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B1 noun 11 min de leitura

عقد

aqd

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas عقد em 30 segundos

Explicação عقد in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use the word 'عقد' (aqd) yet. Instead, you usually say 'عشر سنوات' (ashr sanawat), which means 'ten years'. However, it is good to recognize that 'عقد' is a special word for a group of ten years. Think of it like the word 'decade' in English. You might see it in simple news headlines or on posters. For now, just remember that it means '10 years' and it is a formal word. You don't need to worry about the grammar of it too much, just know it refers to a long time.

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At the A2 level, you should start recognizing 'عقد' in reading passages about history or people's lives. You might see a sentence like 'He lived in Cairo for an aqd.' You should understand that this means ten years. You might also see the plural 'uquud' (عقود), which means 'decades'. At this level, you can try to use it in simple sentences to sound more formal, like 'This building is an aqd old.' Remember that it is a noun and usually comes after a preposition like 'fi' (in) or 'li' (for).

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At the B1 level, 'عقد' becomes a very useful word for your writing and speaking. You are now expected to discuss trends and changes over time. Instead of saying 'ten years ago', you can say 'in the last decade' (في العقد الماضي). This shows you have a better vocabulary. You should also be able to use the Idafa construction, like 'عقد التسعينيات' (the decade of the nineties). You should be careful not to confuse it with 'عقد' meaning 'contract' or 'necklace'. At this level, you use it to organize your thoughts about history and society.

At the B2 level, you should use 'عقد' fluently in academic and professional contexts. You should be able to discuss 'consecutive decades' (عقود متتالية) or 'a decade of achievement' (عقد من الإنجازات). You will encounter this word in complex texts about economics, sociology, and politics. You should also understand how it is used metaphorically, such as 'a decade of darkness' or 'a golden decade'. Your grammar should be correct, including the case endings (nominative, accusative, genitive) when speaking formally.

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At the C1 level, you should have a deep understanding of the word's etymology from the root 'to tie' and how this influences its use in literature. You can use 'عقد' to create sophisticated arguments about historical cycles. You should be able to distinguish between 'عقد' and more poetic terms like 'حقبة' (era) or 'دهر' (eternity) and choose the one that fits the tone of your writing perfectly. You should also be comfortable with the word in legal and formal diplomatic contexts where it might overlap with 'contract'.

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At the C2 level, you use 'عقد' with the precision of a native scholar. You can analyze how the concept of a 'decade' has shifted in Arabic thought and literature. You use the word in complex rhetorical structures and are fully aware of its rhythmic and stylistic properties in high-level prose. You can effortlessly navigate the polysemy of the word, using it to mean 'decade', 'contract', and 'knot' in the same piece of writing while maintaining total clarity and stylistic elegance.

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Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

عقد em 30 segundos

A formal Arabic term for a decade (10 years).
Derived from the root 'to tie', symbolizing years bound together.
Used extensively in news, history, and academic writing.
Be careful to distinguish it from 'contract' and 'necklace'.

The Arabic word عقد (pronounced 'aqd) is a multifaceted term that primarily refers to a decade, or a period of ten years. In the landscape of the Arabic language, this word is derived from the root ع-ق-د, which fundamentally carries the meaning of tying, knotting, or binding. When applied to time, it conceptually 'binds' ten individual years into a single, unified block. This makes it a crucial vocabulary item for anyone looking to discuss history, sociology, economics, or personal growth in a structured manner. You will encounter this word frequently in academic papers, news broadcasts, and historical documentaries where trends are analyzed over long durations.

Linguistic Root: Derived from 'Aqada (to tie). It implies a binding agreement or a fixed unit.
Plural Form: The plural is 'uquud' (عقود), used to describe multiple decades or 'decades' in a general sense.
Common Collocation: Often paired with 'min al-zaman' (من الزمن) to specify 'a decade of time'.

شهد العالم تغيرات كبيرة في عقد التسعينيات. (The world witnessed major changes in the decade of the nineties.)

Understanding the nuance of 'aqd is essential for B1 learners because it marks the transition from simple time-telling (years and months) to analytical time-telling. When you use this word, you are signaling an ability to group events and identify patterns. In the context of the IELTS exam, for instance, you might use it to describe a graph showing a 'steady increase over the last decade'. This word is not just a number; it is a container for history. In Arabic literature, it is often used to emphasize the weight of time, suggesting that ten years is a significant 'knot' in the rope of a person's life or a nation's journey.

