الاِثْنَيْن
الاِثْنَيْن في 30 ثانية
- Monday in Arabic is 'Al-Ithnayn'.
- Derived from the root for the number 'two'.
- Used with 'Al-' and often preceded by 'Yawm'.
- Culturally significant as a day for voluntary fasting.
The Arabic word الاِثْنَيْن (al-ithnayn) refers specifically to Monday, the second day of the week in the traditional Islamic and many international calendars. Derived from the numerical root for 'two' (اثنان), it literally signifies 'the second day.' In most Arabic-speaking countries, the work week begins on Sunday (الأحد), making Monday the second day of professional activity. Understanding this word is fundamental for daily scheduling, making appointments, and navigating school or work environments in the Arab world.
- Etymological Connection
- The name is intrinsically linked to the number two, reflecting a counting system where Sunday is day one.
سأقابلك يوم الاِثْنَيْن في المكتب. (I will meet you on Monday at the office.)
In religious contexts, Monday holds a special significance. It is a recommended (Sunnah) day for fasting, as the Prophet Muhammad was born on a Monday and received his first revelation on a Monday. Therefore, you might hear this word frequently in discussions about religious observances or community fasting events (Iftar). In a secular sense, it is the peak of the work week where productivity is expected to be at its highest.
- Grammatical Gender
- The days of the week in Arabic are treated as masculine nouns, which influences the adjectives and verbs associated with them.
Whether you are checking a bus schedule in Cairo, booking a flight to Dubai, or arranging a coffee date in Amman, 'Al-Ithnayn' is a high-frequency word that serves as a cornerstone of temporal navigation. It is often preceded by the word 'Yawm' (day), though it can stand alone in many contexts. Mastery of this word involves not just its pronunciation but also recognizing its visual form in calendars and digital interfaces.
Using الاِثْنَيْن correctly requires understanding how it interacts with prepositions and other nouns. The most common preposition used with days is 'fī' (in/on), although 'yawm' (day) is often used as a construct to specify the day more clearly.
يوم الاِثْنَيْن هو يومي المفضل. (Monday is my favorite day.)
When talking about recurring events, you use the word 'kull' (every). For example, 'kull ithnayn' means 'every Monday'. Notice that when used with 'kull', the definite article 'al-' is sometimes dropped in informal speech, but it is safer to keep it for formal writing.
- Recurring Events
- To say 'on Mondays', use 'fī ayyām al-ithnayn' or simply 'kull ithnayn'.
In formal letters or emails, you might see it used in the date format. Arabic dates usually follow the Day-Month-Year sequence, and the day of the week often precedes the numerical date. For instance, 'Al-Ithnayn, 15 Mayo'.
In spoken dialects (Ammiya), the pronunciation might shift slightly. In Levantine or Egyptian Arabic, the initial 'Al-' might be shortened or the internal vowels might be compressed, but the root 'th-n-y' remains the unmistakable identifier of the word.
You will encounter الاِثْنَيْن in a variety of real-world settings. In professional environments, it is the day for weekly kick-off meetings. On the news, broadcasters use it to report events occurring at the start of the week. In educational settings, it is a standard part of the school timetable.
موعدنا القادم سيكون يوم الاِثْنَيْن. (Our next appointment will be on Monday.)
Public transport announcements, mosque schedules for religious lessons, and digital calendars on smartphones all prominently feature this word. It is also common in sports commentary, as many international football leagues have matches scheduled or reviewed on Mondays.
- Media Usage
- Newspapers often have specific 'Monday Supplements' or business sections that launch on this day.
In the market (Souq), vendors might mention that fresh shipments arrive on 'Al-Ithnayn'. Because it follows the first workday (Sunday), it is often the day when administrative processes, like visa applications or government paperwork, are in full swing after the weekend break.
One of the most frequent errors for English speakers is confusing الاِثْنَيْن (Monday) with the number two ithnān. While they share the same root, the day of the week always requires the definite article 'Al-' and has a specific phonetic stress.
