كم الساعة
The English phrase 'what time' is translated into Arabic as كم الساعة.
In some regions, الساعة may be replaced by waqt, which means hour or time.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'how much [is] the hour'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask 'what time', Arabic uses the interrogative particle كم (how much/many) followed by الساعة (the hour/the clock).
Did you know?
- The word الساعة is frequently used in religious contexts to refer to 'the Hour', a term used to describe the Day of Judgment.
- When answering كم الساعة, Arabic speakers often use the word إلا meaning 'except' to describe times like 'ten to five' as 'five except ten'.
- In Arabic, time is often expressed using 'half' and 'quarter' just like English, but the word for 'quarter' ربع is the same word used for a quarter of a coin or a piece of land.
Examples in context
- هل تعلم كم الساعة؟Do you know what time it is?This sentence is useful for asking if someone knows the current time using كم الساعة.Tatoeba #2882530 by Amastan, translation #2882528 by CK
- كم الساعة في بوسطن؟What time is it in Boston?This sentence is useful for asking the time in a specific location using كم الساعة.Tatoeba #2882531 by Amastan, translation #2882527 by CK
- كم الساعة على أي حال؟What time is it, anyway?This sentence is useful for asking the time regardless of other circumstances using كم الساعة.Tatoeba #400764 by saeb, translation #42729 by CM
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nour asks Ziad for the time in the street.
- نور Nourيا زياد، كم الساعة؟ya Ziad, kam al-sa'a?Ziad, what time is it?
- زياد Ziadالآن الساعة العاشرة تماماً.al-an al-sa'a al-'ashira tamamun.It is ten o'clock exactly now.
- نور Nourشكراً لك.shukran lak.Thank you.
- زياد Ziadعفواً يا نور.afwan ya Nour.You're welcome, Nour.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
