دقيقة
dqīqa/da.qiː.qa/Moroccan Arabic, feminine
In Arabic, the phrase for 'minute' (unit of time) is دقيقة (dqīqa). Wiktionary also lists دَقِيقَة (daqīqa) and دِقيقة (digīgə).
Meaning: unit of time (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| دقيقة | dqīqa | /da.qiː.qa/ | Moroccan Arabic, feminine |
| دَقِيقَة | daqīqa | feminine | |
| دِقيقة | digīgə | Gulf Arabic | |
| دَقِيقة | dagīga | Hijazi Arabic, feminine |
The word دقيقة refers to a minute as a unit of time. It is a feminine noun. Note that the related masculine adjective دَقِيق means something different, referring to being precise, fine or subtle.
Which one should you use?
The masculine adjective دَقِيق should not be confused with the feminine noun دقيقة, as the former means 'precise' or 'fine' rather than a unit of time.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Gulf Arabic, you may hear دِقيقة, while in Hijazi Arabic, the form دَقِيقة is used. In Moroccan Arabic, the word is pronounced dqīqa.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural 'minutes', use the form دَقائِق.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /da.qiː.qa/ (three syllables).
Did you know?
- The word دقيق can refer to 'fine flour' in Arabic. This is the same root used to describe the 'fineness' of a minute in a larger hour.
- While دقيقة is the standard word for a minute, Arabic has a separate, specific word for 'a moment' or 'an instant' called لحظة, which literally translates to 'a blink of the eye'.
- The Arabic word دقيقة is cognate with the Hebrew word דַּקָּה for 'minute'.
Examples in context
- سيأخذ دقيقة من وقتك فقط.It will only take a minute of your time.This sentence shows how to express that something will take a short amount of time using دقيقة.Tatoeba #4926051 by damascene, translation #4926330 by khaldoon
- ستعود ليلى في أية دقيقة.Layla would be back any minute.This sentence uses دقيقة to indicate an indefinite point in the near future.Tatoeba #6119366 by OsoHombre, translation #6084352 by OsoHombre
- فقط اعطني دقيقة يا زيري.Just give me a minute, Ziri.This sentence uses دقيقة to ask someone to wait briefly.Tatoeba #11976210 by dididodo, translation #10232271 by Amastan
- سأتحدث معك بعد دقيقة.I will speak with you in a minute.
- التقطت هذه الصورة في الدقيقة الأخيرة.I took this picture in the last minute.
- انتظرني شوية بالسيارة.Wait for me a minute in the car.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Youssef and Layla are meeting at a cafe.
- يوسف Youssefتسنايني دقيقة، غادي نجيب قهوة.tsnayni dqiqa, ghadi njib qhwa.Wait for me one minute, I'm going to get a coffee.
- ليلى Laylaواخا، ولكن ما تعطلش بزاف.wakha, walakin ma t'attalsh bzaf.Okay, but don't be too late.
- يوسف Youssefغير دقيقة وحدة ونكون عندك.ghir dqiqa whda u nkoun andek.Just one minute and I'll be with you.
- ليلى Laylaصافي، أنا كنتسناك هنا.safi, ana kantsnnak hna.Fine, I am waiting for you here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “minute” translations and entries دقيقة, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries دقيقة, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
