How to Make an Appointment in Arabic with Just About Anyone

Learning a new language opens up a world of possibilities, and Arabic is no exception. Whether you’re looking to connect with new people, explore rich cultures, or conduct business, knowing how to communicate effectively is key. One of the most practical skills you’ll need is making appointments. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to confidently set an appointment in Arabic with just about anyone, ensuring a smooth and polite interaction every time.

Why Learning to Make an Appointment in Arabic Matters

Beyond basic greetings, being able to schedule an appointment in Arabic shows respect and professionalism. It allows you to:

• Schedule meetings with doctors, colleagues, or friends.
• Arrange visits to places like the bank or a government office.
• Demonstrate your growing fluency and confidence in real-life situations.

We’ll cover essential vocabulary, phrases, and cultural tips to help you master this important skill.

Key Appointment Arabic Word and Phrases

Let’s start with the most important vocabulary you’ll need. Understanding these words is the foundation for making any appointment in Arabic.

Phrases for Requesting an Appointment in Arabic

When you want to initiate the process of setting an appointment in Arabic, these phrases will be your best friends.

• أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُحَدِّدَ مَوْعِدًا (Urīdu an uḥaddida maw’idan)
  • I want to set an appointment.
  • This is a general and polite way to express your intention.
• هَل يُمْكِنُنِي تَحْدِيدُ مَوْعِدٍ؟ (Hal yumkinunī taḥdīdu maw’idin?)
  • Can I make an appointment?
  • A direct and polite question.
• هَل لَدَيْكَ وَقْتٌ مُتَاحٌ يَوْمَ…؟ (Hal ladayka waqtun mutāḥun yawma…?)
  • Do you have time available on [day]…?
  • Use this when proposing a specific day.
• مَتَى يُمْكِنُنَا الالْتِقَاء؟ (Matā yumkinunā al-iltiqā’?)
  • When can we meet?
  • A good open-ended question.
• هَل يَوْمُ… مُنَاسِبٌ لَكَ؟ (Hal yawmu… munāsibun laka?)
  • Is [day] suitable for you?
  • More direct, useful for checking availability.

Discussing Time and Date for Your Appointment in Arabic

Once you’ve established the possibility of an appointment, you’ll need to nail down the specifics.

Asking About Availability

• مَتَى أَنْتَ فَاضِي؟ (Matā anta fāḍī?)
  • When are you free? (Informal, masculine)
  • Use for friends or close acquaintances.
• مَتَى أَنْتِ فَاضِيَة؟ (Matā anti fāḍīya?)
  • When are you free? (Informal, feminine)
• مَتَى يُمْكِنُنِي أَنْ أَرَاكَ؟ (Matā yumkinunī an arāka?)
  • When can I see you? (Masculine)
• مَتَى يُمْكِنُنِي أَنْ أَرَاكِ؟ (Matā yumkinunī an arāki?)
  • When can I see you? (Feminine)

Proposing a Specific Time

• هَل السَّاعَةُ… مُنَاسِبَةٌ؟ (Hal as-sāʿatu… munāsibah?)
  • Is [time] suitable? (e.g., “هل الساعة الثانية مناسبة؟” – Is 2 o’clock suitable?)
• مَا رَأْيُكَ فِي السَّاعَةِ…؟ (Mā ra’yuka fī as-sāʿati…?)
  • What do you think about [time]? (Masculine)
• مَا رَأْيُكِ فِي السَّاعَةِ…؟ (Mā ra’yuki fī as-sāʿati…?)
  • What do you think about [time]? (Feminine)

Confirming the Appointment in Arabic

• …حَسَنًا، إِذًا مَوْعِدُنَا يَوْمَ… السَّاعَةَ (Ḥasanan, idhan maw’idunā yawma… as-sāʿata…)
  • Okay, so our appointment is on [day] at [time].
  • A great way to recap and confirm.
• تَمَّ، أَرَاكَ فِي ذَلِكَ الْوَقْتِ (Tamm, arāka fī dhālika al-waqti)
  • Done, I’ll see you at that time. (Informal, masculine)
• تَمَّ، أَرَاكِ فِي ذَلِكَ الْوَقْتِ (Tamm, arāki fī dhālika al-waqti)
  • Done, I’ll see you at that time. (Informal, feminine)

Accepting and Declining an Appointment in Arabic

Knowing how to respond to an appointment request is just as important as making one.