- The 'Al-' Article
- Mistake: Saying 'Ithnayn' alone. Correct: 'Al-Ithnayn'.
Another common pitfall is the spelling of the hamza. In formal Arabic (Fusha), the word starts with a 'Hamzat Wasl', meaning the 'i' sound is elided if a word precedes it. However, many learners struggle with when to write the hamza under the Alif. Strictly speaking, it is often written without the hamza mark in modern standard usage, but the sound is still there.
Incorrect: سأذهب في اثنين. Correct: سأذهب يوم الاِثْنَيْن.
Learners also sometimes confuse Monday with Tuesday (Al-Thulatha) because both start with a 'th' (ث) sound. It helps to remember that Ithnayn comes from 'two' and Thulatha comes from 'three'.
While الاِثْنَيْن is the standard term, there are related words you should know to build a full picture of time-telling in Arabic.
- Comparison: Days of the Week
- الأحد (Sunday) - The first day.
الثلاثاء (Tuesday) - The third day.
In some contexts, you might hear 'Thāni yawm fī al-usbūʿ' (the second day of the week), but this is descriptive rather than a proper name. In very informal regional dialects, the pronunciation of the 'th' (ث) might change to a 't' or 's' sound, resulting in 'itnēn' (especially in Egypt).
Related temporal terms include 'al-usbūʿ' (the week), 'al-yawm' (today), and 'ghadan' (tomorrow). Knowing these allows you to place Monday within a sequence of time.
How Formal Is It?
حقيقة ممتعة
In many Semitic languages, Monday is named 'the second', while Sunday is 'the first'. This is consistent across Arabic, Hebrew, and Ethiopic.
دليل النطق
- Pronouncing 'th' as 's' or 't'.
- Dropping the 'Al-' prefix.
- Stressing the first syllable.
- Confusing the 'ai' sound with 'ee'.
- Forgetting the hamza sound at the beginning.
مستوى الصعوبة
Easy to read but the 'th' and 'n' combination needs care.
The hamza and the 'ya-nun' ending require practice.
The 'th' sound (ث) is often difficult for non-natives.
Very distinct sound, easy to pick out in conversation.
ماذا تتعلّم بعد ذلك
المتطلبات الأساسية
تعلّم لاحقاً
متقدم
قواعد يجب معرفتها
Days of the week are usually definite with 'Al-'.
الاثنين (Monday)
The word 'Yawm' (day) often precedes the name.
يوم الاثنين
Adjectives follow the day and match in gender (masculine).
الاثنين القادم
Prepositions like 'fī' (in) are used for 'on'.
في يوم الاثنين
Recurrence is expressed with 'kull'.
كل يوم اثنين
أمثلة حسب المستوى
اليوم هو الاثنين.
Today is Monday.
Subject-predicate sentence.
أحب يوم الاثنين.
I love Monday.
Verb + Object.
الاثنين يوم جميل.
Monday is a beautiful day.
Noun + Adjective.
متى يوم الاثنين؟
When is Monday?
Interrogative sentence.
هذا هو الاثنين.
This is Monday.
Demonstrative pronoun.
الاثنين بعد الأحد.
Monday is after Sunday.
Prepositional phrase.
أنا أدرس يوم الاثنين.
I study on Monday.
Present tense verb.
الاثنين هو اليوم الثاني.
Monday is the second day.
Ordinal number use.
سأذهب إلى السوق يوم الاثنين.
I will go to the market on Monday.
Future tense with 'sa-'.
هل أنت مشغول يوم الاثنين؟
Are you busy on Monday?
Question with 'hal'.
عندي امتحان يوم الاثنين القادم.
I have an exam next Monday.
Possession with 'indi'.
المطعم مغلق يوم الاثنين.
The restaurant is closed on Monday.
Passive participle 'mughlaq'.
