Sehri
/ˈseɪ.ri/noun
The pre-dawn meal eaten by Muslims before beginning a day of fasting during Ramadan.
Did you know?Sehri ultimately comes from the Arabic word sahar, meaning the time just before dawn, while the related Arabic word siḥr means magic; their similar forms are historically distinct and should not be confused.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Arabic
Arabic
سَحَر (sahar)
“The final part of the night immediately before dawn”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
سُحُور (suḥūr)
“The food or drink consumed before dawn during a fast”
Medieval Persian
Persian
سحری (saharī)
“Of dawn; relating to the pre-dawn meal”
Early Modern South Asian usage
Urdu/Hindustani
سحری (sehri)
“The meal eaten before dawn during Ramadan”
Modern English
English
sehri
“The pre-dawn Ramadan meal”