![\"Clock](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/arabic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2017\/06\/clock-tower-2217883_1920-233x350.jpg\")
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A few weeks ago, we looked at how we ask for the time and also learnt some time-related vocabulary, using a kids song. This week, we’re going to learn how to tell the time in Libyan colloquial Arabic. Although I’m focusing on the Libyan dialect here, it’s worth mentioning that this is not at all very different from the other dialects and it’s fairly intelligible to most Arabic speakers, with small differences in the pronunciation.<\/p>\n
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When someone asks you:<\/p>\n
Q: \u0643\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647\u061f\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kam as-saa\u0295a?<\/p>\n
(What’s the time?<\/em>)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *In Libyan Arabic, ‘kam’ is replaced by \u00a0\u0642\u062f\u0627\u0651\u0634 ‘giddaash’<\/p>\n Q: \u0642\u062f\u0651\u0627\u0634 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647\u061f\u00a0\u00a0 Giddaash is-saa\u0295a?<\/p>\n (How much is the hour?<\/em>) = (What’s the time?<\/em>)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Your answer should start with:<\/p>\n A:\u00a0 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 As-saa\u0295a\u00a0 is<\/p>\n (The time is<\/em>)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Notice here that in Arabic, unlike in English, you need to say \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u00a0hour is<\/em> rather than the time is.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n *In colloquial Arabic in general, the word\u00a0 Is-saa a<\/em>\u00a0 is usually dropped as its implied anyway.<\/p>\n Let’s learn how to tell the time now>><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1:00<\/strong><\/p>\n \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u0648\u0627\u062d\u062f \u0645\u0632\u0628\u0648\u0637\u0647\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Is-saa\u0295a\u00a0 waahid\u00a0 mazbuta<\/p>\n (It’s one o’clock).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This literally means the time is ‘exactly 1’. In standard Arabic, however, it’s a bit more complicated as you need to say ‘it’s the first hour’ (second, third, etc) which is:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u0627\u0644\u0648\u0627\u062d\u062f\u0647\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As-saa\u0295a\u00a0 al-wahidah<\/p>\n (It’s the first hour)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 1: 05<\/strong><\/p>\n \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u0648\u0627\u062d\u062f \u0648 \u062e\u0645\u0633\u0647\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Is-saa\u0295a\u00a0 waahid\u00a0 wa\u00a0 khamsa<\/p>\n (It’s one and five) = (It’s five past one).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 1: 10<\/strong><\/p>\n \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u0648\u0627\u062d\u062f \u0648 \u0639\u0634\u0631\u0647\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Is-saa\u0295a\u00a0 waahid\u00a0 wa\u00a0\u00a0 ashra<\/p>\n (It’s one and ten) = (It’s ten past one).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 1: 15<\/strong><\/p>\n \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u0648\u0627\u062d\u062f \u0648 \u0631\u0628\u0639\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Is-saa\u0295a\u00a0 waahid\u00a0 wa\u00a0\u00a0 ruba<\/p>\n (It’s one and a quarter) = (It’s quarter past one).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n *Alternatively, you can use numbers (and this is also applicable to everything below):<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u0648\u0627\u062d\u062f \u0648\u062e\u0645\u0633\u0637\u0627\u0634\u0646 \u062f\u0642\u064a\u0642\u0647\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Is-saa\u0295a\u00a0 waahid\u00a0 wa \u00a0kham-staashen\u00a0 dgeegah<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1: 20<\/strong><\/p>\n \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u0648\u0627\u062d\u062f \u0648\u062a\u0644\u062a\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Is-saa\u0295a\u00a0 waahid\u00a0 wa\u00a0\u00a0 tilt<\/p>\n (It’s one and a third) = (It’s twenty past one).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 1: 25<\/strong><\/p>\n \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u0648\u0627\u062d\u062f \u0648 \u0646\u0635 \u0625\u0644\u0627 \u062e\u0645\u0633\u0647 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Is-saa\u0295a\u00a0 waahid\u00a0 wa\u00a0\u00a0 nuss ‘illa khamsa<\/p>\n (It’s one and a half but five) = (It’s 25 past one).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 1: 30<\/strong><\/p>\n \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u0648\u0627\u062d\u062f \u0648 \u0646\u0635\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Is-saa\u0295a\u00a0 waahid\u00a0 wa\u00a0\u00a0 nuss<\/p>\n (It’s one and a half) = (It’s half past one).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 1: 35<\/strong><\/p>\n \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u0648\u0627\u062d\u062f \u0648 \u0646\u0635 \u0648 \u062e\u0645\u0633\u0647\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Is-saa a\u00a0 waahid\u00a0 wa\u00a0\u00a0 nuss wa khamsa<\/p>\n (It’s one and a half and a five) = (It’s 35 past one).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 1: 40<\/strong><\/p>\n \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u0627\u062a\u0646\u064a\u0646 \u0625\u0644\u0627 \u062a\u0644\u062a\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/strong>Is-saa\u0295a\u00a0 itneen \u00a0‘illa \u00a0tilt<\/p>\n (It’s two but a third) = (It’s 20 to two).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 1: 45<\/strong><\/p>\n \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u0627\u062a\u0646\u064a\u0646 \u0625\u0644\u0627 \u0631\u0628\u0639\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Is-saa\u0295a\u00a0 itneen\u00a0 ‘illa\u00a0 ruba<\/p>\n (It’s two to quarter) = (It’s quarter to two).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 1: 50<\/strong><\/p>\n \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u0627\u062a\u0646\u064a\u0646 \u0625\u0644\u0627 \u0639\u0634\u0631\u0647\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Is-saa a\u00a0 itneen \u00a0‘illa \u00a0ashra<\/p>\n (It’s two but ten) = (It’s 10 to two).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 1: 55<\/strong><\/p>\n \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0627\u0639\u0647 \u0627\u062a\u0646\u064a\u0646 \u0625\u0644\u0627 \u062e\u0645\u0633\u0647\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Is-saa\u0295a\u00a0 itneen\u00a0 ‘illa\u00a0 khamsa<\/p>\n (It’s two but five) = (It’s 5 to two).<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A few weeks ago, we looked at how we ask for the time and also learnt some time-related vocabulary, using a kids song. This week, we’re going to learn how to tell the time in Libyan colloquial Arabic. Although I’m focusing on the Libyan dialect here, it’s worth mentioning that this is not at…<\/p>\n