نلتقي كل يوم اثنين.
We meet every Monday.
Use of 'kull' for recurrence.
بدأت العمل يوم الاثنين.
I started work on Monday.
Past tense verb.
الاثنين هو أول يوم في الأسبوع الدراسي.
Monday is the first day of the school week.
Complex noun phrase.
لا أحب العمل يوم الاثنين.
I don't like working on Monday.
Negation with 'la'.
يجب أن ننهي التقرير بحلول يوم الاثنين.
We must finish the report by Monday.
Modal verb 'yajib'.
إذا كان الجو جيداً يوم الاثنين، سنخرج.
If the weather is good on Monday, we will go out.
Conditional 'idha'.
منذ يوم الاثنين الماضي وأنا أشعر بالتعب.
I have been feeling tired since last Monday.
Preposition 'mundhu'.
يتم تنظيم السوق الشعبي كل يوم اثنين.
The traditional market is organized every Monday.
Passive voice 'yutammam'.
سأبقى في لندن حتى يوم الاثنين.
I will stay in London until Monday.
Preposition 'hatta'.
أفضل ممارسة الرياضة في صباح يوم الاثنين.
I prefer exercising on Monday mornings.
Gerund/Masdar usage.
هل يمكننا تأجيل الاجتماع إلى يوم الاثنين؟
Can we postpone the meeting to Monday?
Request with 'hal yumkinuna'.
كان يوم الاثنين الماضي حافلاً بالأحداث.
Last Monday was full of events.
Past tense 'kana' with adjective.
توقع خبراء الأرصاد هطول أمطار غزيرة يوم الاثنين.
Meteorologists predicted heavy rain on Monday.
Complex subject-verb agreement.
يعتبر يوم الاثنين موعداً نهائياً لتقديم الطلبات.
Monday is considered the deadline for submitting applications.
Passive verb 'yu'tabar'.
غالباً ما تكون حركة المرور مزدحمة صباح يوم الاثنين.
Traffic is often congested on Monday mornings.
Adverbial usage 'ghaliban'.
سوف نناقش هذه المسألة في جلسة يوم الاثنين.
We will discuss this matter in Monday's session.
Future with 'sawfa'.
يصادف يوم الاثنين القادم عطلة رسمية.
Next Monday happens to be a public holiday.
Verb 'yusadif'.
بدأت الأزمة المالية في يوم الاثنين الأسود.
The financial crisis began on Black Monday.
Historical reference.
يتطوع الكثير من الناس في الجمعية كل يوم اثنين.
Many people volunteer at the association every Monday.
Verb 'yatatawwa'.
تم تحديد موعد المحاكمة ليوم الاثنين.
The trial date has been set for Monday.
Passive voice 'tumma tahdid'.
تنعقد القمة العربية يوم الاثنين في القاهرة.
The Arab summit is being held on Monday in Cairo.
Formal verb 'tana'qid'.
لطالما كان يوم الاثنين رمزاً لبدايات جديدة في الأدب.
Monday has long been a symbol of new beginnings in literature.
Use of 'la talama'.
من المزمع أن يلقي الرئيس خطابه يوم الاثنين.
It is planned that the President will deliver his speech on Monday.
Formal expression 'min al-muzma'.
لقد استمرت المفاوضات من الأحد حتى فجر الاثنين.
Negotiations continued from Sunday until Monday dawn.
Temporal range.
لا بد من مراعاة أن يوم الاثنين هو يوم صيام للبعض.
It must be taken into account that Monday is a fasting day for some.
Modal 'la budda min'.
تتسم أجواء العمل يوم الاثنين بنوع من الجدية.
The work atmosphere on Monday is characterized by a kind of seriousness.
Verb 'tattasim'.
سيتم الإعلان عن النتائج النهائية مساء يوم الاثنين.
The final results will be announced on Monday evening.
Future passive.
يرى البعض أن الاثنين هو أصعب أيام الأسبوع.
