Learning the dates in Arabic is a vital skill for anyone delving into the language. Dates are an integral part of daily life, from scheduling meetings and planning travel to celebrating important events. Arabic, with its rich linguistic heritage and expressive structure, provides a clear and methodical way to articulate dates that aligns with its grammar.
Whether you’re a student, a professional, or a traveler, mastering the way to express dates in Arabic can enhance your communication skills and help you navigate various social and formal contexts effectively.
This guide will take you through the days, months, and the structure of dates in Arabic, equipping you with the knowledge to communicate with confidence and ease.
Months of the year
The Arab world primarily uses the Gregorian calendar, the same calendar used in the West. It uses the Hijri (Islamic) calendar for religious purposes only.
The Arabic names of the months in the Gregorian calendar are typically phonetic adaptations of the corresponding month names used in European languages. However, there’s an exception in the Levant (which includes Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan) and Iraq, where the month names are derived from Assyrian traditions. These names have been inherited through Classical Arabic from the Babylonian and Hebrew lunisolar calendars.
Below is a table illustrating the names of the Gregorian months as used in different Arab countries.
| English | Egyptian, Gulf (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait), Sudanese, Libyan, and Yemenese
derived from old Latin | Levantine (Syrian, Lebanese, Jordanian, Palestinian) and Iraqi
derived from Babylonian and Assyrian | Algerian and Tunisian
derived from French | Moroccan and Mauritanian
derived from Latin |
| January | يَنَايِر
| كانُون التاني
كانُون الثاني
| جانفي
| يناير
|
| February | فِبْرَاير
| شُبَاط
| فيفري
| فبراير
|
| March | مَارِس
| آذَار
| مارس
| مارس
|
| April | أبْرِيل
| نِيْسَان
| أفريل
| أبريل
|
| May | مَايُو
| أيَّار
| ماي
| ماي
|
| June | يُونْيُو
| حْزِيران
| جوان
| يونيو
|
| July | يُولْيُو
| تَمُّوز
| جويلية
| يوليوز
|
| August | أَغُسْطُس
| آب
| أوت
| غشت
|
| September | سِبْتَمْبِر
| أيْلُول
| سبتمبر
| شتمبر
|
| October | أُكْتُوبِر
| تِشْرِيْن الأَوَّل
| أكتوبر
| كتوبر
|
| November | نُوفَمْبِر
| تِشْرِيْن الثّاني
تِشْرِيْن التّاني
| نوفمبر
| نونبر
|
| December | دِيسَمْبِر
| كَانُوْن الأَوَّل
| ديسمبر
| دجمبر
|
Here are some examples from Playaling’s real world videos:
A Lebanese comedy (above).
Above, a Jordanian video about April Fools’ Day.
April Fools’ Day is celebrated in the Middle East and is known as كذبة نيسان
or كدبة أبريل
A Saudi talks about her plan to run 10 km in April.
Structuring dates in Arabic
When saying or writing the dates in Arabic, the structure follows a pattern similar to English. The typical format for stating a full date in Arabic is:
Day (number) + Month + Year
This structure ensures clarity and consistency in communication. Below is a detailed guide on how to correctly structure dates in Arabic.
Basic structure
- Day: The day is stated first and written as a number.
- Month: The month follows the day and is written in its full Arabic name.
- Year: The year comes last and is also written as a number.
Let’s look at a few examples of complete dates in Arabic to better understand:
| English | Arabic | Standard | Levantine | Egyptian | Gulf | Darija |
| March 5, 2017 | ٥ مارس ٢٠١٧ |
|
|
|
|
|
| August 21, 2021 | ٢١ أغسطس ٢٠٢١ |
|
|
|
| August in Moroccan is غشت
|
| November 10, 1998 | ١٠ نوفمبر ١٩٩٨ |
|
|
|
|
|
Important notes
- Number agreement: Unlike in some other contexts, the numbers for dates in Arabic don’t change based on gender. The day and year are stated as simple cardinal numbers.
