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Watch
الساعة (al-sāʿah) is a feminine noun meaning 'watch' or 'clock,' referring to a timepiece worn on the wrist or placed stationary. It is one of the most commonly used words in Arabic for discussing time and timekeeping devices. The word can also mean 'hour' depending on context, making it versatile in everyday Arabic conversation.
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ساعتي الذهبية جميلة جداً.
Sāʿatī al-dhahabiyyah jamīlah jiddan.
My gold watch is very beautiful.
كم الساعة الآن؟
Kam al-sāʿah al-ān?
What time is it now?
اشتريت ساعة يدوية من محل الساعات.
Ishtarayt sāʿah yadawiyyah min maḥall al-sāʿāt.
I bought a manual watch from the watch shop.
ساعتك متوقفة، يجب أن تصلحها.
Sāʿatuka mutawaqifah, yajib an tuṣliḥahā.
Your watch is stopped; you should fix it.
هذه الساعة الرقمية دقيقة جداً.
Hādhih al-sāʿah al-raqamiyyah daqīqah jiddan.
This digital watch is very accurate.
In Arab culture, punctuality varies by context and region, but the word الساعة is fundamental in modern business, education, and social settings. The phrase 'كم الساعة' (What time is it?) is a universal greeting and conversation starter across Arabic-speaking countries. Traditional Arabic culture emphasized time through prayer times (الأوقات), and the modern word الساعة has become integral to daily life in the digital age.
Remember that الساعة is feminine, so adjectives and past tense verbs must agree with feminine forms. When asking time, use 'كم الساعة' rather than trying to conjugate the verb. Be aware that الساعة can mean both 'watch' (the device) and 'hour' (a unit of time), so context determines the specific meaning in conversation.
الساعة is a fundamental Arabic word that English learners must master early in their language journey. This feminine noun serves dual purposes: it refers to a timepiece (watch or clock) and can also mean an hour as a unit of time. Understanding which meaning applies requires careful attention to context.
As a feminine noun in Arabic, الساعة requires feminine agreement with adjectives and verbs. The definite form is الساعة (the watch/hour), while the indefinite form is ساعة (a watch/hour). When describing multiple watches or hours, the plural form ساعات is used. This grammatical consideration is crucial for English speakers accustomed to gender-neutral nouns.
When referring to a physical timepiece, الساعة encompasses wristwatches, wall clocks, and alarm clocks. Arabs might specify the type: ساعة يد (wristwatch), ساعة جدارية (wall clock), or ساعة رقمية (digital watch). When used to denote time, الساعة indicates hours within a day, as in الساعة الثالثة (three o'clock).
The most frequent phrase using الساعة is the universally recognized greeting: كم الساعة؟ (What time is it?). This phrase is used constantly in daily conversations, making it one of the first expressions learners encounter. Another essential phrase is على الساعة, meaning 'on time' or 'punctually,' reflecting the cultural importance of timekeeping in modern Arab societies.
In traditional Arab culture, time was often measured by the five daily prayer times rather than mechanical hours. Today, الساعة represents the modern fusion of traditional Islamic timekeeping with contemporary digital culture. The word appears frequently in business, education, and public transportation contexts throughout the Arab world.
English speakers should practice using الساعة in complete sentences rather than isolation. Create dialogues asking and telling time, as this is authentic usage. Pay special attention to the feminine agreement rules, particularly with adjectives like جديدة (new) or قديمة (old) when describing watches. Listening to native speakers use this word in context will reinforce proper pronunciation and usage patterns.