Some believe that Monday is the hardest day of the week.
Superlative 'as'ab'.
في غمرة الأحداث، نسي الجميع أن اليوم هو الاثنين.
In the midst of events, everyone forgot that today is Monday.
Literary 'fi ghamrat'.
يعد يوم الاثنين في الموروث الشعبي يوماً مباركاً.
Monday is considered a blessed day in popular heritage.
Cultural terminology.
لقد تجلى بؤس الموظفين في صباح ذلك الاثنين الكئيب.
The employees' misery was evident on that gloomy Monday morning.
Poetic verb 'tajalla'.
بحلول ضحى الاثنين، كانت القوات قد أحكمت سيطرتها.
By Monday forenoon, the forces had tightened their control.
Specific time 'duha'.
إن استقراء التاريخ يشير إلى وقوع معارك كبرى يوم الاثنين.
An induction of history indicates that major battles occurred on Monday.
Academic 'istiqra'.
ما برح العمال يطالبون بعطلة إضافية يوم الاثنين.
The workers have not ceased demanding an extra holiday on Monday.
Verb 'ma bariha'.
تتجذر قدسية الاثنين في بعض الممارسات الصوفية.
The sanctity of Monday is rooted in some Sufi practices.
Philosophical 'tatajadhdhar'.
أفضى النقاش المحتدم يوم الاثنين إلى نتائج غير متوقعة.
The heated debate on Monday led to unexpected results.
Verb 'afda ila'.
تلازمات شائعة
العبارات الشائعة
يُخلط عادةً مع
The number 'two'. It lacks the 'Al-' and is not used for the day name.
Tuesday. Both start with 'th', but one is 'two' and the other is 'three'.
The feminine form of the number 'two'. Never used for the day.
تعبيرات اصطلاحية
— Refers to a day of financial disaster.
خسر الكثير من المال في الاثنين الأسود.
Financial— Often used for things happening over a weekend to Monday.
تغير كل شيء بين الأحد والاثنين.
General— Blue Monday (modern western loan concept).
يشعر البعض بما يسمى الاثنين الحزين.
Modernسهل الخلط
Similar sound and root.
Ithnan is the number 2; Al-Ithnayn is the day Monday. The 'Al-' is the key.
عندي كتابان اثنان. (I have two books.)
Means 'second'.
Thān is an adjective/ordinal; Al-Ithnayn is the proper noun for the day.
هذا هو المركز الثاني. (This is the second place.)
Phonetic similarity.
Monday (2) vs Tuesday (3).
الثلاثاء بعد الاثنين. (Tuesday is after Monday.)
Spelling.
With hamza (إ) it usually refers to the number; without it is the day.
رقم إثنان. (Number two.)
Same root.
Thaniyya means a fold or a bend.
ثنية الثوب. (The fold of the dress.)
أنماط الجُمل
اليوم هو [Day].
اليوم هو الاثنين.
أنا [Verb] يوم [Day].
أنا أعمل يوم الاثنين.
سأفعل [Task] يوم الاثنين.
سأفعل الواجب يوم الاثنين.
هل [Day] عطلة؟
هل الاثنين عطلة؟
منذ [Day] وأنا [Action].
منذ الاثنين وأنا مريض.
يجب أن [Verb] بحلول [Day].
يجب أن نصل بحلول الاثنين.
يعتبر [Day] يوماً [Adjective].
يعتبر الاثنين يوماً شاقاً.
بحلول [Time] من يوم [Day]...
بحلول مساء الاثنين...
عائلة الكلمة
الأسماء
الأفعال
الصفات
مرتبط
كيفية الاستخدام
Extremely high in daily, professional, and media contexts.
-
Saying 'Ithnayn' without 'Al-'.
→
Al-Ithnayn
Days of the week require the definite article.
-
Pronouncing 'th' as 's'.
→
Al-Ithnayn (with 'th')
The letter 'tha' (ث) is distinct from 'sin' (س).