- Formal vs. informal usage: In formal writing and speech, dates are often prefixed with phrases like في يوم
(fi yawm), meaning “on the day of,” or في سنة meaning “in the year of”, to provide additional clarity. Here’s an example of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser using this prefix in a speech (referring to when he got shot at by the Muslim Brotherhood):
Numbers for months
In addition to names, Arabic speakers often use numbers for months, by the order in which they appear in the calendar. If you already know the numbers in Arabic, this makes it an easy way to indicate dates:
| English | Standard | Levantine | Egyptian | Gulf | Maghrebi |
| January | الشهر الأول
| شهر واحد
الشهر الأول
| شهر واحد
| شهر واحد
الشهر الأول
| شهر واحد
الشهر الأول
|
| February | الشهر الثاني
| شهر تنين
الشهر التاني
الشهر الثاني
| شهر اتنين
| شهر اثنين
الشهر الثاني
| شهر جوج
الشهر التاني
|
| March | الشهر الثالث
| شهر تلاتة
شهر ثلاثة
الشهر التالت
الشهر الثالث
| شهر تلاتة
| شهر ثلاثة
الشهر الثالث
| شهر تلاتة
الشهر التالت
|
| April | الشهر الرابع
| شهر أربعة
الشهر الرابع
| شهر أربعة
| شهر أربعة
الشهر الرابع
| شهر أربعة
الشهر الرابع
|
| May | الشهر الخامس
| شهر خمسة
الشهر الخامس
| شهر خمسة
| شهر خمسة
الشهر الخامس
| شهر خمسة
الشهر الخامس
|
| June | الشهر السادس
| شهر ستة
الشهر السادس
| شهر ستة
| شهر ستة
الشهر السادس
| شهر ستة
الشهر السادس
|
| July | الشهر السابع
| شهر سبعة
الشهر السابع
| شهر سبعة
| شهر سبعة
الشهر السابع
| شهر سبعة
الشهر السابع
|
| August | الشهر الثامن
| شهر تماني
الشهر التامن
الشهر الثامن
| شهر تمانية
| شهر ثمانية
الشهر الثامن
| شهر تمنية
الشهر التامن
|
| September | الشهر التاسع
| شهر تسعة
الشهر التاسع
| شهر تسعة
| شهر تسعة
الشهر التاسع
| شهر تسعود
الشهر التاسع
|
| October | الشهر العاشر
| شهر عشرة
الشهر العاشر
| شهر عشرة
| شهر عشرة
الشهر العاشر
| شهر عشرة
الشهر العاشر
|
| November | الشهر الحادي عشر
| شهر إدعش
الشهر الإدعش
| شهر حداشر
| شهر حدعش
الشهر الحدعش
| شهر حداش
|
| December | الشهر الثاني عشر
| شهر تنعش
الشهر الاتنعش
| شهر اتناشر
| شهر اثنعش
الشهر الاثنعش
| شهر طناش
|
Examples
To effectively communicate dates in Arabic, it’s essential to practice using them in sentences. This will not only help you remember the dates but also understand how they fit into everyday conversations. Here are some Playaling video examples that incorporate dates:
Above, a Jordanian guy answers the question “What‘s your birthdate?” from one of his fans. He answers using numbers only.
Above, three children also tell us their birthdates, using numbers only.
From the Egyptian TV series نصيبي وقسمتك.
From Easy Arabic.
If you’re looking to improve your Arabic with real world videos, sign up for a free trial today at Playaling.com. Experience immersive learning that brings the language to life!
Referring to dates within the current month
When you want to refer to a date within the current month in Arabic, you can use a simpler and more colloquial expression. In Levantine, you can refer to the date directly by saying the day number followed by الشَهْر
meaning “the month”. For example, if today is June 10th, you would say: عَشَرَة الشَهْر
(literally: ten (of) the month).
So, if you’re scheduling an appointment or talking about a specific date within the current month, you can use this shorthand method. Here’s another example for June 20th: عِشْرِينْ الشَهْر
(literally: twenty (of) the month).
