thursday and Friday, with Friday being particularly significant as the day of communal prayer in Islam. However, many countries have shifted to a Friday-Saturday weekend to align better with global business practices. Some Gulf countries have recently adopted a Friday half-day plus Saturday-Sunday weekend to further align with international business schedules.

Common Phrases and Expressions

Here are some useful phrases for talking about days of the week in Arabic:

• ما هو اليوم؟ (mā huwa al-yawm?) - "What day is today?"
• اليوم هو الإثنين. (al-yawm huwa al-ithnayn.) - "Today is Monday."
• غداً هو الثلاثاء. (ghadan huwa ath-thulāthā'.) - "Tomorrow is Tuesday."
• أمس كان الأحد. (ams kāna al-aḥad.) - "Yesterday was Sunday."

Talking About Weekly Events

To describe something that happens on a certain day regularly, use the following structure:

• كل يوم الأربعاء (kull yawm al-arbi'ā') - "Every Wednesday"
• في يوم الخميس (fī yawm al-khamīs) - "On Thursday"
• أيام الإثنين (ayyām al-ithnayn) - "On Mondays"

Formal vs. Colloquial Usage

In formal contexts and written Arabic (Modern Standard Arabic), the full names with the definite article "al-" are typically used. In colloquial spoken Arabic, you may hear shortened versions of the days, with regional variations in pronunciation. For example:

• Formal: الإثنين (al-ithnayn) → Colloquial: تنين (tnēn) in some Levantine dialects
• Formal: الثلاثاء (ath-thulāthā') → Colloquial: تلات (tlāt) in some dialects

Religious Significance

Several days hold particular significance in Islamic culture, which dominates in Arabic-speaking regions:

• الجمعة (al-jumu'ah) - Friday is the holiest day of the week in Islam, marked by congregational prayer (صلاة الجمعة, salāt al-jumu'ah) at midday. The name itself means "the gathering" or "congregation."
• الإثنين (al-ithnayn) and الخميس (al-khamīs) - Monday and Thursday are traditionally days of fasting for devout Muslims, following the Prophet Muhammad's practice. These days are considered auspicious for starting new projects.

Cultural Practices

Beyond religious observances, certain cultural practices are associated with specific days in various Arab regions:

• Weekend Activities - With Friday being a day off across the Arab world, Thursday evenings (or Wednesday evenings in some countries) are considered the start of the weekend and are popular for social gatherings.
• Business Operations - Government offices and many businesses may have reduced hours on Thursday or Friday (depending on the country) and may close entirely for Friday prayers from approximately noon until mid-afternoon.

Numerical Pattern

Five of the seven Arabic days follow a numerical sequence. Remembering this pattern can help you learn most of the weekdays:

• الأحد (al-aḥad) - "One" (Sunday)
• الإثنين (al-ithnayn) - "Two" (Monday)
• الثلاثاء (ath-thulāthā') - "Three" (Tuesday)
• الأربعاء (al-arbi'ā') - "Four" (Wednesday)
• الخميس (al-khamīs) - "Five" (Thursday)

If you know Arabic numbers or are learning them, this connection makes these five days much easier to remember.

Special Days Mnemonics

For the two days that break the numerical pattern:

• الجمعة (al-jumu'ah) - Think of "Jumma prayers" or the "gathering" on Friday
• السبت (as-sabt) - Connect it to the Jewish "Sabbath," which shares the same Semitic root

Visual Association

Create a visual story to connect the numbers with the days:

Imagine the week starts with the Sabbath (Saturday), then the First day (Sunday) comes, followed by the Second (Monday), and so on until the Fifth day (Thursday). Then comes the day of Gathering (Friday) when everyone comes together for prayer, and then the cycle restarts with the Sabbath (Saturday).