Welcome to Lesson 43 of our Modern Standard Arabic course for autodidact students. Today we explore the temporal interrogative and conjunction “when” - a word that Arabic expresses through multiple forms depending on context. Unlike English’s single “when,” Arabic distinguishes between asking about time (متى), describing simultaneous events (عندما), and setting conditions (إذا).
Link to course index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
What does “when” mean in Arabic?
Arabic uses different words for “when” based on grammatical function: -
متى (matā) - interrogative “when?” for questions -
عندما (ʿindamā) - “when/at the time when” for statements -
حين/حينما (ḥīna/ḥīnamā) - “at the moment when” -
إذا (idhā) - “when/if” for future conditions -
لمّا (lammā) - “when” for specific past moments
In the following 15 examples, you’ll see how these different forms operate in various temporal contexts, from simple questions about timing to complex temporal clauses describing sequences of events.
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متى is exclusively interrogative, never used in statements -
عندما connects two events happening at the same time -
إذا implies future or hypothetical timing -
لمّا refers to specific completed past events -
Context determines which Arabic “when” to use
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43.1a متى when تأتي come-you-2MS 43.1b متى (matā) when تأتي (taʾtī) come-you-2MS
43.2a عندما when وصلتُ arrived-I كانوا were-they-3MPL نائمين sleeping-MPL 43.2b عندما (ʿindamā) when وصلتُ (waṣaltu) arrived-I كانوا (kānū) were-they-3MPL نائمين (nāʾimīn) sleeping-MPL
43.3a متى when سيبدأ will-begin-3MS الاجتماع the-meeting 43.3b متى (matā) when سيبدأ (sa-yabdaʾ) will-begin-3MS الاجتماع (al-ijtimāʿ) the-meeting
43.4a أذكر I-remember حين when كنا were-we صغاراً young-MPL-ACC 43.4b أذكر (adhkur) I-remember حين (ḥīna) when كنا (kunnā) were-we صغاراً (ṣighāran) young-MPL-ACC
43.5a إذا when/if جاء came-3MS الربيع the-spring تزهر bloom-3FS الأشجار the-trees 43.5b إذا (idhā) when/if جاء (jāʾa) came-3MS الربيع (ar-rabīʿ) the-spring تزهر (tuzhir) bloom-3FS الأشجار (al-ashjār) the-trees
43.6a لمّا when رأيته saw-I-him عرفته knew-I-him فوراً immediately 43.6b لمّا (lammā) when رأيته (raʾaytu-hu) saw-I-him عرفته (ʿaraftu-hu) knew-I-him فوراً (fawran) immediately
43.7a متى when تعلّمتَ learned-you-2MS العربية the-Arabic 43.7b متى (matā) when تعلّمتَ (taʿallamta) learned-you-2MS العربية (al-ʿarabiyya) the-Arabic
43.8a سأتصل will-I-call بك with-you عندما when أصل I-arrive 43.8b سأتصل (sa-attaṣil) will-I-call بك (bi-ka) with-you عندما (ʿindamā) when أصل (aṣil) I-arrive
43.9a حينما when تشرق rises-3FS الشمس the-sun يبدأ begins-3MS النهار the-day 43.9b حينما (ḥīnamā) when تشرق (tushriqu) rises-3FS الشمس (ash-shams) the-sun يبدأ (yabdaʾ) begins-3MS النهار (an-nahār) the-day
43.10a متى when ستسافرين will-travel-you-2FS إلى to مصر Egypt 43.10b متى (matā) when ستسافرين (sa-tusāfirīn) will-travel-you-2FS إلى (ilā) to مصر (miṣr) Egypt
43.11a إذا when/if درستَ studied-you-2MS نجحتَ succeeded-you-2MS 43.11b إذا (idhā) when/if درستَ (darasta) studied-you-2MS نجحتَ (najaḥta) succeeded-you-2MS
43.12a لمّا when سمعتُ heard-I الخبر the-news فرحتُ rejoiced-I 43.12b لمّا (lammā) when سمعتُ (samiʿtu) heard-I الخبر (al-khabar) the-news فرحتُ (fariḥtu) rejoiced-I
43.13a أخبرني tell-me متى when تريد want-you-2MS أن to تذهب go-you-2MS 43.13b أخبرني (akhbir-nī) tell-me متى (matā) when تريد (turīd) want-you-2MS أن (an) to تذهب (tadhhab) go-you-2MS
43.14a عندما when كنتُ was-I طفلاً child-ACC أحببتُ loved-I القراءة the-reading 43.14b عندما (ʿindamā) when كنتُ (kuntu) was-I طفلاً (ṭiflan) child-ACC أحببتُ (aḥbabtu) loved-I القراءة (al-qirāʾa) the-reading
43.15a حين when ينتهي ends-3MS العمل the-work سنحتفل will-we-celebrate 43.15b حين (ḥīna) when ينتهي (yantahī) ends-3MS العمل (al-ʿamal) the-work سنحتفل (sa-naḥtafil) will-we-celebrate
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43.1 متى تأتي؟ (Matā taʾtī?) “When are you coming?”
