النهاردة
en-naharda
In Egyptian Arabic, 'today' is النهاردة (en-naharda).
النهاردة is used on its own or placed at the start or end of a sentence: النهاردة الجمعة, 'today is Friday', or مشغول النهاردة, 'busy today'.
Meaning: the word for the present day (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
النهاردة comes from نهار, 'day', built into a distinctly Egyptian word, different from the Standard Arabic اليوم.
Which one should you use?
There is really one common everyday word, النهاردة. اليوم exists but belongs mostly to formal or written Arabic, and to some other Arabic dialects.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
النهاردة is used at every level of spoken formality, from close family to a business phone call.
How does it change in a sentence?
النهاردة does not change form and combines freely with other time words, such as بالليل النهاردة, 'tonight'.
How do you pronounce it?
النهاردة is stressed on the third syllable, en-na-HAR-da, with the Egyptian h sound kept light.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using اليوم in casual Egyptian conversation is understood but sounds formal or like it belongs to another dialect.
Did you know?
- النهاردة is distinctly Egyptian, built from نهار, while many other Arabic dialects use forms closer to اليوم for 'today'.
- النهاردة and بكرة name two clearly separate days in Egyptian Arabic, and the two words are never combined to describe the same day.
Examples in context
- النهاردة يوم طويل جدا.en-naharda yom taweel gedan.Today is a very long day.
- هنروح السينما النهاردة؟hanrouh es-sinema en-naharda?Are we going to the cinema today?
- مش عايز أعمل حاجة النهاردة.mesh ayez a'mel haga en-naharda.I don't want to do anything today.
Example conversation
Ibrahim asks his sister Nadia about her plans for the day.
- Ibrahimعندك حاجة النهاردة؟andek haga en-naharda?Do you have anything today?
- Nadiaآه، عندي اجتماع الصبح.aah, andi egtemaa es-sobh.Yes, I have a meeting in the morning.
- Ibrahimوبعدين فاضية؟w ba'dein fadya?And free afterward?
- Nadiaآه، ممكن نتقابل بعد الضهر النهاردة.aah, mumken net'abel ba'd ed-dohr en-naharda.Yes, we could meet this afternoon.
