Days of the week in Arabic With English Explanation, Arabic, Arabic Alphabet, Arabic Grammar, Arabic Phrases, Arabic Tutor, Arabic Vocabulary, Arabic Words, Vocabulary

Days of The Week in Arabic With English Explanation

Days of the week in Arabic do not begin in the same way as in the west. There are those Islamic scholars who argue that it is Saturday, and those who claim that it is Sunday. but it is not Monday, everybody says! And now, what are the names in Arabic week, those which come between Sunday and Thursday?

They are of the numbers one, two, three, four, five. Friday and Saturday, however, their Arabic names are mentioned in the Holy Quran as we shall see. I will make it easy for you, I will take my time and explain everything to you. Let’s learn Days of the week!

Must Read: Best Quranic Arabic Course – QuranMualim

How to Say “Day” in Arabic?

First, “day” in Arabic is يوم (pronounced “yawm”).

How to Say “Week” in Arabic?

“Week” in Arabic is pronounced asأُسْبُوعٌ (ʾusbūʿ) 

List of Days of the week

So that you will find it easy, I will begin the days of the week in Arabic by beginning with Sunday. That way you can remember by the numbers, to five. Then Friday and Saturday will be easy to pick up then!

  1. Days of the weeks & their pronunciation :
  2. السبت (as-sabt) – Saturday
  3. الأحد (al-ʾaḥad) – Sunday
  4. الإثنين (al-ithnayn) – Monday
  5. الثلاثاء (ath-thulāthāʾ) – Tuesday
  6. الأربعاء (al-arbiʿāʾ) – Wednesday
  7. الخميس (al-khamīs) – Thursday
  8. الجمعة (al-jumʿa) – Friday

We will take a closer look at each day in Arabic with cultural information, examples and tips to memorize them.

Must Read: Learn Arabic Alphabet Chart – QuranMualim

1. Sunday – الأحد (Al-Ahad)

The meaning of Al-Ahad” is one or first, a meaning that is derived by the root word ahad (meaning one or first). Simple, yes? Sunday is a full day workday in all Arab countries and a hectic day usually in businesses and schools.

2. Monday – الإثنين (Al-Ithnayn)

The word al-ithnayn is a derivation of the word itthan which translates to two. It is the second day after the first one. The names of the days are interesting, and they are the sequencing of the days in the week!

3. Tuesday – الثلاثاء (Ath-Thulatha’)

Ath-thulaathaa’ is founded on thalaatha which means three. Conventionally, in certain rural settings, a day of the week was set aside, which was a market day in which individuals used to assemble to buy and sell commodities.

4. Wednesday – الأربعاء (Al-Arba‘a’)

The name al-arba’aa’ (الأربعاء) is derived out of arba’a which means four. In Arab culture, the day where people begin preparing to the weekend is usually al-arba’aa’- even when Thursday is a half-day.

5. Thursday – الخميس (Al-Khamis)

The word al-khamees is based on khamsa which means five. And it is Friday Eve, nearly the weekend! Thursday evenings in most locations are a social and going out time.

6. Friday – الجمعة (Al-Jumu‘ah)

Al-jumu means gathering, or congregation. It is the most significant day of the week among the Muslims since this is the day of the communal prayer in the mosque. After the Friday prayer families also frequently have a big meal together. It is a day of repose and contemplation.

7. Saturday – السبت (As-Sabt)

As-sabt has its connection with the Hebrew word Shabbat or Sabbath. The term As-sabt is a workday in certain businesses of the Arabic countries; however, in most Arabic countries, it is a holiday.

Must Read: Learn Arabic Alphabets – QuranMualim

Chart of Days of the week

To simplify your tasks, I have developed a simple Arabic Alphabet chart that contains the Arabic words, their English translations, transliterations and examples. Have this chart available as you practice.

Arabic WordEnglish TranslationTransliterationExample in Arabic with English Translation
الأحدSundayal-ahadنبدأُ دروسَ اللغةِ العربيةِ يومَ الأحدِ.
الاثنينMondayal-ithnaynيومَ الاثنينِ، أذهبُ إلى السوقِ لشراءِ الخضارِ.
الثلاثاءTuesdayath-thulaathaa’في يومِ الثلاثاءِ، أزورُ جدتي.
الأربعاءWednesdayal-arba’aa’سأسافر يوم الأربعاء
الخميسThursdayal-khameesفي المساءِ يومَ الخميسِ، نَجتمعُ معَ الأصدقاءِ.
الجمعةFridayal-jumu’ahيومُ الجمعةِ هو يومُ العطلةِ الأسبوعيةِ.
السبتSaturdayas-sabtفي يومِ السبتِ، أستريحُ في البيتِ.

Being aware that the word يوم (yoom) signifies day, the other words in the names of the days of the week should now appear and sound a little more familiar. They are of course, number-related! The week begins on Sunday (the first day of the week) and then counts upwards to seven. Two there are though, that are not a number, can you see what they are?

The response is يَوم الجمعة, or Friday and Youm Sabt (yoom assabt) or Saturday. Why do we have Friday and what is the meaning of Al Jumah?

Islam is and has always been the dominant religion of the Arabic speaking world and, in Islam, the day of rest is Friday. Every Friday, Muslims get together and pray in the mosques and then afterwards they join family and friends. Friday is Jumah , literally meaning to gather., literally meaning to gather.

The term used to refer to Saturday (yoom assabt), literally translates as the day of the Sabbath, and is the origin of the English Sabbath.

How QuranMualim Can Help You

At QuranMualim, we understand the challenges of learning Arabic as a non-native speaker. 

Multiple choice quiz

Pick the right answer for each question:

  1. Which day comes after al-ithnayn?
    1. a) al-aḥad
    1. b) ath-thulāthāʾ
    1. c) al-arbiʿāʾ
  2. Which day means “the fifth” in Arabic?
    1. a) al-khamīs
    1. b) al-jumʿa
    1. c) as-sabt
  3. If today is al-jumʿa, what day was yesterday?
    1. a) as-sabt
    1. b) al-aḥad
    1. c) al-khamīs
  4. Which phrase means “every Wednesday”?
    1. a) yawm al-arbiʿāʾ
    1. b) kull al-arbiʿāʾ
    1. c) al-arbiʿāʾ al-qādim
  5. Which day is named after the concept of “gathering”?
    1. a) as-sabt
    1. b) al-aḥad
    1. c) al-jumʿa

Must Read: Arabic Alphabets Handwriting Worksheets

Keep learning with QuranMualim

You have now learned the Arabic days of the week – as-sabt to al-jumʿa – and their relation to numbers, meetings, and cultural cycles in the Arab world. And it is one thing to read about the pronunciation; and quite another to pronounce these words correctly!

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