Monday in Arabic: الاثنين
Pronounced al-ith-NAYN — literally “the second (day)”.
Monday in Arabic at a Glance
| Arabic | الاثنين |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | al-ithnayn |
| With yawm | يوم الاثنين (yawm al-ithnayn) |
| Pronunciation | al-ith-NAYN (al·ith·nayn) |
| Literal meaning | the second (day) |
From اثنان (ithnān, “two”): Monday is “the second day”, because the Arabic week counts from Sunday. The same root gives the number two throughout the Semitic languages.
How to Pronounce الاثنين
al-ith-NAYN — syllable by syllable: al·ith·nayn.
- The ʿ symbol marks the letter ʿayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent — listen to the audio and imitate.
- Long vowels (ā, ī, ū) are held about twice as long as short ones.
- The definite article al- often assimilates: السبت is “as-sabt”, not “al-sabt”.
Example Sentences with الاثنين
How to Say “Happy Monday” in Arabic
Arabic doesn't traditionally use “Happy Monday” greetings for most days — the phrase above (“I wish you a happy Monday”) is understood but formal. The big exception is Friday: جمعة مباركة (jumʿa mubāraka, “blessed Friday”) is exchanged every week by millions.
All 7 Days of the Week in Arabic
Arabic numbers most of its week: Sunday through Thursday are literally “the first” through “the fifth” day. Only Friday (“the day of gathering”) and Saturday (“the day of rest”, cognate with Sabbath) break the pattern — and both carry deep religious history.
| English | Arabic | Transliteration | Pronunciation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | الاثنين | al-ithnayn | al-ith-NAYN | |
| Tuesday | الثلاثاء | ath-thulāthāʾ | ath-thoo-laa-THAA | |
| Wednesday | الأربعاء | al-arbiʿāʾ | al-ar-bi-AAH | |
| Thursday | الخميس | al-khamīs | al-kha-MEES | |
| Friday | الجمعة | al-jumʿa | al-JUM-ah | |
| Saturday | السبت | as-sabt | as-SABT | |
| Sunday | الأحد | al-aḥad | al-A-had |
See the full guide: Days of the Week in Arabic.
Cultural Notes: Monday in Arabic-Speaking Countries
Monday and Thursday are traditional days of voluntary fasting in Islam, following the practice of the Prophet Muhammad. In most Arab countries Monday is a regular working day — the week starts on Sunday.
Did You Know?
From اثنان (ithnān, “two”): Monday is “the second day”, because the Arabic week counts from Sunday. The same root gives the number two throughout the Semitic languages. Curious how English got its name for Monday? See our guide to the origins of the days of the week.
How to Use الاثنين in a Sentence
Day names usually follow the word يوم (yawm, “day”): يوم الاثنين (yawm al-ithnayn) = “(on) Monday”. Arabic needs no extra preposition for “on”. The الـ (al-) at the start is the definite article “the”.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say Monday in Arabic?
Monday in Arabic is الاثنين (al-ithnayn), pronounced “al-ith-NAYN”. It literally means “the second (day)”.
How do you pronounce الاثنين?
It's pronounced “al-ith-NAYN” — broken into syllables: al·ith·nayn. Use the audio button on this page to hear a recording.
Is الاثنين capitalized in Arabic?
The Arabic script has no capital letters, so الاثنين always looks the same. Transliterations vary — you'll see al-ithnayn written several ways in Latin letters — but they all spell the same Arabic word.
How do you say “Happy Monday” in Arabic?
أتمنى لك يوم اثنين سعيداً (Atamannā laka yawm ithnayn saʿīdan). Arabic doesn't traditionally use “Happy Monday” greetings for most days — the phrase above (“I wish you a happy Monday”) is understood but formal. The big exception is Friday: جمعة مباركة (jumʿa mubāraka, “blessed Friday”) is exchanged every week by millions.
What does يوم (yawm) mean before الاثنين?
يوم (yawm) simply means “day”. Arabic speakers usually say يوم الاثنين (yawm al-ithnayn) — “the day of second (day)” — though the day name alone is also fine.
Why does Monday literally mean “the second (day)” in Arabic?
The Arabic week counts its days starting from Sunday (“the first”). Sunday through Thursday are simply numbered first through fifth, while Friday (“gathering”) and Saturday (“rest”) keep older religious names.
Is al-ithnayn pronounced the same in all Arabic dialects?
The word is recognized everywhere, but dialects shave it down — in Egyptian Arabic, for example, you'll hear a more clipped version of al-ithnayn. The form on this page is Modern Standard Arabic, understood across the Arab world.
Monday in Other Languages
Other Days in Arabic
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