وقت الغداء
waqt al-ghada'
وقت الغداء (waqt al-ghada') is the Arabic phrase for lunch time.
The phrase refers to the time of day when people usually eat their midday meal.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of waqt (time) and al-ghada' (the lunch).
How do you pronounce it?
waqt al-ghada'
Did you know?
- In many Arabic-speaking countries, the midday meal الغداء is traditionally the largest and most important meal of the day, whereas English speakers typically treat dinner as the main event.
- The word for 'time', وقت, may originally have referred to a 'hollow' or 'gap' in a rock where rainwater collects.
- While وقت الغداء is the standard phrase, the culture of lunch often involves 'slow time', where work may stop entirely for several hours to accommodate family and food.
Examples in context
- إنه وقت الغداء.It's lunch time.This sentence is useful for stating that it is currently lunch time using وقت الغداء.Tatoeba #443020 by saeb, translation #433692 by CK
- أنا جائع، لقد حان وقت الغداء.anā jā'i', laqad ḥāna waqt al-ghadā'.I am hungry, it is lunch time.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are talking in an office during the afternoon.
- مريم Maryamيا زياد، هل انتهيت من العمل؟yā ziyād, hal intahayta min al-'amal?Ziad, have you finished work?
- زياد Ziadنعم، لقد حان وقت الغداء الآن.na'am, laqad ḥāna waqt al-ghadā' al-ān.Yes, it is lunch time now.
- مريم Maryamرائع، هل نذهب معاً؟rā'i', hal nadhhab ma'an?Great, shall we go together?
- زياد Ziadبالتأكيد، أنا جائع جداً.bi-l-ta'kīd, anā jā'i' jiddan.Certainly, I am very hungry.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries وقت, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
