إِفْطَار
ʔifṭārmasculine
The English word "breakfast" is translated into Arabic as إِفْطَار (ʔifṭār) or فَطُور.
Meaning: first meal of the day (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| إِفْطَار | ʔifṭār | masculine |
| فَطُور | faṭūr | masculine |
Both terms refer to the first meal of the day. You can also use the related verb فَطَرَ to describe the action of eating the morning meal or breaking a fast.
What does it mean word for word?
The term إِفْطَار is derived from a root meaning to break or to cease a fast.
Which one should you use?
إِفْطَار is the standard term, whereas فَطُور is very common in many spoken Arabic dialects.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egypt, the term فُول is frequently used informally to refer specifically to the popular Egyptian breakfast dish, ful medames.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb فَطَرَ is used to express the root action of eating the morning meal or breaking a fast.
How do you pronounce it?
ʔifṭār
When do people say it?
The word إِفْطَار is used both for the daily morning meal and for the meal eaten to break the fast during Ramadan.
Did you know?
- The linguistic connection between breakfast and fasting means that the very idea of 'breakfast' in Arabic is rooted in the concept of 'breaking' a state of being.
- In Egypt, if someone asks if you want 'ful' for breakfast, they are likely referring to the dish ful medames rather than the meal itself.
- A speaker using إِفْطَار in a formal setting is using a word that is perfectly understood across all Arab countries, whereas فَطُور might signal a specific regional dialect.
Examples in context
- أنا ذاهب/ة لتناول الفَطور.I am going to have breakfast.
- أحتاج لوقت لتناول وجبة الفَطور.I need time to have breakfast.
- أحب تناول الفُول في الصَبَاح.I love having ful in the morning.
- ما هو الفُطور المُفَضَّل لديك؟What is your favorite breakfast?
- إِفْطَار مُمْتَاز.ifṭār mumtāz.An excellent breakfast.
- هَلْ نَتَنَاوَلُ إِفْطَارًا الآنَ؟hal natanāwalu ifṭāran al-ān?Shall we eat breakfast now?
- لَدَيَّ إِفْطَارٌ خَفِيفٌ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ.ladayya ifṭārun khafīfun kulla yawm.I have a light breakfast every day.
Example conversation
Mariam and Yusuf are in the kitchen in the morning.
- مريم Maryamيَا يُوسُف، هَلْ جَهَّزْتَ إِفْطَارًا؟yā Yūsuf, hal jahhazta ifṭāran?Yusuf, did you prepare breakfast?
- يوسف Youssefنَعَم، إِفْطَارُكِ جَاهِزٌ عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ.na‘am, ifṭāruki jāhizun ‘ala al-ṭāwilah.Yes, your breakfast is ready on the table.
- مريم Maryamهَذَا إِفْطَارٌ شَهِيٌّ جِدًّا!hādhā ifṭārun shahiyyun jiddan!This is a very delicious breakfast!
- يوسف Youssefبِالْهَنَاءِ وَالشِّفَاءِ يَا مَرْيَمُ.bil-hanā'i wa-sh-shifā'i yā Maryam.Enjoy your meal, Mariam.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “breakfast” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
