Thursdays are very special in the Arab world (or they were until recently). Today’s post is dedicated to a song about Thursdays. The song is about the great musician الموسيقي and composer الملحّن Mohamed Rahim محمد رحيم. The song is in Egyptian Arabic and it’s so much fun! Before we study the lyrics, I’ll start with discussing why Thursdays are important!

Photo by Valiant Made on Unsplash

يوم الخميس Thursdays

Thursdays are basically the equivalent to fridays in the West. Socially من الناحية الاجتماعية, a Thursday is as important to people as the official work week starts on Sunday الأحد and ends on Thursday الخميس.  So, a Thursday is the beginning of the weekend بداية عطلة نهاية الأسبوع.

This is why most weddings حفلات الزفاف and birthday parties حفلات أعياد الميلاد, et.c are held on a thursday.

*This was especially the case 10-15 years ago when the weekend was shorter and the week used to start on a Saturday!

= = = = = = =

Let’s move on to the lyrics of our song today >>

الخميس حبوب

Thursday is Lovely

الخميس حّبوب، حّبوب

Thursday is lovely, lovely

 الخميس حّبوب

Thursday is lovely

والسهر مطلوب، مطلوب

And staying up late is needed, is needed

 السهر مطلوب

And staying up late is needed

= = = = = = =

اضحك من جوّه قلبك

Laugh from inside your heart

 اضحك من جوّه قلبك

Laugh from inside your heart

لو فضيت الجيوب

(even) if the pockets have become empty

لو فضيت الجيوب

(even) if the pockets have become empty

= = = = = = =

ارقص وعيش وعّيش

Dance and live, and make alive

¹‘Farfish’ is the imperative from the modern concept of ‘Farfasha فرفشة’ and it means: having fun and mixing it up.انسى الأحزان وفرفش

Forget the sorrows and cheer up/have fun

من أول يوم في الدنيا

Since the first day of life

 وكل شيء مكتوب

And everything is written

= = = = = = =

²It’s an expression that literally means ‘enlarge’ and it refers to the head, i.e. make your head big> be wise and take it easy/ don’t sweat the small stuff.ارمي همومك وكبّر

Throw your worries and take it easy

³‘Hazzar’ is the imperative verb from the noun ‘Hizaar’, i.e. jokingارقص وافرح وهزّر

Dance, and be happy and joke

هتلاقي الدنيا سكّر

You will find life sweet (like sugar)

 وهتفرح القلوب

And the hearts will be happy

= = = = = = =

⁴A popular expression to mean: happiness. The adj is ‘Mabsoot’ (masc)> ‘Happy’.دوق طعم الانبساط

Taste/try the taste of happiness

 اسرق م(ن) العمر ساعات

Steal from life (some) hours

ماتشيلش هم الليلة

Don’t hold the burden of tonight (Don’t worry about tonight)

 احنا في آخر الأسبوع

We’re at the end of the week

= = = = = = = =

الخميس دلّوع، دلّوع

Thursday is spoiled, is spoiled

 الخميس دلّوع

Thursday is spoiled, is spoiled

والزعل ممنوع، ممنوع

And being upset is not allowed, not allowed

 الزعل ممنوع

Being upset is not allowed

= = = = = = =

اطلب اللي في خيالك

Ask for what is in your imagination

 اطلب الي في خيالك

Ask for what is in your imagination

والحساب مدفوع

And the cheque/bill is paid

 الحساب مدفوع

And the cheque/bill is paid

= = = = = = =

ارقص وعيش وعّيش

Dance and live, and make alive

 انسى الأحزان وفرفش

Forget the sorrows and cheer up/have fun

من أول يوم في الدنيا

Since the first day of life

 وكل شيء مكتوب

And everything is written

= = = = = = =

ارمي همومك وكبّر

Throw your worries and take it easy

 ارقص وافرح وهزّر

Dance, and be happy and joke

هتلاقي الدنيا سكّر

You will find life sweet (like sugar)

 وهتفرح القلوب

And the hearts will be happy

= = = = = = =

دوق طعم الانبساط

Taste/try the taste of happiness

 اسرق م(ن) العمر ساعات

Steal from life (some) hours

ماتشيلش هم الليلة

Don’t hold the burden of tonight (Don’t worry about tonight)

 احنا في آخر الأسبوع

We’re at the end of the week

= = = = = = =

الخميس حبوب، حبوب

Thursday is lovely, lovely

 الخميس حبوب

Thursday is lovely

والسهر مطلوب، مطلوب

And staying up late is needed, is needed

 السهر مطلوب

And staying up late is needed

= = = = = = =

• 1
  ‘Farfish’ is the imperative from the modern concept of ‘Farfasha فرفشة’ and it means: having fun and mixing it up.
• 2
  It’s an expression that literally means ‘enlarge’ and it refers to the head, i.e. make your head big> be wise and take it easy/ don’t sweat the small stuff.
• 3
  ‘Hazzar’ is the imperative verb from the noun ‘Hizaar’, i.e. joking
• 4
  A popular expression to mean: happiness. The adj is ‘Mabsoot’ (masc)> ‘Happy’.