إمتى
ēmtaeveryday
In Lebanese Arabic "when" is إمتى (ēmta). Standard Arabic uses متى (matā), but speakers say إمتى in daily life.
Typical questions are إمتى بتوصل؟ (ēmta btūṣal?) for "when do you arrive?" and إمتى الإجتماع؟ (ēmta el-ijtimāʿ?) for "when is the meeting?"
Meaning: a question word for asking about time (adverb)
How do you pronounce it?
The first sound is a long ē, so say it close to "EM-ta".
Did you know?
- Egyptian speakers also say إمتى (ēmta), while standard Arabic uses متى.
Examples in context
- إمتى بتوصل؟ēmta btūṣal?When do you arrive?
- إمتى الإجتماع؟ēmta el-ijtimāʿ?When is the meeting?
- إمتى بدّك تسافر؟ēmta biddak tsāfer?When do you want to travel?
Example conversation
Elsa asks her brother Nabil about his flight.
- Elsaإمتى بتوصل عبيروت؟ēmta btūṣal ʿa-bēyrūt?When do you arrive in Beirut?
- Nabilبوصل الجمعة الصبح.bwaṣṣel el-jumʿa eṣ-ṣobeḥ.I get there Friday morning.
- Elsaتمام، منيجي ناخدك.tamām, mnījī nākhdak.Great, we will come pick you up.
