Sahari
/səˈhɑː.ri/noun
A pre-dawn meal eaten by Muslims during Ramadan before the daily fast begins.
Did you know?Although Sahari comes from the Arabic word for the final part of night, it is not etymologically related to Arabic siḥr, meaning magic or sorcery—a tempting but false occult connection.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Arabic
Arabic
saḥar
“The final part of the night immediately before dawn.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
saḥūr
“Food or drink consumed during the pre-dawn period.”
Medieval period
Arabic
saḥarī
“Belonging to or relating to the pre-dawn period.”
Medieval–Modern period
Persian/Urdu
saharī / sehri
“The pre-dawn meal eaten before a day of fasting.”
Modern English
English
sahari
“A pre-dawn Ramadan meal, especially in South Asian Muslim usage.”