المجلس هنا اليوم.

In Arabic, the present tense of to be is usually not stated.

So a sentence like المجلس هنا اليوم is a normal nominal sentence and naturally means the council/assembly is here today.

If you wanted was or will be, Arabic would usually express that more explicitly, but in the present, no separate word for is is needed.

It is a nominal sentence (جملة اسمية), which means it begins with a noun.

Its basic structure is:

• المجلس = the subject/topic
• هنا اليوم = the information being given about it

So grammatically, المجلس is the مبتدأ and هنا اليوم functions as the خبر.

الـ is the Arabic definite article, equivalent to the in English.

So:

• مجلس = a council / a sitting place / an assembly
• المجلس = the council / the assembly / the majlis

Since the sentence refers to a specific, known council/assembly, the definite article is used.

مجلس has a range of meanings depending on context. Common meanings include:

• council
• assembly
• session
• sitting room / reception room
• majlis as a cultural term

So the exact meaning depends on context. In Modern Standard Arabic, it often refers to an official body such as a council or assembly.

Because Arabic often starts nominal sentences with the thing being talked about first, then gives information about it.

Here:

• المجلس = what we are talking about
• هنا = where it is
• اليوم = when it is here

So the order is very natural: the council — here — today.

English requires is, but Arabic does not.

Yes, Arabic word order is somewhat flexible, though the basic version here is natural and neutral.

For example:

• المجلس هنا اليوم = neutral
• هنا المجلس اليوم = gives more emphasis to here
• اليوم المجلس هنا = can emphasize today, though it may sound more marked depending on context

So yes, the order can change, but the original sentence is a straightforward standard way to say it.

They are adverbial expressions:

• هنا = an adverb of place (here)
• اليوم = an adverb of time (today)

Together they give location and time.

In traditional grammar, هنا is treated as a ظرف مكان and اليوم as a ظرف زمان.

In fully vowelled formal grammar:

• المجلسُ would usually be nominative
• هنا is indeclinable
• اليومَ is often accusative as an adverb of time

So a fully marked version could be:

المجلسُ هنا اليومَ

In normal everyday writing, these short vowels are usually omitted, so you simply see:

المجلس هنا اليوم

It is pronounced approximately al-majlis.

A few helpful points:

• ال is pronounced al- here
• the l is pronounced clearly because م is a moon letter, not a sun letter
• ج in Modern Standard Arabic is usually taught as a sound like j in judge
• the word stress is roughly on the first syllable: MAJ-lis

So the whole sentence is approximately:

al-majlis hunā al-yawm

Because م is a moon letter (حرف قمري).

With moon letters, the l of الـ is pronounced:

• المجلس = al-majlis

If the next letter were a sun letter, the l would assimilate instead.

So this word is a good example of a clear, fully pronounced الـ.

Yes, Arabic can sometimes say:

• المجلس موجود هنا اليوم

But that is not necessary. In most simple cases, المجلس هنا اليوم is perfectly natural and idiomatic.

Adding موجود can make the idea of physical presence more explicit, but the shorter sentence is very normal.

No. It is often placed at the end, but not always.

You can also find:

• اليوم المجلس هنا
• المجلس اليوم هنا

The choice depends on emphasis and style. Ending with اليوم is a very natural, neutral option in this sentence.

Yes. The sentence is perfectly acceptable in Modern Standard Arabic.

It is also simple enough that similar wording could appear in many spoken varieties, although pronunciation and preferred phrasing may differ by region. As written, though, it is fully compatible with MSA.