This approach makes referencing dates quick and easy when the month is already understood from the context.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lebanese celebrities used this system to set a date to honor healthcare workers:
Lebanese citizens applaud heroes of the pandemic.
The Islamic calendar
While the Gregorian calendar is used in everyday life, Arab countries use the Islamic calendar mainly for religious purposes. Writing dates in the Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar, involves noting the day, month, and year in relation to the Hijra (migration) of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina. The Islamic calendar is lunar-based, comprising 12 months of 29 or 30 days each, depending on the moon’s sighting. For example, a date would be written as ١٠ ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة ١٤٤٥ هـ and pronounced in MSA dialect as
(literally: the tenth of Dhul-Hijja, of the year 1445 Hijri), where عاشر
is the cardinal form of the number ١٠
, the number of the day. ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة
is the month, and ١٤٤٥ هـ
denotes 1445 years “After Hijra.” The Hijri year is approximately 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year.
| Month # | English months | Islamic months |
| 1 | January | مُحَرَّم
|
| 2 | February | صَفَر
|
| 3 | March | رَبِيع الأوَّل
|
| 4 | April | رَبِيع الثَّانِي
or رَبِيع الآخِر
|
| 5 | May | جُمَادَى الأُولَى
|
| 6 | June | جُمَادَى الآخِرَة
|
| 7 | July | رَجَبْ
|
| 8 | August | شَعْبَانْ
|
| 9 | September | رَمَضَانْ
|
| 10 | October | شَوَّالْ
|
| 11 | November | ذُو القِعْدَة
|
| 12 | December | ذُو الحِجَّة
|
Note: This table provides a rough alignment as the exact dates of Islamic months vary each year due to their dependence on lunar cycles and intercalary adjustments.
Here’s a real world example of the Islamic calendar in use:
From an Egyptian video about Ibn Battuta, a famous explorer. The video is in Educated Spoken Arabic.
The Assyrian calendar
The Assyrian calendar, also known as the Aramaic calendar, is a lunisolar system still used in Assyrian communities in parts of Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. It combines lunar and solar elements to keep the calendar year in sync with the solar year and seasons. Predominantly Christian, the Assyrian people rely on this calendar for cultural and religious practices.
Rooted in ancient Mesopotamian timekeeping, the Assyrian calendar has been in use for millennia. Despite the widespread use of the Gregorian calendar for civil purposes, the Assyrian calendar remains significant for scheduling religious festivals, cultural celebrations, and agricultural activities, underscoring the resilience and continuity of Assyrian identity.
The Assyrians are descendants of the ancient Assyrian Empire, one of the earliest civilizations, which emerged around the 25th century BCE. Their language, a dialect of Aramaic, has been spoken for thousands of years. The Assyrian calendar is a vital link to their rich heritage, preserving their cultural and religious traditions through the ages.
Enhance your learning
As you dive deeper into mastering dates in Arabic, consider expanding your knowledge by learning the days of the week. Understanding how to articulate the days is a crucial step in becoming more proficient and confident in your Arabic communication. This foundational skill will complement your ability to say and write the dates in Arabic, helping you gain a more comprehensive understanding of the language.
It’s common to write the date on the board in Arab schools at the beginning of each day.
Conclusion
Understanding how to express dates in Arabic is essential for effective communication and cultural integration. This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of the Gregorian calendar months, the structure of dates in Arabic, and the use of both the Islamic and Assyrian (Aramaic) calendars. These calendars each bring unique elements to the understanding of time and its cultural significance.
The ability to articulate dates correctly will help you in a variety of contexts, from planning events and meetings to discussing historical events and religious observances. Regular practice and application of these concepts will reinforce your knowledge and improve your proficiency.
By incorporating these skills into your daily routine, you will not only enhance your language abilities but also gain a deeper appreciation of Arabic’s rich cultural and historical context. Keep practicing and continue exploring the intricacies of the Arabic language to communicate with greater confidence and ease.
