في أي ساعة المباراة؟
fi ay saah almatarah?
What time is the match?
Literally: The match (at) what hour?
In 15 Seconds
- Simple way to ask for a sports game start time.
- Essential for football fans and social gatherings in cafes.
- Uses the word 'mubarah' for match and 'sa'a' for hour.
Meaning
This is the go-to way to ask what time a sports game starts. It’s a simple, everyday question used by millions of football fans across the Middle East.
Key Examples
3 of 6Walking into a crowded café
يا جماعة، المباراة الساعة كام؟
Hey everyone, what time is the match?
Texting a friend about the Champions League
المباراة الساعة كام النهاردة؟
What time is the match today?
Asking a hotel concierge for information
لو سمحت، المباراة الساعة كام؟
Excuse me, what time is the match?
Cultural Background
In Egypt, football is a national obsession. You will hear 'El-match' more often than 'Al-mubarah' in the streets, but everyone uses the 'Sa'a' structure to ask the time. With the massive growth of the Saudi Pro League, asking about match times is a daily occurrence. People often coordinate around prayer times (e.g., 'After Isha prayer'). Moroccans are incredibly proud of their national team (The Atlas Lions). During the World Cup, 'Fi ayyi sa'a' was the most asked question in every 'souq' (market). In these regions, 'Le'be' (game) is a very common synonym for 'Mubarah'. You might hear 'Ay sa'a el-le'be?' in casual settings.
The 'Fi' is key
Always start with 'Fi' to sound more natural and grammatically correct in Standard Arabic.
Expect 'Inshallah'
When someone gives you the time, they will likely add 'Inshallah'. It's just a polite habit!
In 15 Seconds
- Simple way to ask for a sports game start time.
- Essential for football fans and social gatherings in cafes.
- Uses the word 'mubarah' for match and 'sa'a' for hour.
What It Means
This phrase is your golden ticket to the world of sports in the Arab world. It literally translates to 'The match what hour?' but functions exactly like 'What time is the game?' in English. It is simple, direct, and incredibly common.
How To Use It
You can use this phrase exactly as it is. Just drop it into a conversation when you see a group of people gathered around a TV. You can also text it to a friend if you know there is a big game tonight. It works for football, basketball, or even a local tennis match.
When To Use It
Use it at the café when everyone is staring at the screen. Use it in a group chat with your cousins before the weekend. It is perfect for casual settings. If you are at a sports bar or a stadium, this is the most natural thing to say. It shows you are interested in the local vibe.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this in a high-level business meeting unless your boss is a huge football fan. It is a bit too casual for a formal wedding speech. Also, don't use it if you are asking about a movie or a play. For those, you would swap out the word al-mubarah for something else. It is strictly for competitive matches.
Cultural Background
Football (soccer) is more than just a sport in the Arab world; it is a lifestyle. When the national team or big clubs like Al Ahly or Al Hilal play, cities literally slow down. Asking Al-mubarah el-sa'a kam? is a way to bond with strangers. It is the ultimate icebreaker at any local 'ahwa' (coffee house).
Common Variations
In Egypt, you might hear El-match el-sa'a kam? using the English word 'match'. In the Gulf, you might hear Mita al-mubarah? which means 'When is the match?'. Both are understood everywhere. If you want to be more specific, you can add the team names after the phrase.
Usage Notes
This is a quintessentially casual phrase. While grammatically simple, it is the heartbeat of social interaction in sports-heavy cultures.
The 'Fi' is key
Always start with 'Fi' to sound more natural and grammatically correct in Standard Arabic.
Expect 'Inshallah'
When someone gives you the time, they will likely add 'Inshallah'. It's just a polite habit!
Dialect Shortcut
If you forget the whole phrase, just say 'El-mubarah emta?' (The match when?) and people will understand you perfectly.
Examples
6يا جماعة، المباراة الساعة كام؟
Hey everyone, what time is the match?
A friendly way to address a group of strangers in a public place.
المباراة الساعة كام النهاردة؟
What time is the match today?
Adding 'al-naharda' (today) makes it specific for the current day.
لو سمحت، المباراة الساعة كام؟
Excuse me, what time is the match?
Adding 'law samaht' adds a touch of politeness for a service setting.
المباراة الساعة كام؟ إنت فاكرها بكرة؟
What time is the match? Do you think it's tomorrow?
Used sarcastically to tell someone they are late.
يا رب! هي المباراة الساعة كام؟
Oh God! What time is the match?
Expressing nervous anticipation for a major sporting event.
مباراة الأهلي الساعة كام؟
What time is the Al Ahly match?
You can replace 'al-mubarah' with 'mubarat [Team Name]'.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word to ask 'What time is the match?'
في أي ____ المباراة؟
In Arabic, we use 'ساعة' (hour) to ask for the specific clock time of an event.
Which of these is the most natural way to ask about a game's time in a cafe?
Select the correct phrase:
This is the standard, most idiomatic way to ask the question in Modern Standard Arabic.
Complete the dialogue between two friends.
أحمد: يا خالد، هل ستشاهد كرة القدم؟ خالد: نعم، ولكن ____؟
Khaled wants to watch the game, so he needs to know the time.
Match the response to the question: 'في أي ساعة المباراة؟'
Response options:
The question asks for a time (hour), so the answer must provide a clock time.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Sports Vocabulary
People
- • لاعب (Player)
- • حكم (Referee)
- • مدرب (Coach)
Places
- • ملعب (Stadium)
- • مقهى (Cafe)
- • نادي (Club)
Practice Bank
4 exercisesفي أي ____ المباراة؟
In Arabic, we use 'ساعة' (hour) to ask for the specific clock time of an event.
Select the correct phrase:
This is the standard, most idiomatic way to ask the question in Modern Standard Arabic.
أحمد: يا خالد، هل ستشاهد كرة القدم؟ خالد: نعم، ولكن ____؟
Khaled wants to watch the game, so he needs to know the time.
Response options:
The question asks for a time (hour), so the answer must provide a clock time.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes! 'Mubarah' applies to any competitive match, including tennis, basketball, or even chess.
Not exactly. 'Sa'a' means 'hour' or 'clock'. 'Waqt' is the general word for 'time'. We use 'Sa'a' for specific clock times.
Just add 'كانت' (kanat): 'في أي ساعة كانت المباراة؟'
In casual speech, it's a soft 'h' or silent. In formal speech, if you continue the sentence, it becomes a 't' sound.
Arabic speakers often adopt English or French words for modern concepts. 'Match' is very common in Egypt and North Africa.
The plural is 'Mubarayāt' (مباريات).
It's better to say 'في أي ساعة الرحلة؟' (Fi ayyi sa'atin al-rihlah?). 'Mubarah' is only for matches.
Yes, although they have their own dialect, every Moroccan understands Modern Standard Arabic from TV and school.
Start with 'المباراة في الساعة...' followed by the number (e.g., 'al-thāminah' for 8:00).
It's by far the most popular, but basketball and handball are also big in countries like Egypt and Tunisia.
Related Phrases
متى تبدأ المباراة؟
similarWhen does the match start?
أي قناة تنقل المباراة؟
builds onWhich channel is broadcasting the match?
من سيلعب في المباراة؟
similarWho is playing in the match?
انتهت المباراة
contrastThe match has ended.