استمر البحث العلمي لمدة عقد كامل. (The scientific research continued for a full decade.)

Historically, Arabic speakers used various ways to measure time, but 'aqd has remained the standard formal term for the ten-year unit. It is used in both the Gregorian (Miladi) and Hijri calendars. For example, one might speak of the 'first decade of the Hijra'. The word's precision makes it a favorite for journalists who need to summarize the impact of a political era or a technological revolution. By mastering this word, you gain the ability to speak about the passage of time with the gravity and accuracy required in professional and academic Arabic environments.

نحن الآن في عقد جديد من الابتكار. (We are now in a new decade of innovation.)

انتهى عقد من الصراعات بسلام دائم. (A decade of conflicts ended with a lasting peace.)

Register: Formal and Academic. Used in literature, news, and formal speech.

تطورت التكنولوجيا بشكل مذهل خلال عقد واحد. (Technology developed amazingly during a single decade.)

Using the word عقد correctly requires an understanding of Arabic grammar, specifically the 'Idafa' (possessive) construction. Because 'aqd is a noun, it often acts as the first part of a phrase to specify which decade is being discussed. For example, 'the decade of the sixties' is expressed as عقد الستينيات. Notice how the second word takes the definite article 'al-' and is in the genitive case. This structure is the most common way to use the word in descriptive writing. Furthermore, when you want to say 'for a decade', you use the preposition 'li-' or 'khilala' (during), as in خلال عقد من الزمن.

Sentence Pattern 1: [Verb] + [Subject] + في عقد + [Year Group]. Example: وُلد في عقد الثمانينيات.
Sentence Pattern 2: [Duration] + استمر لـ + عقد. Example: استمر المشروع لعقد كامل.

تحسنت الرعاية الصحية في هذا عقد. (Healthcare improved in this decade.)

Another important aspect is the pluralization. When discussing multiple ten-year periods, use عقود. For instance, 'After decades of waiting' becomes بعد عقود من الانتظار. This is a powerful rhetorical tool in Arabic, used to emphasize a long, arduous process. In academic writing, you might see the phrase عقود متتالية (consecutive decades), which is useful for longitudinal studies. Remember that as a noun, 'aqd follows standard case rules: 'aqdun (nominative), 'aqdan (accusative), and 'aqdin (genitive). In most spoken contexts, the final vowel is dropped, but in formal reading, it must be pronounced according to its grammatical position.

مر عقد منذ آخر لقاء لنا. (A decade has passed since our last meeting.)

For B1 learners, practicing the use of 'aqd with adjectives is a great way to expand your range. Words like 'madi' (past), 'qadim' (coming), 'dahabi' (golden), and 'hazeen' (sad) are frequently paired with it. For example, العقد الذهبي (The Golden Decade) might refer to a period of economic prosperity or artistic flourishing. This allows you to add emotional or descriptive weight to your sentences. When writing an essay about the environment, you could say, 'The coming decade is critical for the planet,' which in Arabic is العقد القادم حاسم للكوكب.

كان عقداً مليئاً بالإنجازات. (It was a decade full of achievements.)

نحن بصدد تقييم عقد من العمل. (We are in the process of evaluating a decade of work.)

Adjective Agreement: As a masculine singular noun, adjectives must also be masculine singular (e.g., عقدٌ طويلٌ).

هل تتوقع تغييراً في هذا عقد؟ (Do you expect a change in this decade?)

In the modern Arab world, the word عقد is a staple of formal communication. You will hear it most prominently on news channels like Al Jazeera or Al Arabiya. News anchors use it to frame historical context, such as 'After a decade of war...' or 'The economic growth of the last decade.' It is a word that conveys a sense of scale and importance. Beyond the news, it is frequently used in documentaries that trace the development of cities, technologies, or artistic movements. If you are listening to a podcast about history or social changes, 'aqd will likely be one of the most common time-related nouns you encounter.

News Broadcasts: Used to summarize political eras or long-term social trends.
Documentaries: Essential for narrating the passage of time over the 20th and 21st centuries.

