Episode 40 · What time is it?

Welcome back to Sahet el-Teeneh. Over the last few days, you've been doing a lot of adulting—booking appointments, filling out forms, and slowly taking charge of your routine here.

But getting a handle on a new language is one thing... getting a handle on a new schedule is another. Today, you're juggling a coffee plan with Maya and your actual clinic appointment with Dr. Hala.

mar7aba! es-sa3a 2addesh?

الساعة قدّيش؟ — What time is it? · es-sa3a 2addesh?

Maya is clearly in a hurry. She just asked you for the time: es-sa3a 2addesh?

الساعة قدّيش؟ — What time is it? · es-sa3a 2addesh?

The first word, es-sa3a, means the hour, or the clock. And 2addesh means how much. Notice that the tricky first letter in 2addesh is pronounced as a little catch in the back of your throat in Beirut.

الساعة قدّيش؟ — What time is it? · es-sa3a 2addesh?

Try asking it. Say: es-sa3a 2addesh?

الساعة قدّيش؟ — What time is it? · es-sa3a 2addesh?

Once more, nice and natural. es-sa3a 2addesh?

الساعة قدّيش؟ — What time is it? · es-sa3a 2addesh?

es-sa3a tintein.

الساعة تنتين — It's two o'clock · es-sa3a tintein

You just told her it's two o'clock: es-sa3a tintein.

الساعة تنتين — It's two o'clock · es-sa3a tintein

In Lebanese, we use the feminine version of the number two—tintein—because the word for hour, es-sa3a, is feminine.

الساعة تنتين — It's two o'clock · es-sa3a tintein

Let's practice the number first. Say: tintein.

الساعة تنتين — It's two o'clock · es-sa3a tintein

Now put it together. It's two o'clock: es-sa3a tintein.

الساعة تنتين — It's two o'clock · es-sa3a tintein

ouf! 3endi maw3ad. bokra?

la2, ana 3endi maw3ad bokra es-sob7.

tayyib... yom el-jum3a?

يوم الجمعة — On Friday · yom el-jum3a

Maya just suggested a better day. She asked, yom el-jum3a?

يوم الجمعة — On Friday · yom el-jum3a

The word yom means day. And el-jum3a means Friday. Watch out for that deep, raspy sound in the middle of el-jum3a—it comes right from the throat.

يوم الجمعة — On Friday · yom el-jum3a

Try it with me. On Friday: yom el-jum3a.

يوم الجمعة — On Friday · yom el-jum3a

yom el-jum3a. mumtaz.

يوم الجمعة — On Friday · yom el-jum3a

You've got your new plan locked in! Let's review our timekeeping before we head to the clinic. To ask the time: es-sa3a 2addesh? ... es-sa3a 2addesh? What time is it?

To say it's two o'clock: es-sa3a tintein ... es-sa3a tintein.

And to say 'on Friday': yom el-jum3a ... yom el-jum3a. Perfect. Now, let's not be late for Dr. Hala.

ahlan. es-sa3a tintein bil-zabt.

Dr. Hala noticed you are right on time—two o'clock exactly. But the afternoon waiting room is very crowded. You try to sound like a responsible adult who prefers early hours.

ana daymen biji es-sob7.

دايماً بجي الصبح — I always come in the morning · daymen biji es-sob7

You're trying to impress her! You said, daymen biji es-sob7.

دايماً بجي الصبح — I always come in the morning · daymen biji es-sob7

The word daymen means always. Then biji means I come. And you might remember es-sob7—the morning—from when we were making coffee in your kitchen.

دايماً بجي الصبح — I always come in the morning · daymen biji es-sob7

Let's practice your responsible alter-ego. Say: I always come in the morning. daymen biji es-sob7.

دايماً بجي الصبح — I always come in the morning · daymen biji es-sob7

daymen?

ya3ni... a7yanan bit2akhkhar.

أحياناً بتأخّر — Sometimes I'm late · a7yanan bit2akhkhar

She caught you! You admitted the truth: a7yanan bit2akhkhar. Sometimes I'm late.

أحياناً بتأخّر — Sometimes I'm late · a7yanan bit2akhkhar

The word a7yanan means sometimes. Watch the breathy 'h' sound. And bit2akhkhar means I am late—with a raspy 'kh' in the middle.

أحياناً بتأخّر — Sometimes I'm late · a7yanan bit2akhkhar

Try admitting it gently. Say: Sometimes I'm late. a7yanan bit2akhkhar.

أحياناً بتأخّر — Sometimes I'm late · a7yanan bit2akhkhar

mish mushklé. tfaddal.

You finish up your appointment, feeling good that you managed an official visit all by yourself. As you step out, your phone buzzes.

It's a text from Maya. It just says: 'yom el-jum3a. mufaja2a!' Friday. Surprise! Hmm.

A surprise plan? I wonder what she's plotting. While we wait to find out, let's run through everything we learned today. To ask what time it is: es-sa3a 2addesh? ... es-sa3a 2addesh?

It's two o'clock: es-sa3a tintein ... es-sa3a tintein. On Friday: yom el-jum3a ... yom el-jum3a.

I always come in the morning: daymen biji es-sob7 ... daymen biji es-sob7. And sometimes I'm late: a7yanan bit2akhkhar ... a7yanan bit2akhkhar.

You handled your schedule like a pro today. We'll find out what Maya's surprise is next time. Remember, new lessons come out every Tuesday and Friday. See you in the ḥayy!