Lesson 37: How to Tell Time in Lebanese Arabic

“What time is it?” is one of the most common questions you’ll ask in any language. This lesson will teach you everything you need to know about telling time in Lebanese Arabic, from the basic vocabulary for hours and minutes to the unique way of reading the clock.

Learn how to ask for the time, use time-related phrases in conversation, and confidently read any analog or digital clock the Lebanese way.

Full Transcript: A Guide to Telling Time

1. Key Vocabulary for Time

Before we read the clock, let’s learn the essential words.

Time: wa’et (وقت)
Timing/Timezone: tuw’eet (توقيت)
Hour: se3a (ساعة)
Minute: d’ee’a (دقيقة)
Minutes (plural): d’ayi’ (دقايق)
Second: seinyeh (ثانية)
AM (before noon): ‘abel el doher (قبل الظهر)
PM (after noon): ba3d el doher (بعد الظهر)
It’s late: m’akhar (مأخر)
It’s early: bakkeer (بكير)

2. Useful Sentences & Phrases

Here’s how you can use these words in everyday conversation.

What time is it?: addeh el se3a? (قدي الساعة؟)
I’ll be there in an hour or two: raH ousal ba3ed se3a aw se3tein. (رح أوصل بعد ساعة أو ساعتين)
I waited for you for half an hour (to a man): natartak noss se3a. (نطرتك نص ساعة)
My sister is arriving in three hours: ekhteh raH tousal ba3ed tlet se3at. (إختي رح توصل بعد تلات ساعات)
One minute and I will be with you (to a woman): d’i’a w bkoon ma3ik. (دقيقة وبكون معكِ)
I have a meeting tomorrow at 5 p.m.: 3endeh ‘ejtime3 bukra 3al khamseh ba3d el dohr. (عندي إجتماع بكرا عالخمسة بعد الضهر)

3. How to Read the Clock

Reading the clock in Lebanese has a specific structure. You always state the main hour first, then say how many minutes are “past” (w) or “to” (illa) the hour.

Key Clock Terms:

Past / And: w (و)
To / Minus: illa (إلّا)
Quarter (15 mins): rebe3 (ربع)
Half (30 mins): noss (نص)
Third (20 mins): tilit (تلت)

Examples:

Time	How to Say It in Lebanese	Transliteration
6:05	ستة و خمسة	sitteh w khamseh (Six and five)
5:55	ستة إلّا خمسة	sitteh illa khamseh (Six minus five)
2:15	تنتين و ربع	tintein w rebe3 (Two and a quarter)
11:45	تنعش إلّا ربع	tna3sh illa rebe3 (Twelve minus a quarter)
3:20	تلاتة و تلت	tleteh w tilit (Three and a third)
3:40	أربعة إلّا تلت	arb3a illa tilit (Four minus a third)
2:30	تنتين و نص	tintein w noss (Two and a half)
3:25	تلاتة و نص إلّا خمسة	tleteh w noss illa khamseh (Three and a half minus five)
3:35	تلاتة و نص و خمسة	tleteh w noss w khamseh (Three and a half and five)

Visit the following link if you’ve missed the lesson about numbers and how to count in Lebanese.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

Lebanese Phrase	Transliteration	English Meaning
وقت	Wa’et	Time
توقيت	Tuw’eet	Timing / Timezone
ساعة	Se3a	Hour
دقيقة	D’ee’a	Minute
قدي الساعة؟	Addeh el se3a?	What time is it?
قبل الضهر	Abel el doher	AM
بعد الضهر	Ba3d el doher	PM
و	w	And / Past (the hour)
إلّا	illa	To / Minus (the hour)
ربع	Rebe3	Quarter
نص	Noss	Half
تلت	Tilit	A third (20 minutes)