43.2 عندما وصلتُ كانوا نائمين (ʿIndamā waṣaltu kānū nāʾimīn) “When I arrived, they were sleeping”
43.3 متى سيبدأ الاجتماع؟ (Matā sa-yabdaʾ al-ijtimāʿ?) “When will the meeting begin?”
43.4 أذكر حين كنا صغاراً (Adhkur ḥīna kunnā ṣighāran) “I remember when we were young”
43.5 إذا جاء الربيع تزهر الأشجار (Idhā jāʾa ar-rabīʿ tuzhir al-ashjār) “When spring comes, the trees bloom”
43.6 لمّا رأيته عرفته فوراً (Lammā raʾaytu-hu ʿaraftu-hu fawran) “When I saw him, I knew him immediately”
43.7 متى تعلّمتَ العربية؟ (Matā taʿallamta al-ʿarabiyya?) “When did you learn Arabic?”
43.8 سأتصل بك عندما أصل (Sa-attaṣil bi-ka ʿindamā aṣil) “I will call you when I arrive”
43.9 حينما تشرق الشمس يبدأ النهار (Ḥīnamā tushriqu ash-shams yabdaʾ an-nahār) “When the sun rises, the day begins”
43.10 متى ستسافرين إلى مصر؟ (Matā sa-tusāfirīn ilā miṣr?) “When will you travel to Egypt?”
43.11 إذا درستَ نجحتَ (Idhā darasta najaḥta) “If/when you study, you succeed”
43.12 لمّا سمعتُ الخبر فرحتُ (Lammā samiʿtu al-khabar fariḥtu) “When I heard the news, I rejoiced”
43.13 أخبرني متى تريد أن تذهب (Akhbir-nī matā turīd an tadhhab) “Tell me when you want to go”
43.14 عندما كنتُ طفلاً أحببتُ القراءة (ʿIndamā kuntu ṭiflan aḥbabtu al-qirāʾa) “When I was a child, I loved reading”
43.15 حين ينتهي العمل سنحتفل (Ḥīna yantahī al-ʿamal sa-naḥtafil) “When the work ends, we will celebrate”
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43.1 متى تأتي؟ (Matā taʾtī?)
43.2 عندما وصلتُ كانوا نائمين (ʿIndamā waṣaltu kānū nāʾimīn)
43.3 متى سيبدأ الاجتماع؟ (Matā sa-yabdaʾ al-ijtimāʿ?)
43.4 أذكر حين كنا صغاراً (Adhkur ḥīna kunnā ṣighāran)
43.5 إذا جاء الربيع تزهر الأشجار (Idhā jāʾa ar-rabīʿ tuzhir al-ashjār)
43.6 لمّا رأيته عرفته فوراً (Lammā raʾaytu-hu ʿaraftu-hu fawran)
43.7 متى تعلّمتَ العربية؟ (Matā taʿallamta al-ʿarabiyya?)
