بَعْد الظُّهْر
baʕd aẓ-ẓuhr
The English word afternoon can be translated into Arabic as بَعْد الظُّهْر (baʕd aẓ-ẓuhr). Wiktionary also lists بَعْدَ الزَّوَال (baʕda z-zawāl) and زَوَالِيّ (zawāliyy).
Meaning: part of the day between noon and evening (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| بَعْد الظُّهْر | baʕd aẓ-ẓuhr | |
| بَعْدَ الزَّوَال | baʕda z-zawāl | |
| زَوَالِيّ | zawāliyy | |
| هَاجِرِيّ | hājiriyy | |
| عصر | ʕaṣr | /ʕasˤr/ /ʕisˤr/ |
The term refers to the part of the day between noon and evening. When you want to specify 'this afternoon', it is common to use the phrase عصر اليوم, which literally means 'the afternoon of the day'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase بَعْد الظُّهْر is composed of baʕd (after) and aẓ-ẓuhr (noon/midday).
Which one should you use?
The forms زَوَالِيّ (zawāliyy) and هَاجِرِيّ (hājiriyy) are also present in the language.
How do you pronounce it?
baʕd aẓ-ẓuhr
When do people say it?
To greet someone in the afternoon, you can say مساء الخير! كيف يمكنني مساعدتك اليوم؟ which means 'Good afternoon! How can I help you today?'
Did you know?
- In some contexts, the word عصر can be used as a verb meaning 'to squeeze' or 'to press', such as squeezing an orange.
- The word عصر refers to a specific time in the afternoon, but it is also the name of the mandatory mid-afternoon prayer in Islam.
- The word زوال in بَعْدَ الزَّوَال literally means 'disappearance' or 'vanishing', referring to the sun's movement away from the zenith.
Examples in context
- كان الجو حاراً جداً عصر اليوم.It was very hot this afternoon.This example shows how to use عصر to describe the weather during the afternoon.Tatoeba #371234 by saeb, translation #242543 by CK
- اغوى مسرح مشهور و واسع في المدينة الكثير من محبي الافلام في عصر يوم حار و مشمس.A popular, capacious theatre in the city tempted many a moviegoer on a hot, sunny afternoon.This example illustrates the use of عصر in a descriptive sentence about a theatre.Tatoeba #4115991 by fadi, translation #4115973 by fadi
- سأذهب إلى السوق بَعْد الظُّهْر.sa'adhhabu ilā al-sūqa ba'da al-ẓuhri.I will go to the market in the afternoon.
Example conversation
Sara and Omar are planning their meeting time.
- سارة Saraهل أنت متاح بَعْد الظُّهْر؟hal anta mutāḥ ba'da al-ẓuhri?Are you available in the afternoon?
- عمر Omarنعم، أنا متاح في ذلك الوقت.na'am, ana mutāḥ fī dhālika al-waqt.Yes, I am available at that time.
- سارة Saraرائع، نلتقي في المقهى إذاً.rā'i', naltaqī fī al-maqhā idhan.Great, let's meet at the cafe then.
- عمر Omarسأكون هناك يا سارة.sa'akūnu hunāka yā Sāra.I will be there, Sara.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “afternoon” translations and entries عصر, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