-
Confusing it with Al-Thulatha.
→
Al-Ithnayn
Al-Ithnayn is Monday (2), Al-Thulatha is Tuesday (3).
-
Using feminine adjectives with it.
→
الاثنين القادم (Masculine)
Days of the week are masculine nouns in Arabic.
-
Writing it with a 'ta' (ت) instead of 'tha' (ث).
→
الاثنين
The root is th-n-y, requiring the letter 'tha'.
نصائح
The Number Link
Always link Al-Ithnayn to 'Ithnan' (2). If you know your numbers, you know your days!
The Tongue Trick
Bite your tongue slightly for the 'th' (ث) to avoid sounding like 'Al-Isnayn'.
Fasting Days
If someone says they are fasting on Monday, it's a common spiritual practice.
Definite Article
Treat 'Al-Ithnayn' as a proper name that always keeps its 'Al-'.
The Ending
The 'ayn' ending is a diphthong. Write it with a 'ya' followed by a 'nun'.
Related Words
Learn 'Al-Ahad' (Sunday) at the same time to understand the sequence.
Making Plans
When making plans, confirm with 'Yawm al-Ithnayn' to be 100% clear.
Egyptian Variation
If you hear 'itnēn' in a movie, it's just the Egyptian way of saying Monday.
Context Clues
If you hear 'ba'd al-ahad' (after Sunday), you know they mean Monday.
Work Week
Remember that in many Arab countries, Monday is the second day of the work week, not the first.
احفظها
وسيلة تذكّر
Think of 'Ithnayn' as 'It's Name is Two'. Since it's the second day, 'It's-Name' sounds like 'Ith-nayn'.
ربط بصري
Imagine a large number '2' wearing a tie, ready for work on Monday morning.
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Try to say 'Al-Ithnayn' five times fast without changing the 'th' to an 's'.
أصل الكلمة
Derived from the Arabic root 'th-n-y' which means 'two'.
المعنى الأصلي: The second day.
Semiticالسياق الثقافي
Be aware that weekend days vary (Friday/Saturday vs Saturday/Sunday) across different Arab countries.
In the West, Monday is the 1st day of the week, but in Arabic, it is the 2nd.
تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية
سياقات واقعية
Work/Office
- متى اجتماع الاثنين؟
- سأرسل التقرير الاثنين.
- الاثنين هو الموعد النهائي.
- نلتقي صباح الاثنين.
School
- عندي حصة يوم الاثنين.
- الامتحان يوم الاثنين.
- المدرسة تبدأ الاثنين.
- جدول الاثنين مزدحم.
Travel
- رحلتي يوم الاثنين.
- سأصل يوم الاثنين.
- الفندق محجوز للاثنين.
- تذكرة يوم الاثنين.
Religion
- هل ستصوم الاثنين؟
- فضل صيام الاثنين.
- درس المسجد يوم الاثنين.
- ولد النبي يوم الاثنين.
Social
- نخرج يوم الاثنين؟
- عشاء يوم الاثنين.
- عيد ميلادي الاثنين.
- نلتقي كل اثنين.
بدايات محادثة
"ماذا ستفعل في أول يوم اثنين من الشهر القادم؟"
"هل تفضل العمل يوم الأحد أم يوم الاثنين؟"
"لماذا يعتقد الناس أن يوم الاثنين هو أصعب يوم؟"
"هل هناك سوق شعبي يوم الاثنين في مدينتك؟"
"ما هو روتينك المعتاد في صباح يوم الاثنين؟"
مواضيع للكتابة اليومية
اكتب عن أهم حدث حصل لك في يوم اثنين سابق.
صف شعورك عندما تستيقظ في صباح يوم الاثنين.