43.8 سأتصل بك عندما أصل (Sa-attaṣil bi-ka ʿindamā aṣil)
43.9 حينما تشرق الشمس يبدأ النهار (Ḥīnamā tushriqu ash-shams yabdaʾ an-nahār)
43.10 متى ستسافرين إلى مصر؟ (Matā sa-tusāfirīn ilā miṣr?)
43.11 إذا درستَ نجحتَ (Idhā darasta najaḥta)
43.12 لمّا سمعتُ الخبر فرحتُ (Lammā samiʿtu al-khabar fariḥtu)
43.13 أخبرني متى تريد أن تذهب (Akhbir-nī matā turīd an tadhhab)
43.14 عندما كنتُ طفلاً أحببتُ القراءة (ʿIndamā kuntu ṭiflan aḥbabtu al-qirāʾa)
43.15 حين ينتهي العمل سنحتفل (Ḥīna yantahī al-ʿamal sa-naḥtafil)
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These are the grammar rules for “when” in Arabic:
The word متى is used exclusively for asking questions about time. It never appears in declarative sentences or as a conjunction. When using متى: -
Always appears at the beginning of the question -
Can be used with any tense (past, present, future) -
Often combined with سـ (sa-) for future questions -
Takes the same word order as other question words
Common patterns: -
متى + past verb = “When did...?” -
متى + سـ + present verb = “When will...?” -
متى + present verb = “When do/does...?”
The word عندما (literally “at the time when”) connects two simultaneous or closely related events: -
Used for both past and present/future contexts -
The verb after عندما usually matches the tense of the main clause -
Can begin the sentence or come in the middle -
More formal and standard than colloquial alternatives
Structure: عندما + complete clause + main clause
These forms mean “at the moment when” and are largely interchangeable with عندما: -
حين can be used alone or as حينما -
Slightly more literary or formal register -
Often used in nostalgic or reflective contexts -
Can be preceded by prepositions: في حين (while), إلى حين (until)
The particle إذا serves a dual function as “when” and “if”: -
Primarily indicates future or hypothetical time -
Creates a condition-result relationship -
The result clause often begins with فـ (fa-) -
Different from إن (in) which is purely conditional
Pattern: إذا + past verb (with future meaning) + result clause
The particle لمّا refers to a specific moment in the past: -
Only used with past tense verbs -
Indicates completed action -
Often translates as “when” or “after” -
Creates a strong temporal link between two past events
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Using متى in statements: متى is never a conjunction, only interrogative -
Wrong tense with إذا: Remember إذا uses past tense form with future meaning -
Confusing عندما and عند: عند means “at/with,” عندما means “when” -
Using لمّا with non-past: لمّا is exclusively for past events
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The concept of time and “when” in Arabic culture reflects deep philosophical and religious perspectives. The Arabic language’s multiple words for “when” reveal a nuanced understanding of temporal relationships that goes beyond simple chronology.
Religious Significance: In Islamic thought, time belongs to Allah, and the phrase إن شاء الله (in shāʾ allāh - “if God wills”) often accompanies discussions of future “when.” The Quran frequently uses إذا for prophetic events, emphasizing the certainty of divine timing.
Cultural Time Perception: Arab culture traditionally views time as more fluid than in Western contexts. The question متى؟ might receive answers like: -
بعد شوية (baʿd shwayya) - “after a little while” -
قريباً (qarīban) - “soon” -
في الوقت المناسب (fī al-waqt al-munāsib) - “at the appropriate time”
Proverbs about Time: -
الوقت كالسيف، إن لم تقطعه قطعك (Time is like a sword, if you don’t cut it, it cuts you) -
لكل وقت أذان (Every time has its call to prayer)
Regional Variations: -
Egyptian: إمتى (imta) instead of متى -
Levantine: أيمتى (ayamta) or وين (wēn) -
Gulf: متى often pronounced (mata) -
Maghrebi: وقتاش (waqtāsh) or فوقاش (fūqāsh)
Grammatical Philosophy: The distinction between لمّا (completed past) and عندما (general time) reflects Arab grammarians’ precise categorization of temporal aspects, developed during the golden age of Arabic linguistics in Basra and Kufa.