يحتفل المركز بمرور عقد على تأسيسه. (The center celebrates a decade since its founding.)

In professional settings, such as business meetings or academic conferences, 'aqd is used to discuss strategic planning. A 'ten-year plan' is often referred to as a خطة لعقد من الزمن. It implies a long-term commitment. You might also hear it in graduation speeches or retirement ceremonies, where speakers reflect on the 'decades of service' (عقود من الخدمة) provided by an individual. This usage highlights the word's association with dedication and the accumulation of experience. Even in high-level literary discussions, critics might talk about the 'literary decade' that defined a particular generation of writers.

نحن بحاجة إلى رؤية تمتد لـ عقد كامل. (We need a vision that extends for a full decade.)

Furthermore, in the context of the United Nations or international NGOs operating in the Middle East, you will hear 'aqd used in the names of specific initiatives, like the 'Decade of Action' or the 'Decade for Women'. These formal titles use the word to signify a global, decade-long commitment to a specific cause. For a B1 learner, recognizing this word in these varied contexts—from a somber historical documentary to an optimistic business presentation—will greatly enhance your comprehension of formal Arabic discourse. It is a word that bridges the gap between the specific (years) and the epic (centuries).

سجلت الشركة أعلى أرباحها في هذا عقد. (The company recorded its highest profits in this decade.)

كيف ستتغير حياتنا في الـ عقد القادم؟ (How will our lives change in the next decade?)

Academic Context: Used in socio-economic research to group data into 10-year intervals.

لقد ضاع عقد من الزمن في الانتظار. (A decade of time was lost in waiting.)

One of the most frequent pitfalls for learners of Arabic when dealing with the word عقد is confusion with its homographs. In Arabic, words with the same three-letter root often have identical spellings in the absence of short vowels (harakat). The most common confusion is between عَقْد (Aqd - decade/contract) and عِقْد (Iqd - necklace). While they look identical on the page, the 'i' sound in the latter changes the meaning entirely. Always look at the surrounding words; if the sentence mentions 'wearing' or 'gold', it's likely a necklace. If it mentions 'time' or 'years', it's a decade.

Mistake 1: Vowel Confusion: Confusing 'Aqd (decade) with 'Iqd (necklace) or 'Uqad (knots). Context is key.
Mistake 2: Semantic Overlap: Mistaking 'Aqd (decade) for 'Aqd (legal contract). Both are pronounced the same!

خطأ: اشتريت عقد من الزمن لزوجتي. (Wrong: I bought a decade of time for my wife - meant necklace.)

Another tricky area is the overlap between 'decade' and 'contract'. Both are written and pronounced as 'aqd. This is a classic example of a polysemous word. In a sentence like وقعنا العقد, it almost certainly means 'We signed the contract', because you can't 'sign' a decade. Conversely, in عقد من التطور, it means 'a decade of development'. Learners often struggle to differentiate these in rapid listening. A good rule of thumb: if the verb involves legal actions (signing, breaking, renewing), it's a contract. If the verb involves time (passing, lasting, witnessing), it's a decade.

صح: وقعنا عقد الإيجار. (Correct: We signed the rental contract.)

Finally, learners sometimes use the word عقد where قرن (qarn - century) is more appropriate, or vice versa. A decade is exactly ten years, while a century is one hundred. In English, we sometimes use 'decades' loosely to mean 'a long time', but in Arabic, using 'aqd implies a more precise measurement. Also, avoid using 'aqd with numbers other than ten; you wouldn't say 'an 'aqd of five years'. If the period is not ten years, use the word 'sanawat' (years) instead. Precision is the hallmark of good MSA usage.

خطأ: استمرت الرحلة عقداً من خمس سنوات. (Wrong: The trip lasted a decade of five years.)

صح: استمرت الرحلة خمس سنوات. (Correct: The trip lasted five years.)

Translation Error: Translating 'decade' as 'عشرة' (ten). 'Ashara is the number; 'Aqd is the unit of time.

نحن نعيش في عقد من التحولات الرقمية. (We live in a decade of digital transformations.)

