Meaning
Over a brief period of time; in the immediate future.
Cultural Background
In the Gulf (UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia), 'short-term' often refers to the period before the next major national milestone (like Vision 2030). In Lebanon or Syria, using such formal phrases in a cafe might be seen as 'showing off' your education. Egyptian talk shows frequently use this phrase when discussing the economy and the 'patience' of the people. In Morocco or Tunisia, this phrase is heavily used in academic circles, often influenced by the French 'à court terme'.
Pair it up
Always try to follow a 'short-term' statement with a 'long-term' one to sound like a native analyst.
Avoid 'Small'
Never say 'المدى الصغير'. It sounds very unnatural to Arabic ears.
Meaning
Over a brief period of time; in the immediate future.
Pair it up
Always try to follow a 'short-term' statement with a 'long-term' one to sound like a native analyst.
Avoid 'Small'
Never say 'المدى الصغير'. It sounds very unnatural to Arabic ears.
Patience is Key
In Arab culture, 'short-term' is often viewed as a test of patience before the 'long-term' reward.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct preposition to complete the phrase.
سوف نرى النتائج ___ المدى القصير.
The standard idiom uses 'على'.
Which sentence is most appropriate for a business report?
How do you say 'The plan is good for now' formally?
This uses the formal 'mada' structure suitable for reports.
Match the Arabic phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are the standard temporal ranges in Arabic.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
مدير: هل هذا المشروع مربح؟ موظف: ليس الآن، ولكن ربما ___.
The context 'not now, but maybe...' implies a long-term view.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Time Horizons in Arabic
Practice Bank
4 exercisesسوف نرى النتائج ___ المدى القصير.
The standard idiom uses 'على'.
How do you say 'The plan is good for now' formally?
This uses the formal 'mada' structure suitable for reports.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the standard temporal ranges in Arabic.
مدير: هل هذا المشروع مربح؟ موظف: ليس الآن، ولكن ربما ___.
The context 'not now, but maybe...' implies a long-term view.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsYes, but mostly in professional settings or when discussing serious topics like politics or money.
Not exactly. 'Soon' is for an event happening. 'Short-term' is for a period of time.
على المدى البعيد (In the long term).
It is masculine, which is why we use 'al-qasir' (masculine) and not 'al-qasira'.
Yes, it is understood and used, but 'على' is more idiomatic.
Related Phrases
على المدى البعيد
contrastIn the long term
على المدى المتوسط
similarIn the medium term
في القريب العاجل
similarIn the very near future
طويل الأمد
contrastLong-lasting
