How to Say "New Year" in Arabic

رأس السنة

ra's as-sana

The English phrase "new year" is translated into Arabic as رأس السنة (ra's as-sana).

The phrase is used to refer to the year following the current year.

Meaning: year following the current year (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase رأس السنة literally translates to 'the head of the year'.

While رأس السنة refers to the 'head' or onset of the year, السنة الجديدة is a more literal way to say 'the new year'.

In Egyptian Arabic, the term for New Year is سنة جديدة. In Levantine Arabic, the phrase sene jdeede is commonly used to refer to the New Year.

ra's as-sana

The Arabic phrase رأس السنة is a calque of the Hebrew term רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, which also means 'head of the year'.
In some regional dialects, the phrase for 'happy new year' is expressed by wishing the other person that the year comes 'with health and happiness' rather than just 'happy'.
In many Arabic-speaking countries, the 'new year' can refer to the Gregorian calendar or the Islamic Hijri calendar, which move independently of each other.

أتمنى لك عامًا جديدًا سعيدًا!
I wish you a happy New Year!
نحتفل جميعًا بقدوم العام الجديد.
We all celebrate the arrival of the New Year.
اتمنى لك سنة جديدة حافلة بالأفراح!
I wish you a New Year filled with joy!
هل ستسافر في رأس السنة؟
hal satusāfiru fī ra's al-sanah?
Will you travel during the new year?
أحب الاحتفال في رأس السنة.
uḥibbu al-iḥtifāla fī ra's al-sanah.
I love celebrating during the new year.

Youssef and Mariam are talking about their holiday plans over coffee.

يوسف Youssef

ما هي خططكِ في رأس السنة؟
mā hiya khuṭaṭuki fī ra's al-sanah?
What are your plans for the new year?
مريم Maryam

سأزور عائلتي في رأس السنة.
sa'azūru 'ā'ilatī fī ra's al-sanah.
I will visit my family during the new year.
يوسف Youssef

هذا رائع يا مريم.
hādhā rā'i' yā Mariam.
That is wonderful, Mariam.
مريم Maryam

شكراً لك يا يوسف.
shukran laka yā Yūsuf.
Thank you, Youssef.

Sources

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