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Duration
المدّة (al-mudda) is a feminine noun meaning 'duration' or 'period of time.' It refers to a span or length of time, whether short or long, and is commonly used in both formal and informal Arabic contexts. The word often appears in sentences discussing how long something lasts or will take.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11
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عملت في هذه الشركة لمدة خمس سنوات.
Amiltu fee haadhi ash-sharika li-muddat khams sineen.
I worked at this company for a period of five years.
المدة المحددة للامتحان ثلاث ساعات.
Al-mudda al-muhaddada lil-imtihaan thalath sa'aat.
The allotted duration for the exam is three hours.
سنسافر خلال هذه المدة.
Sa-nusaafir khilal haadhi al-mudda.
We will travel during this period.
لمدة طويلة لم أرَ صديقي.
Li-mudda tawila lam ara sadiqi.
For a long time, I did not see my friend.
تحتاج المشروع إلى مدة طويلة للانتهاء منه.
Tahtaj al-mashru' ila mudda tawila lil-intihaa' minhu.
The project needs a long duration to be completed.
In Arabic-speaking cultures, المدّة is used extensively in both everyday conversation and formal contexts, particularly in business, education, and legal documents. The concept of duration is important in Islamic tradition, as prayer times, fasting periods, and other religious practices are measured in specific durations. Understanding how to discuss time periods is essential for effective communication in Arabic.
Remember that المدّة is a feminine noun, so it requires feminine agreement with adjectives (e.g., مدّة طويلة 'a long duration'). It is typically used with the preposition 'li' (لـ) to indicate 'for a duration of,' as in 'lil-mudda' (للمدة). Pay attention to whether you're referring to a specific duration (al-mudda al-muhayyada - the designated duration) or a general span of time.
The Arabic word المدّة (al-mudda) is a feminine noun that translates to 'duration,' 'period,' or 'span of time' in English. It is one of the most commonly used time-related words in Arabic and appears frequently in both spoken and written Arabic across various contexts.
المدّة refers to any measurable period or length of time. It can be used for short durations (minutes, hours) or long periods (days, months, years). The word emphasizes the concept of time passing or being measured, making it distinct from simply stating a point in time.
As a feminine noun in Arabic, المدّة requires feminine agreement when used with adjectives and verbs. For example:
The word is commonly preceded by the preposition 'li' (لـ) meaning 'for,' creating the phrase 'lil-mudda' (للمدة) to express 'for a duration of.' This construction is essential when specifying how long something lasts.
المدّة appears frequently in:
When learning to use المدّة, it's helpful to practice with various time measurements:
Understanding المدّة helps learners grasp related concepts like الفترة (period/interval) and الزمن (time/era). While these words are sometimes interchangeable, المدّة specifically emphasizes the measurable aspect of time, while الفترة may refer more to a defined historical or contextual period.
In Islamic tradition and Arabic-speaking cultures, the concept of duration is particularly important. Islamic practices like Ramadan fasting, prayer times, and pilgrimage schedules are all defined by specific durations. Business practices, school schedules, and legal agreements also rely heavily on clearly defined المدّة to prevent misunderstandings.
English speakers learning Arabic should remember that المدّة is gender-specific and requires appropriate grammatical agreement. Additionally, the preposition 'li' is almost always used when stating how long something lasts, unlike in English where we might simply say 'for five years' without additional complexity. Practice using المدّة with different time expressions to develop fluency in discussing duration in Arabic.