Sahur
/səˈhʊər/noun
The pre-dawn meal eaten by Muslims before beginning a day of fasting during Ramadan.
Did you know?Sahur is related to Arabic terms for the final hours before dawn, a liminal time traditionally associated with prayer, reflection, and heightened spiritual awareness.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Arabic
Arabic
سُحور (suḥūr)
“The act or meal of eating before dawn”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
سَحَر (saḥar)
“The final part of the night immediately before dawn”
Medieval Period
Arabic
suḥūr
“The pre-dawn meal taken before a religious fast”
19th–20th Century
Malay/Indonesian
sahur
“The pre-dawn meal before fasting, especially during Ramadan”
20th Century
English
sahur
“A Ramadan pre-dawn meal”
Modern English
English
sahur
“A commonly used English loanword for the meal before the daily Ramadan fast”