Accepting an Appointment in Arabic

• نَعَم، ذَلِكَ مُنَاسِبٌ جِدًّا (Na’am, dhālika munāsibun jiddan)
  • Yes, that is very suitable.
• بِالتَّأْكِيد، سَآتِي (Bi’l-ta’kīd, sa’ātī)
  • Certainly, I will come.
• أَنَا مُتَاحٌ فِي ذَلِكَ الْوَقْتِ (Anā mutāḥun fī dhālika al-waqti)
  • I am available at that time.

Declining or Rescheduling an Appointment in Arabic

Sometimes, you can’t make it. Here’s how to politely decline or suggest a new time.

• آسِف/آسِفَة، لَدَيَّ مَوْعِدٌ آخَرُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْوَقْتِ (Āsif/Āsifah, ladayya maw’idun ākharu fī dhālika al-waqti)
  • Sorry (masculine/feminine), I have another appointment at that time.
• لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ الْحُضُورَ (Lā asṭatīʿu al-ḥuḍūra)
  • I cannot attend.
• هَل يُمْكِنُنَا تَأْجِيلُ الْمَوْعِدِ؟ (Hal yumkinunā ta’jīlu al-maw’idi?)
  • Can we postpone the appointment?
• مَا رَأْيُكَ/رَأْيُكِ فِي يَوْمٍ آخَرَ؟ (Mā ra’yuka/ra’yuki fī yawmin ākhar?)
  • What do you think about another day? (Masculine/feminine)
• …عَذْرًا، لَنْ أَكُونَ قَادِرًا عَلَى الْحُضُورِ فِي (ʿUdhran, lan akūna qādiran ʿalā al-ḥuḍūri fī…)
  • Excuse me, I won’t be able to attend on… (Masculine)
• …عَذْرًا، لَنْ أَكُونَ قَادِرَةً عَلَى الْحُضُورِ فِي (ʿUdhran, lan akūna qādiratan ʿalā al-ḥuḍūri fī…)
  • Excuse me, I won’t be able to attend on… (Feminine)

Real-Life Scenarios: Making an Appointment in Arabic

Let’s put these phrases into practice with some common scenarios.

Scenario 1: Doctor’s Appointment Arabic

• You: السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ، هَل هَذَا مَكْتَبُ الدُّكْتُورِ أَحْمَد؟ (As-salāmu ʿalaykum, hal hādhā maktabu ad-duktūri Aḥmad?) Hello, is this Dr. Ahmed’s office?
  
• Receptionist: وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ، نَعَم. كَيْفَ أَسْتَطِيعُ مُسَاعَدَتَك؟ (Wa ʿalaykum as-salām, naʿam. Kayfa asṭatīʿu musāʿadatuk?) And upon you be peace, yes. How can I help you?
  
• You: أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُحَدِّدَ مَوْعِدًا لِلْفَحْصِ. (Urīdu an uḥaddida mawʿidan lil-faḥṣ.) I want to set an appointment for a check-up.
  
• Receptionist: حَسَنًا. مَتَى تُرِيدُ الْمَوْعِدَ؟ (Ḥasanan. Matā turīdu al-mawʿida?) Okay. When do you want the appointment?
  
• You: هَل يَوْمُ الثُّلَاثَاءِ مُتَاحٌ؟ (Hal yawmu ath-thulāthā’i mutāḥ?) Is Tuesday available?
  
• Receptionist: آسِفَة، يَوْمُ الثُّلَاثَاءِ مَشْغُولٌ جِدًّا. هَل يَوْمُ الْخَمِيسِ السَّاعَةَ الْعَاشِرَةَ صَبَاحًا مُنَاسِبٌ لَكَ؟ (Āsifah, yawmu ath-thulāthā’i mashghūlun jiddan. Hal yawmu al-khamīsi as-sāʿata al-ʿāshirata ṣabāḥan munāsibun laka?) Sorry, Tuesday is very busy. Is Thursday at 10 AM suitable for you?
  
