كم الساعة؟
kam as-sā'ah?
To say "what is the time?" in Arabic, use كم الساعة؟ (kam as-sā'ah?).
The phrase كم الساعة؟ is the standard way to ask someone for the current time of day. For a more formal way to ask the same question, you can use ما هو الوقت؟.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase كم الساعة؟ literally translates to "How much is the hour?", where كم means "how much" and الساعة means "the hour".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
كم الساعة؟ is a standard phrase that is appropriate for both formal and everyday situations. To be particularly courteous, you can start your question with من فضلك, which means "please".
How do you pronounce it?
kam as-sā'ah?
Did you know?
- The word الساعة can also be used in a dramatic or theological sense to refer to 'The Hour', a term used in many religious texts to describe the end of the world.
- In some traditional contexts, if you ask كم الساعة؟, someone might respond using prayer times rather than the digital clock time, as the daily schedule is often dictated by the sun's position and religious rituals.
- The root of الساعة relates to the idea of something happening suddenly or at a precise instant, which is why it is used for both the clock and a sudden event.
Examples in context
- مرحبًا! من فضلك، ما هو الوقت؟Hello! Excuse me, what is the time?
- كم الساعة؟What time is it?
- لو سمحت، كم الساعة؟law samaht, kam al-saa'a?Excuse me, what is the time?
- يا أستاذ، كم الساعة؟ya ustadh, kam al-saa'a?Teacher, what is the time?
Example conversation
A man and a woman are waiting at a bus stop.
- ليلى Laylaيا أحمد، كم الساعة؟ya Ahmad, kam al-saa'a?Ahmad, what is the time?
- أحمد Ahmedالساعة الآن الثالثة تماماً.al-saa'a al-aan al-thalitha tamamun.The time is exactly three o'clock now.
- ليلى Laylaهل الحافلة متأخرة؟hal al-haafila muta'akhira?Is the bus late?
- أحمد Ahmedنعم، هي متأخرة قليلاً.na'am, hiya muta'akhira qaleelan.Yes, it is a little late.
