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laqad marat sanawat
It's been ages
لقد مرت سنوات (laqad marat sanawat) is an Arabic phrase meaning 'It's been ages' or 'Years have passed.' This idiomatic expression is used to indicate that a long time has elapsed since something happened, often with a sense of nostalgia or surprise at how quickly time has passed. It combines the past tense verb مرت (passed) with the noun سنوات (years) to convey the passage of considerable time.
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لقد مرت سنوات منذ آخر لقاء لنا.
Laqad marat sanawat mundhu akhir liqaa lana.
It's been ages since our last meeting.
لقد مرت سنوات وأنا أنتظر هذا اليوم.
Laqad marat sanawat wa ana antazir hadha al-yawm.
I've been waiting for this day for ages.
لقد مرت سنوات على ما تركت مصر.
Laqad marat sanawat ala ma taraktu misr.
It's been years since I left Egypt.
لقد مرت سنوات ولم نسمع عن أخبارك.
Laqad marat sanawat walam nasma an akhbarak.
It's been ages and we haven't heard from you.
لقد مرت سنوات وهو لا يزال يذكرها.
Laqad marat sanawat wahuwa la yazal yadhkuraha.
It's been years and he still remembers her.
This phrase is commonly used in Arabic-speaking cultures to express nostalgia and reflect on the passage of time, often in contexts of reunion, reminiscence, or acknowledging how quickly life moves. Arabs frequently use time-related expressions in social interactions to strengthen bonds and create emotional connections. The phrase carries a sentimental tone and is particularly common in greetings after long absences, making it an essential part of social courtesy and relationship maintenance.
This is a set phrase best learned as a whole unit rather than translating word-by-word. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when reconnecting with old friends or family. Remember that it works well with the preposition منذ (since) to indicate when the time period started, as in 'لقد مرت سنوات منذ...' (It's been years since...). Native speakers often elongate the word سنوات for emotional emphasis in speech.
The Arabic phrase لقد مرت سنوات is one of the most commonly used idiomatic expressions in everyday conversation among Arabic speakers. Literally translated, it breaks down to 'years have passed,' but the actual meaning conveys the sentiment of 'it's been ages' or 'it's been such a long time.' This phrase carries emotional weight and is typically used to express surprise, nostalgia, or reflection about the passage of time.
The phrase is constructed with several important grammatical components:
This particular verb form uses the feminine because the noun سنوات is feminine in Arabic grammar, demonstrating the importance of grammatical gender agreement in Arabic verb conjugation.
Native speakers use this phrase extensively in social situations, particularly when reconnecting with people after long periods of separation. It's the perfect way to acknowledge how much time has passed since a previous encounter. The phrase works well in both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile for various social settings.
You'll hear it used in contexts such as:
The phrase carries a distinctly sentimental tone. Whether expressing joy at finally seeing someone again or sadness at how quickly time has passed, لقد مرت سنوات evokes emotional resonance. In speech, native speakers often elongate the word سنوات for dramatic emphasis, particularly when expressing strong feeling about the passage of time.
In Arabic-speaking cultures, acknowledging the passage of time is a significant part of social interaction. The phrase serves as more than just a statement of fact; it's a way of strengthening social bonds and showing that you value your relationships enough to notice their absence. Using this phrase appropriately demonstrates cultural awareness and emotional intelligence in Arabic communication.
When learning to use this phrase, treat it as a complete unit rather than trying to construct it from individual words each time. While you can modify it with additional phrases—such as adding منذ (since) to specify when the time period began—the core phrase لقد مرت سنوات is best memorized and used as a fixed expression.
For English speakers learning Arabic, this phrase is excellent practice for understanding how Arabic handles past tense constructions and maintains grammatical agreement between verbs and nouns, particularly regarding gender.
You might also encounter similar phrases that convey the passage of time:
These alternatives offer slightly different nuances but convey similar meanings about the passage of significant time periods.