• You: نَعَم، ذَلِكَ مُنَاسِبٌ جِدًّا. شُكْرًا جَزِيلًا. (Naʿam, dhālika munāsibun jiddan. Shukran jazīlan.) Yes, that is very suitable. Thank you very much.

Scenario 2: Social Appointment in Arabic

• You: مَرْحَبًا يَا سَارَة، كَيْفَ حَالُكِ؟ (Marḥaban yā Sārah, kayfa ḥālik?) Hi Sarah, how are you?
  
• Sarah: أَنَا بِخَيْرٍ، شُكْرًا. وَأَنْتِ؟ (Anā bikhayrin, shukran. Wa anti?) I’m fine, thanks. And you?
  
• You: بِخَيْرٍ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّه. هَل أَنْتِ فَاضِيَةٌ هَذَا الْمَسَاءَ؟ نُرِيدُ أَنْ نَلْتَقِيَ. (Bikhayrin al-ḥamdu lillāh. Hal anti fāḍīyatun hādhā al-masā’a? Nurīdu an naltaqiya.) Fine, thank God. Are you free this evening? We want to meet.
  
• Sarah: هَذَا الْمَسَاءَ لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ. لَدَيَّ مَوْعِدٌ. مَا رَأْيُكِ فِي يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ؟ (Hādhā al-masā’a lā asṭatīʿu. Ladayya mawʿidun. Mā ra’yuki fī yawmi al-jumū’ah baʿda aẓ-ẓuhr?) This evening I can’t. I have an appointment. What do you think about Friday afternoon?
  
• You: يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ مُمْتَازٌ! هَل السَّاعَةُ الْخَامِسَةُ مُنَاسِبَةٌ؟ (Yawmu al-jumū’ah mumtāzun! Hal as-sāʿatu al-khāmisatu munāsibah?) Friday is great! Is 5 o’clock suitable?
  
• Sarah: نَعَم، السَّاعَةُ الْخَامِسَةُ مُنَاسِبَةٌ جِدًّا. أَرَاكِ هُنَاكَ. (Naʿam, as-sāʿatu al-khāmisatu munāsibah jiddan. Arāki hunāka.) Yes, 5 o’clock is very suitable. See you there.

Cultural Nuances for Making an Appointment in Arabic

While the phrases above are universally understood, a few cultural tips can enhance your interactions:

• Flexibility with Time (especially in informal settings): In some Arab cultures, particularly in social contexts, punctuality can be more flexible than in Western cultures. While it’s always best to be on time yourself, don’t be surprised if your Arab counterpart arrives a little late for informal gatherings. For formal or business appointments, however, punctuality is generally expected.
• Politeness and Greetings: Always start with a polite greeting like “السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ” (As-salāmu ʿalaykum – Peace be upon you) or “مَرْحَبًا” (Marḥaban – Hello). End with “شُكْرًا” (Shukran – Thank you) and “مَعَ السَّلَامَة” (Maʿa as-salāmah – Goodbye).
• “Inshallah” (إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ): You might hear “Inshallah” (God willing) when an appointment is confirmed. This doesn’t necessarily mean the person is unsure; it’s a common cultural expression.
• Asking About Well-being: Before diving into the appointment details, it’s common and polite to ask about the other person’s well-being (e.g., “كيف حالك؟” – How are you?).

Practice Makes Perfect: Master Your Appointment Arabic

The best way to become confident in making an appointment in Arabic is to practice. Try:

• Role-playing with a language partner.
• Listening to Arabic dialogues about scheduling.
• Using the phrases in real-life situations, even if it’s just with yourself!

By incorporating these phrases and cultural insights into your Arabic learning journey, you’ll soon be making appointments with ease and confidence. Happy learning!

If you want to learn more about Arab culture, visit our blog on www.kaleela.com and don’t forget to download the Kaleela app to learn any dialect of your choice!