ما هي أهدافك للأسبوع القادم التي ستبدأ بها يوم الاثنين؟
هل تفضل الصيام يوم الاثنين؟ ولماذا؟
تخيل أن يوم الاثنين هو يوم عطلة، كيف ستقضيه؟
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةIn Arabic, 'Al-Ithnayn' literally means 'the second', as Sunday (Al-Ahad) is the first day.
No, you can just say 'Al-Ithnayn', but 'Yawm al-Ithnayn' is very common and clear.
You can say 'kull ithnayn' (every Monday) or 'fī ayyām al-ithnayn' (on the days of Monday).
There isn't a standard abbreviation like 'Mon', but in calendars, you might see just the letter 'ث'.
All days of the week in Arabic are masculine.
It is like the 'th' in the English word 'thin'.
No, it is a regular workday. The weekend is usually Friday and Saturday.
It is the day the Prophet Muhammad was born and is a day for voluntary fasting.
Only in specific grammatical constructs or very informal speech, but 'Al-' is standard.
The root is th-n-y (ث ن ي), which relates to doubling or the number two.
اختبر نفسك 174 أسئلة
Translate: 'I will see you on Monday.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Monday is a busy day.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write 'Next Monday' in Arabic.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Monday morning'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'See you next Monday.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Write 'Monday and Tuesday'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'We will travel on Monday.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Monday is work.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Every Monday I run.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'I am busy Monday.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Monday is the deadline.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Monday at 5 PM.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Monday is a hard day.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Monday is my favorite day.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Monday's weather is cold.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'I don't work on Monday.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'The plane leaves on Monday.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'I started on Monday.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Monday is a new beginning.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Monday is the second day.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'The shop opens on Monday.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Monday is for rest.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Monday is the start of work.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Is it Monday today?'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Monday is after the weekend.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Monday is a long day.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'I love Monday morning.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Translate: 'Monday is today.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Monday.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Monday.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
/ 174 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word 'Al-Ithnayn' (Monday) is essential for scheduling and is linguistically tied to the number two. Example: 'Naltaqi yawm al-ithnayn' (We meet on Monday).
- Monday in Arabic is 'Al-Ithnayn'.
- Derived from the root for the number 'two'.
- Used with 'Al-' and often preceded by 'Yawm'.
- Culturally significant as a day for voluntary fasting.
The Number Link
Always link Al-Ithnayn to 'Ithnan' (2). If you know your numbers, you know your days!
The Tongue Trick
Bite your tongue slightly for the 'th' (ث) to avoid sounding like 'Al-Isnayn'.
Fasting Days
If someone says they are fasting on Monday, it's a common spiritual practice.
Definite Article
Treat 'Al-Ithnayn' as a proper name that always keeps its 'Al-'.
مثال
أذهب إلى العمل كل يوم اثنين.
محتوى ذو صلة
مزيد من كلمات daily_life
أَعَدَّ
A2جعل الشيء جاهزاً؛ هيأه للاستخدام أو لغرض معين.
عاش
A1البقاء على قيد الحياة أو السكن في مكان ما. مثال: يعيش في دبي.
أَعْطَى
A2منح أو سلم شيئاً لشخص آخر. أعطى المعلم الطالب جائزة.
أعيش
A1أعيش في هذا البيت الجميل. (I live in this beautiful house.)
عصراً
A2في وقت العصر، أي ما بين الظهر والمغرب.
عطلة نهاية الأسبوع
A2هي فترة الراحة الأسبوعية التي تلي أيام العمل.
عيد
A2يوم احتفال وفرح، ديني أو وطني. مثال: 'هذا عيد جميل.' 'نحن نتطلع إلى العيد.'
عِيد
A2يوم احتفال أو راحة من العمل. يجتمع الناس في هذا اليوم لتبادل التهاني وزيارة الأقارب.
عيش
B1العيش هو الحياة أو ما يُعاش به من مطعم ومشرب. وفي مصر يطلق على الخبز.
أبريل
A2أبريل هو الشهر الرابع من شهور السنة الميلادية.