Vocabulary Cards — Session 43: Days of the Week

Print this page. Cut along the dotted lines. Each card is index-card sized. Stick them on the fridge in order, like a real week. Move a clothespin to today's card every morning.

Card 1

Say it: yawm al-A-had Means: Sunday

🎨 Picture: A family eating a big late breakfast on a balcony — manakish, olives, tea.

Use it when: It's Sunday. You're planning a family day. You're telling someone when you have no school.

Card 2

Say it: yawm al-ith-NAYN Means: Monday

🎨 Picture: A kid with a backpack walking into school, rubbing one sleepy eye.

Use it when: It's Monday. The school week is starting. You're talking about something happening at the beginning of the week.

Card 3

Say it: yawm ath-thu-la-THAA Means: Tuesday

🎨 Picture: A child practicing oud or piano after school, music sheets on a stand.

Use it when: It's Tuesday. You're saying when your music lesson, soccer practice, or library day is. You're filling in a weekly schedule.

Card 4

Say it: yawm al-ar-bi-AA Means: Wednesday

🎨 Picture: A calendar with a star drawn on the middle day of the week.

Use it when: It's Wednesday — the middle of the week. You're counting days until the weekend. You're telling teta when you'll call her.

Card 5

Say it: yawm al-kha-MEES Means: Thursday

🎨 Picture: A kid grinning at the kitchen clock — almost the weekend!

Use it when: It's Thursday. You're excited because tomorrow is Friday. You're planning what you'll do this weekend.

Card 6

Say it: yawm al-JUM-‘a Means: Friday

🎨 Picture: A family table with mjadara, salad, and bread — everyone laughing.

Use it when: It's Friday. You're starting the weekend. You're inviting a friend over for dinner.

In a lot of Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian, and Jordanian homes, Friday or Sunday is the big family lunch day. Ask your family which day is your family day.

Card 7

Say it: yawm as-SABT Means: Saturday

🎨 Picture: Kids at a Mediterranean beach, one holding a kite, mountains behind.

Use it when: It's Saturday. You're going to the park, the beach, or jiddo's house. You have no homework — yet.

Card 8

Say it: al-YAWM Means: Today

🎨 Picture: A calendar with a bright red circle around one square.

Use it when: You're saying what's happening right now, this day. "Today I have school." "Today is Tuesday." "Today we eat with teta."

Card 9

Say it: AMS Means: Yesterday

🎨 Picture: A page being flipped backward on a wall calendar.

Use it when: You're telling a story about something that already happened. "Yesterday I went to the park." "Yesterday was Sunday."

Card 10

Say it: BUK-ra Means: Tomorrow

🎨 Picture: A kid in pajamas pointing at tomorrow's square on the calendar before bed.

Use it when: You're talking about what comes next. "Tomorrow is Friday!" "Tomorrow we go to jiddo's." "Tomorrow I have a test."

This is the Levantine word everyone uses. In MSA books you'll see غَداً (ghadan) — same meaning, just more formal.

A bonus card — for the family

Card 11 (bonus)

Say it: ni-HAA-yet al-US-boo' Means: The weekend (literally: "end of the week")

🎨 Picture: A child throwing a backpack on the floor on Friday afternoon, arms in the air.

Use it when: Friday afternoon arrives. You're making weekend plans. Someone asks what you did over the weekend.

How to use these cards

1. Put them in order on the fridge. Sunday → Saturday, left to right (or right to left, like Arabic — your choice!). Use a clothespin or magnet on today's card. Move it every morning.
2. One question a day. Ask your kid: "شو اليَوم؟" (What's today?) Then: "شو بُكرا؟" (What's tomorrow?) Then: "شو كان أَمس؟" (What was yesterday?)
3. Use them in real life. "What day is your soccer game?" "What day do we visit teta?" Days only stick when they're attached to something the kid cares about.
4. Don't drill all seven at once. Start with today, tomorrow, yesterday. Then add the day names one at a time.

On the letter you'll see

Every single day starts with يَوم — and every yawm starts with ي (ya), today's letter. Ya is the little letter with two dots underneath. Look for it at the start of all seven day cards.

Once your kid spots ya in yawm, they'll start spotting it everywhere — in their own name, maybe, or in yalla.

Yalla Arabic · Vocabulary Cards · Session 43