Phrases
Hassa, Bachir, Shwaket: Telling Time in Iraqi Arabic
هسه
hassa
Now (Iraqi-specific)
Now, today, and tomorrow
The most basic time words change dramatically. 'Now' is هسه (hassa) — compare to 'al-aan' in Standard Arabic. 'Tomorrow' is باچر (bachir), which is very Iraqi (other dialects say 'bukra'). 'Today' is اليوم (al-youm) and 'yesterday' is البارحة (al-barha).
هسه
hassa
Now
باچر
bachir
Tomorrow
Very Iraqi — others say 'bukra'
البارحة
al-barha
Yesterday
Later, soon, and the day after
For 'later', Iraqis say بعدين (ba'dyen). For 'a little while ago', it's قبل شوية (qabil shwaya). The 'day after tomorrow' is عگب باچر (ughub bachir) — a distinctly Iraqi phrase. And for asking 'when?', you use شوكت (shwaket), another uniquely Iraqi question word.
بعدين
ba'dyen
Later
عگب باچر
ughub bachir
Day after tomorrow
قبل شوية
qabil shwaya
A little while ago
Day names and time of day
Days of the week are similar to Standard Arabic but have Iraqi pronunciation. Friday is الجمعة (al-jum'ah), the holy day. For times of day, الصبح (al-subuh) is morning, الظهر (al-dhuhur) is noon, المسا (al-masa) is evening, and الليل (al-lyel) is night.
الصبح
al-subuh
Morning
الليل
al-lyel
Night
الجمعة
al-jum'ah
Friday
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