صَلَاة اَلْعِشَاء
ṣalāt al-ʕišāʔfeminine
Isha refers to the evening or night prayer in Arabic. If unsure, use صَلَاة اَلْعِشَاء (ṣalāt al-ʕišāʔ). Wiktionary also lists عِشَاء (ʕišāʔ).
Meaning: evening or night prayer (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| صَلَاة اَلْعِشَاء | ṣalāt al-ʕišāʔ | feminine |
| عِشَاء | ʕišāʔ | masculine |
What does it mean word for word?
The word عِشَاء is etymologically related to words meaning evening or dinner.
Which one should you use?
صَلَاة اَلْعِشَاء refers specifically to the religious prayer, whereas the word عِشَاء on its own can refer to the time of evening or a meal.
How does it change in a sentence?
The full phrase صَلَاة اَلْعِشَاء uses the definite article 'al-' to specify the particular prayer known as Isha.
How do you pronounce it?
ṣalāt al-ʕišāʔ
Did you know?
- In many Arabic speaking cultures, the word عِشَاء describes the late night dinner served after the prayer. This creates a unique linguistic overlap where a spiritual act, a time of day, and a meal all share the same name.
- The timing of صَلَاة اَلْعِشَاء is determined by the astronomical disappearance of twilight, meaning the hour it is performed changes with the seasons.
- The term عِشَاء shares a linguistic root with the concept of 'darkness' or 'shadow'. This connects the name of the prayer to the physical state of the sky once the daylight has faded.
Examples in context
- أَنَا أُصَلِّي صَلَاة اَلْعِشَاء الآن.ana usalli salat al-'isha' al-an.I am praying isha now.
- هَلْ حَانَ وَقْتُ صَلَاة اَلْعِشَاء؟hal hana waqtu salat al-'isha'?Is it time for isha prayer?
- سَأَذْهَبُ إِلَى المَسْجِدِ لِصَلَاة اَلْعِشَاء.sa-adhhabu ila al-masjidi li-salat al-'isha'.I will go to the mosque for isha prayer.
Example conversation
At home in the evening, preparing for prayer.
- سارة Saraيَا زِيَاد، هَلْ صَلَّيْتَ صَلَاة اَلْعِشَاء؟ya Ziyad, hal sallayta salat al-'isha'?Ziyad, have you prayed isha?
- زياد Ziadلَا، لَمْ أُصَلِّهَا بَعْدُ.la, lam usalliha ba'du.No, I haven't prayed it yet.
- سارة Saraهَيَّا بِنَا نُصَلِّي مَعًا.hayya bina nusalli ma'an.Let's pray together.
- زياد Ziadحَسَنًا، أَنَا جَاهِزٌ.hasanan, ana jahiz.Okay, I am ready.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “isha” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