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From the pre-Islamic poetry of Imru’ al-Qays (امرؤ القيس):
ألا oh عِم rejoice صباحاً morning-ACC أيها O-you الطلل ruins البالي the-ancient ألا (alā) oh عِم (ʿim) rejoice صباحاً (ṣabāḥan) morning-ACC أيها (ayyuhā) O-you الطلل (aṭ-ṭalal) ruins البالي (al-bālī) the-ancient
وهل and-QUES يَعِمَن rejoices من who كان was في in العُصُر ages الخالي the-past وهل (wa-hal) and-QUES يَعِمَن (yaʿiman) rejoices من (man) who كان (kāna) was في (fī) in العُصُر (al-ʿuṣur) ages الخالي (al-khālī) the-past
ألا عِم صباحاً أيها الطلل البالي، وهل يَعِمَن من كان في العُصُر الخالي (Alā ʿim ṣabāḥan ayyuhā aṭ-ṭalal al-bālī, wa-hal yaʿiman man kāna fī al-ʿuṣur al-khālī) “Oh rejoice in the morning, O ancient ruins, but can one who was in past ages rejoice?”
ألا عِم صباحاً أيها الطلل البالي، وهل يَعِمَن من كان في العُصُر الخالي (Alā ʿim ṣabāḥan ayyuhā aṭ-ṭalal al-bālī, wa-hal yaʿiman man kāna fī al-ʿuṣur al-khālī)
This classical verse uses من (man - “who”) in a temporal-existential sense, questioning whether those from past times can experience present joy. The verb كان (was) creates a temporal frame, while the phrase في العُصُر الخالي (in past ages) establishes the “when” of existence. This poetic use shows how Arabic conflates questions of “who” and “when” in philosophical contexts.
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43.16a متى when وصلتَ arrived-you-2MS إلى to هنا here 43.16b متى (matā) when وصلتَ (waṣalta) arrived-you-2MS إلى (ilā) to هنا (hunā) here
43.17a وصلتُ arrived-I قبل before ساعة hour تقريباً approximately 43.17b وصلتُ (waṣaltu) arrived-I قبل (qabla) before ساعة (sāʿa) hour تقريباً (taqrīban) approximately
43.18a وأنتِ and-you-FS متى when ستذهبين will-go-you-2FS 43.18b وأنتِ (wa-anti) and-you-FS متى (matā) when ستذهبين (sa-tadhhabīn) will-go-you-2FS
43.19a عندما when ينتهي ends-3MS هذا this اللقاء the-meeting 43.19b عندما (ʿindamā) when ينتهي (yantahī) ends-3MS هذا (hādhā) this اللقاء (al-liqāʾ) the-meeting
43.20a إذا if/when انتهى ended-3MS مبكراً early فسنذهب then-will-we-go معاً together 43.20b إذا (idhā) if/when انتهى (intahā) ended-3MS مبكراً (mubakkiran) early فسنذهب (fa-sa-nadhhab) then-will-we-go معاً (maʿan) together
43.21a حسناً well لمّا when تنتهي you-finish-2MS أخبرني tell-me 43.21b حسناً (ḥasanan) well لمّا (lammā) when تنتهي (tantahī) you-finish-2MS أخبرني (akhbir-nī) tell-me
43.22a بالمناسبة by-the-way متى when عيد birthday ميلادك birth-your 43.22b بالمناسبة (bi-l-munāsaba) by-the-way متى (matā) when عيد (ʿīd) birthday ميلادك (mīlādi-ka) birth-your
