B2 Expression Formal

على مر السنين

'ala marr al-sinin

Over the years

Significado

Throughout many years; indicating a long period of time.

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Contexto cultural

The phrase evokes the 'Atlal' (ruins) theme in classical poetry, where poets reflect on the passage of time over abandoned campsites. It is a staple of documentary narration in the Arab world, used to provide a sense of historical gravity and continuity. In the Levant, the phrase is often used to emphasize the 'Asala' (authenticity) of family businesses or recipes. Frequently used in national day speeches to highlight the rapid development of the region from desert life to modern metropolises.

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Use for Essays

This is a 'power phrase' for writing tasks. It makes your Arabic sound more academic and structured.

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Preposition Alert

Never say 'في مر السنين'. It's a common mistake that sounds very unnatural to native speakers.

Significado

Throughout many years; indicating a long period of time.

💡

Use for Essays

This is a 'power phrase' for writing tasks. It makes your Arabic sound more academic and structured.

⚠️

Preposition Alert

Never say 'في مر السنين'. It's a common mistake that sounds very unnatural to native speakers.

🎯

Combine with Verbs of Change

Pair it with verbs like تطور (evolve), تغير (change), or ازداد (increase) for maximum impact.

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Nostalgia

When talking to older Arabs, using this phrase to ask about the past will often open up a wealth of stories.

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the missing preposition to complete the phrase.

تطورت التكنولوجيا ____ مر السنين.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: على

The fixed preposition for this idiom is 'على'.

Choose the most idiomatic plural for this expression.

حافظت المدينة على تراثها على مر _______.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: السنين

'السنين' is the standard idiomatic plural used in this specific phrase.

Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.

أحمد: هل تغيرت قريتكم كثيراً؟ خالد: نعم، لقد تغيرت ملامحها ________.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: على مر السنين

The context of a village changing suggests a long period, making 'على مر السنين' the best fit.

Which situation is MOST appropriate for this phrase?

Situation: Describing how a friendship has deepened since childhood.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: على مر السنين

Friendships deepening since childhood involve a long duration.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Common Verbs Paired with the Phrase

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Change

  • تطور
  • تغير
  • تبدل
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Persistence

  • بقي
  • استمر
  • حافظ

Accumulation

  • تراكم
  • ازداد
  • جمع

Banco de ejercicios

4 ejercicios
Fill in the missing preposition to complete the phrase. Fill Blank A2

تطورت التكنولوجيا ____ مر السنين.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: على

The fixed preposition for this idiom is 'على'.

Choose the most idiomatic plural for this expression. Choose B1

حافظت المدينة على تراثها على مر _______.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: السنين

'السنين' is the standard idiomatic plural used in this specific phrase.

Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase. dialogue_completion B2

أحمد: هل تغيرت قريتكم كثيراً؟ خالد: نعم، لقد تغيرت ملامحها ________.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: على مر السنين

The context of a village changing suggests a long period, making 'على مر السنين' the best fit.

Which situation is MOST appropriate for this phrase? situation_matching A2

Situation: Describing how a friendship has deepened since childhood.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: على مر السنين

Friendships deepening since childhood involve a long duration.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Preguntas frecuentes

12 preguntas

'Sanawat' is the regular plural. 'Sunin' is more literary and is the fixed part of this idiom.

No, it usually implies a much longer period, typically a decade or more.

Yes, very frequently to describe company growth or market trends.

In slang, people usually say 'مع الأيام' (with the days) or 'مع الوقت' (with time).

Not necessarily. It can be used for positive growth or negative decline.

Hold the 'r' sound for a split second longer, like in the Italian 'birra'.

Yes, but that means 'throughout the ages' and is even more formal.

In this specific phrase, it is always 'marr'.

Yes, e.g., 'على مر السنين، تعلمت الكثير.'

Yes, especially in classical and nostalgic songs (Tarab).

It means to pass or to be bitter.

The word 'سنين' is used frequently, though this exact three-word phrase is more of a modern/classical prose idiom.

Frases relacionadas

🔄

عبر الزمن

synonym

Across time

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مع مرور الوقت

similar

With the passing of time

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طوال الوقت

contrast

All the time

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منذ قديم الأزل

builds on

Since the beginning of time

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يوم بعد يوم

similar

Day after day

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