Ways to say it
| Emirati Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| باچر | bachir | |
| بعد باچر | ba'ad bachir | day after tomorrow |
| غداً | ghadan | formal, written |
باچر is what Emiratis say in daily conversation. The Standard Arabic غداً (ghadan) shows up in writing and news broadcasts, and بعد باچر (ba'ad bachir) means 'the day after tomorrow'.
What does it mean word for word?
باچر is the everyday Gulf word for tomorrow. بعد means 'after', so بعد باچر is literally 'after tomorrow'.
Which one should you use?
Use باچر in any spoken conversation. غداً belongs in writing and formal speeches, and an Emirati will rarely say it out loud.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
باچر is used by everyone regardless of formality. There is no separate polite version, since it is simply the everyday word.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The ch sound in باچر is one of the clearest markers of Gulf Arabic, shared with Saudi, Kuwaiti and Bahraini speech, and it sets Emirati apart from the Levantine بكرة and Egyptian بكره.
How does it change in a sentence?
To talk about a point further off, Emiratis keep stacking بعد: بعد بعد باچر means 'three days from now'.
How do you pronounce it?
The چ is the English ch sound, as in 'chair', not a k sound, even though it is sometimes typed with the letter ك online.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Writing باچر with the letter ك instead of چ is common since many keyboards lack the extra letter, but the spoken sound is always ch.
When do people say it?
Plans in the Gulf are often left loosely fixed, so باچر إن شاء الله, 'tomorrow, God willing', is a common way to leave room for change.
Did you know?
- Arabic script has no dedicated letter for the Gulf ch sound, so باچر is often typed online as باجر or بجر instead.
- The ch sound that shapes باچر is one of the clearest ways to tell Khaleeji Arabic apart from Levantine or Egyptian speech by ear alone.
Examples in context
- نتلاقى باچر الصبح؟nitlaga bachir is-subh?Shall we meet tomorrow morning?
- باچر عندي شغل بس بعد باچر فاضي.bachir 'indi shughul bas ba'ad bachir fadi.I have work tomorrow but I am free the day after.
- إن شاء الله باچر يكون الجو زين.in sha' Allah bachir ykun il-jaw zein.God willing the weather will be nice tomorrow.
Example conversation
Sultan asks his colleague Hind if she can come to a meeting tomorrow.
- Sultanهند، تقدرين تجين باچر للاجتماع؟Hind, tigdareen tjeen bachir lil-ijtimaa'?Hind, can you come to the meeting tomorrow?
- Hindباچر الصبح ولا العصر؟bachir is-subh wila il-asr?Tomorrow morning or afternoon?
- Sultanالصبح، الساعة عشرة.is-subh, is-sa'a 'ashara.Morning, at ten o'clock.
- Hindزين، أشوفك باچر إن شاء الله.zein, ashufak bachir in sha' Allah.Good, see you tomorrow, God willing.