43.23a في in الشهر the-month القادم the-coming يوم day العشرين the-twentieth 43.23b في (fī) in الشهر (ash-shahr) the-month القادم (al-qādim) the-coming يوم (yawm) day العشرين (al-ʿishrīn) the-twentieth
43.24a جميل beautiful سأتذكر will-I-remember حين when يأتي comes-3MS الوقت the-time 43.24b جميل (jamīl) beautiful سأتذكر (sa-atadhakkar) will-I-remember حين (ḥīna) when يأتي (yaʾtī) comes-3MS الوقت (al-waqt) the-time
43.25a هل QUES تعرف you-know-2MS متى when يفتح opens-3MS المتجر the-store 43.25b هل (hal) QUES تعرف (taʿrif) you-know-2MS متى (matā) when يفتح (yaftaḥ) opens-3MS المتجر (al-matjar) the-store
43.26a عندما when تطلع rises-3FS الشمس the-sun مباشرة directly 43.26b عندما (ʿindamā) when تطلع (taṭluʿ) rises-3FS الشمس (ash-shams) the-sun مباشرة (mubāshara) directly
43.27a إذن then لمّا when نلتقي we-meet غداً tomorrow صباحاً morning-ACC 43.27b إذن (idhan) then لمّا (lammā) when نلتقي (naltaqī) we-meet غداً (ghadan) tomorrow صباحاً (ṣabāḥan) morning-ACC
43.28a عندما when تكون you-are-2MS مستعداً ready-ACC اتصل call-IMP بي with-me 43.28b عندما (ʿindamā) when تكون (takūn) you-are-2MS مستعداً (mustaʿiddan) ready-ACC اتصل (ittaṣil) call-IMP بي (bī) with-me
43.29a متى when ما ever تريد you-want-2MS أنا I موجود present 43.29b متى (matā) when ما (mā) ever تريد (turīd) you-want-2MS أنا (anā) I موجود (mawjūd) present
43.30a شكراً thanks إلى until اللقاء the-meeting حين when نجتمع we-gather 43.30b شكراً (shukran) thanks إلى (ilā) until اللقاء (al-liqāʾ) the-meeting حين (ḥīna) when نجتمع (najtamiʿ) we-gather
43.16 متى وصلتَ إلى هنا؟ (Matā waṣalta ilā hunā?) “When did you arrive here?”
43.17 وصلتُ قبل ساعة تقريباً (Waṣaltu qabla sāʿa taqrīban) “I arrived about an hour ago”
43.18 وأنتِ، متى ستذهبين؟ (Wa-anti, matā sa-tadhhabīn?) “And you, when will you go?”
43.19 عندما ينتهي هذا اللقاء (ʿIndamā yantahī hādhā al-liqāʾ) “When this meeting ends”
43.20 إذا انتهى مبكراً فسنذهب معاً (Idhā intahā mubakkiran fa-sa-nadhhab maʿan) “If it ends early, we’ll go together”
43.21 حسناً، لمّا تنتهي أخبرني (Ḥasanan, lammā tantahī akhbir-nī) “Alright, when you finish, tell me”
43.22 بالمناسبة، متى عيد ميلادك؟ (Bi-l-munāsaba, matā ʿīd mīlādi-ka?) “By the way, when is your birthday?”
43.23 في الشهر القادم، يوم العشرين (Fī ash-shahr al-qādim, yawm al-ʿishrīn) “Next month, on the twentieth”
43.24 جميل! سأتذكر حين يأتي الوقت (Jamīl! Sa-atadhakkar ḥīna yaʾtī al-waqt) “Great! I’ll remember when the time comes”
43.25 هل تعرف متى يفتح المتجر؟ (Hal taʿrif matā yaftaḥ al-matjar?) “Do you know when the store opens?”
43.26 عندما تطلع الشمس مباشرة (ʿIndamā taṭluʿ ash-shams mubāshara) “Right when the sun rises”
43.27 إذن، لمّا نلتقي غداً صباحاً؟ (Idhan, lammā naltaqī ghadan ṣabāḥan?) “So, when shall we meet tomorrow morning?”
