Meaning & use
iftar
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable or uncountablereligion
The meal Muslims eat after sunset to end the day's fast during Ramadan.
Grammar: Used with at or for: at iftar, an iftar with friends.
Patterns
- break the fast at iftar
- an iftar with someone
Our family gathers for iftar as soon as the call to prayer sounds.
The mosque hosts a community iftar every Saturday.
We began the iftar with dates and water.
nouncountablereligion
A gathering or event held for people to share this meal.
Grammar: Can be hosted or attended: host an iftar.
Patterns
- host an iftar
The school organized an iftar for students of all backgrounds.
The mayor attended an iftar with local leaders.
We were invited to an iftar at our neighbor's home.
Word forms
| plural | iftars |
|---|
Common combinations
- break the fast at iftar
- They break the fast at iftar with dates.
- iftar meal
- The iftar meal included soup, rice, and fruit.
- host an iftar
- She hosts an iftar for friends every year.
- community iftar
- The community iftar drew hundreds of people.
- iftar time
- At iftar time the streets grow quiet.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fast-breaking meal
- This descriptive phrase explains the idea in English, but iftar is the established word.
- evening meal
- Evening meal is general; iftar is tied to Ramadan and ends the fast.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: iftar or suhoor?
iftar vs suhoor
Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal that begins the fast, while iftar is the meal that ends it at sunset.
Practice
Muslims eat ___ at sunset during Ramadan to end the day's fast.
Choose one answer.
Iftar is the meal that breaks the fast. Suhoor is the meal before dawn, and the others are not tied to Ramadan.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “iftar”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.