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Through
#11
خلال (khilāl) is a preposition meaning 'through' or 'during,' used to indicate passage through space, time, or a process. It can also function as a noun meaning 'gap' or 'opening.' This versatile word is essential for expressing temporal and spatial relationships in Arabic.
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مررت خلال الغابة في الصباح
Marrart khilāl al-ghābah fī al-sabāh
I passed through the forest in the morning
سأنهي المشروع خلال أسبوعين
Sa-anhī al-mashrū' khilāl usbū'ayn
I will finish the project during two weeks
تعلمت اللغة العربية خلال سنة
Ta'allamt al-lughah al-'arabiyyah khilāl sanah
I learned Arabic during a year
يمكنك رؤية النجوم خلال الليل
Yumkinuka ru'yat al-nujūm khilāl al-layl
You can see the stars through the night
هناك فجوات صغيرة خلال السور
Hunāk fajwāt saghīrah khilāl al-sūr
There are small gaps through the wall
خلال is fundamental in everyday Arabic communication, appearing frequently in news broadcasts, literature, and conversation when discussing time periods and spatial movement. In modern Standard Arabic, it's the preferred preposition for indicating duration, making it essential for discussing schedules, timelines, and project deadlines in professional and academic contexts. Understanding this word's dual function—both temporal and spatial—is crucial for achieving fluency in natural Arabic expression.
When expressing time duration, خلال should be followed by a specific time period (e.g., خلال ساعة 'during an hour'), making it different from أثناء which can be vaguer. Remember that خلال as a preposition always requires the noun that follows it to be in the genitive case (idāfah). Be careful not to confuse it with عبر, which emphasizes crossing or traversing, while خلال emphasizes passage within or during a span of time.
The Arabic word خلال (khilāl) is one of the most versatile and frequently used prepositions in the Arabic language. It carries multiple meanings depending on context: primarily 'through,' 'during,' or 'within.' Understanding how to use this word correctly is essential for any English speaker learning Arabic, as it appears in countless everyday situations.
When expressing time periods, خلال indicates that something happens within or during a specified duration. This is perhaps its most common usage:
Unlike some synonyms, خلال specifically requires a definite time period to follow it. You would say "خلال سنتين" (within two years) rather than a vague timeframe.
As a spatial preposition, خلال indicates passage through a physical space:
In this context, it emphasizes passing through or within something, rather than simply going across (which would use عبر).
When used as a noun, خلال means a gap, opening, or space:
When used as a preposition, خلال requires the following noun to be in the genitive case (idāfah construction). This means:
Correct: خلال الاجتماع (during the meeting) Incorrect: خلال اجتماع (without the definite article)
أثناء (athnā'): Also means 'during,' but is vaguer and doesn't require a specific duration. أثناء السفر (during travel) is more open-ended than خلال ساعة (within an hour).
عبر (abr): Means 'across' or 'through,' but emphasizes traversing from one side to another rather than passage within a time period or space.
في (fī): The most general preposition meaning 'in' or 'during,' but lacks the specific implication of passage that خلال carries.
Business and Professional Settings:
Academic Contexts:
Daily Conversation:
In modern Standard Arabic (Fusha), خلال is the preferred way to express duration in formal and professional contexts. Arabic news broadcasts, academic papers, and business communications regularly use this preposition when discussing time periods. In dialect variations, speakers may use similar constructions but with adjusted pronunciation and surrounding grammar.
The phrase من خلال (by means of/through) is particularly common in modern Arabic, especially in academic and journalistic writing, where it introduces the method or means by which something is accomplished or understood.
Mastering خلال is a key step toward fluency in Arabic. Its dual nature as both a temporal and spatial preposition makes it invaluable for expressing how events occur within specific timeframes and how movement happens through physical spaces. Regular practice with this word in both spoken and written contexts will significantly improve your Arabic communication skills.