43.28 عندما تكون مستعداً، اتصل بي (ʿIndamā takūn mustaʿiddan, ittaṣil bī) “When you’re ready, call me”
43.29 متى ما تريد، أنا موجود (Matā mā turīd, anā mawjūd) “Whenever you want, I’m available”
43.30 شكراً! إلى اللقاء حين نجتمع (Shukran! Ilā al-liqāʾ ḥīna najtamiʿ) “Thanks! Until we meet again”
43.16 متى وصلتَ إلى هنا؟ (Matā waṣalta ilā hunā?)
43.17 وصلتُ قبل ساعة تقريباً (Waṣaltu qabla sāʿa taqrīban)
43.18 وأنتِ، متى ستذهبين؟ (Wa-anti, matā sa-tadhhabīn?)
43.19 عندما ينتهي هذا اللقاء (ʿIndamā yantahī hādhā al-liqāʾ)
43.20 إذا انتهى مبكراً فسنذهب معاً (Idhā intahā mubakkiran fa-sa-nadhhab maʿan)
43.21 حسناً، لمّا تنتهي أخبرني (Ḥasanan, lammā tantahī akhbir-nī)
43.22 بالمناسبة، متى عيد ميلادك؟ (Bi-l-munāsaba, matā ʿīd mīlādi-ka?)
43.23 في الشهر القادم، يوم العشرين (Fī ash-shahr al-qādim, yawm al-ʿishrīn)
43.24 جميل! سأتذكر حين يأتي الوقت (Jamīl! Sa-atadhakkar ḥīna yaʾtī al-waqt)
43.25 هل تعرف متى يفتح المتجر؟ (Hal taʿrif matā yaftaḥ al-matjar?)
43.26 عندما تطلع الشمس مباشرة (ʿIndamā taṭluʿ ash-shams mubāshara)
43.27 إذن، لمّا نلتقي غداً صباحاً؟ (Idhan, lammā naltaqī ghadan ṣabāḥan?)
43.28 عندما تكون مستعداً، اتصل بي (ʿIndamā takūn mustaʿiddan, ittaṣil bī)
43.29 متى ما تريد، أنا موجود (Matā mā turīd, anā mawjūd)
43.30 شكراً! إلى اللقاء حين نجتمع (Shukran! Ilā al-liqāʾ ḥīna najtamiʿ)
Dialogue demonstrates the natural use of temporal markers in conversation:
Question-Answer Patterns: Notice how متى questions receive specific time answers or عندما/إذا conditional responses, showing the flexibility of temporal reference in Arabic conversation.
Colloquial Elements: The dialogue includes conversational markers like حسناً (alright), بالمناسبة (by the way), and إذن (so/then) that frame temporal discussions naturally.
متى ما Construction: The phrase متى ما (whenever) shows an indefinite temporal extension of متى, common in spoken Arabic for open-ended time references.
Future Planning: Arabic conversations about future meetings often use إذا for tentative plans and عندما for more certain arrangements, reflecting cultural attitudes toward time and commitment.
Politeness in Time: Notice how speakers avoid being too specific about time, using تقريباً (approximately) and similar hedging, reflecting cultural preferences for flexibility.
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This lesson is part of the Latinum Institute’s comprehensive Arabic language program, designed specifically for autodidact learners. The Latinum Institute has been creating innovative language learning materials since 2006, focusing on making classical and modern languages accessible through the proven interlinear method.
Our unique approach presents Arabic text with detailed word-by-word analysis, allowing learners to understand complex grammatical structures from the very beginning. Each lesson follows the universal CSV-based curriculum, ensuring systematic coverage of essential vocabulary while maintaining the flexibility to use natural, authentic Arabic expressions.
The interlinear construed text method accelerates comprehension by making the relationship between Arabic script, pronunciation, and meaning immediately visible. This transparency allows learners to engage with real Arabic texts much earlier than traditional methods would permit.
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The beauty of this method lies in its simplicity: by seeing how each Arabic word corresponds to its English meaning, learners develop an intuitive understanding of Arabic sentence structure, word order, and grammatical patterns. This lesson on “when” (متى) demonstrates the temporal sophistication of Arabic, preparing you for nuanced time expressions in real-world Arabic communication.
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