While عقد is the most precise term for a ten-year period, Arabic offers several alternatives depending on the level of formality and the specific nuance you wish to convey. The most direct alternative is عشر سنوات (ten years). This is used in everyday conversation and is less formal than 'aqd. While 'aqd feels like a historical era, 'ashr sanawat' feels like a simple count of time. Choosing between them depends on whether you are writing a report or telling a friend how long you've lived in a city.

عشر سنوات (Ten Years): Neutral/Informal. Focuses on the duration rather than the unit. Example: عشت هنا عشر سنوات.
حقبة (Era/Epoch): More vague than 'aqd. Refers to a significant period of time, not necessarily ten years. Example: حقبة الاستعمار.
جيل (Generation): Refers to a period of about 25-30 years. Used when discussing social change. Example: جيل الشباب.

تغيرت المدينة عبر عقود من الزمن. (The city changed across decades of time.)

Another related word is فترة (fatra), which means 'period' or 'interval'. It is much more general than 'aqd. You can have a 'fatra' of two days or twenty years. If you are unsure of the exact duration, 'fatra' is a safe bet. However, if you know it's ten years, 'aqd sounds much more professional. Similarly, مرحلة (marhala) means 'stage' or 'phase'. This is used when the ten-year period is part of a larger process, like 'the first stage of the project'. Using 'aqd instead of 'marhala' emphasizes the time elapsed rather than the progress made.

كانت تلك حقبة ذهبية في تاريخنا. (That was a golden era in our history.)

In literary contexts, you might see دهر (dahr), which refers to an indefinitely long period or 'eternity'. It is much more poetic and less literal than 'aqd. If someone says 'it took a dahr', they are exaggerating. If they say 'it took an aqd', they are being literal. For B1 students, the key is to distinguish between literal time units like 'aqd and qarn, and figurative time units like حقبة and دهر. Mastery of these distinctions allows for much more expressive and accurate communication in both spoken and written Arabic.

مر قرن على هذا الاكتشاف. (A century has passed since this discovery.)

هذه فترة زمنية قصيرة جداً. (This is a very short period of time.)

Comparison: Aqd vs. Qarn: Aqd = 10 years. Qarn = 100 years. Both are formal units of time measurement.

نحن نعيش في ألفية جديدة. (We are living in a new millennium.)

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"شهد العقد المنصرم تحولات جيوسياسية عميقة."

Neutro

"عشت في هذه المدينة لمدة عقد."

Informal

"صار لي عقد ما شفتك! (Dialect influence)"

Child friendly

"العقد هو عشر سنوات طويلة جداً."

Gíria

"هذا العقد كان 'نار'. (Modern slang)"

Curiosidade

The same root is used for 'marriage contract' (عقد قران) because it 'ties' two people together, and for 'decade' because it 'ties' ten years together.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /ʕaqd/

US /ʕɑːkd/

Stress is on the single syllable 'Aqd'.

Rima com

Naqd (cash/criticism) Waqd (kindling) Saqd (rare) Raqd (sleeping - related) Maqd (rare) Laqd (rare) Haqd (hatred) Faqd (loss)

Erros comuns

Pronouncing it like 'Akd' with a soft K instead of a deep Qaf.
Confusing it with 'Iqd' (necklace) by changing the first vowel to 'i'.
Failing to pronounce the Ayn (ʕ) clearly, making it sound like 'Akad'.
Adding an extra vowel between 'q' and 'd' (e.g., 'Aqad').
Confusing the plural 'Uquud' with 'Uqad' (knots).

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 3/5

Easy to recognize but can be confused with 'contract' if the context is legal.

Escrita 4/5

Requires knowledge of Idafa and plural forms for natural usage.

Expressão oral 4/5

The Ayn and Qaf sounds are challenging for English speakers.

Audição 5/5

Difficult to distinguish from 'Iqd' (necklace) in fast speech.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

سنة (Year) عشرة (Ten) زمن (Time) ماضي (Past) قادم (Future)

Aprenda a seguir

قرن (Century) ألفية (Millennium) حقبة (Era) تاريخ (History) تطور (Development)

Avançado

استنطاق التاريخ (Interrogating history) تداعيات (Repercussions) هيكلي (Structural) منظور (Perspective) سياق (Context)

Gramática essencial

Idafa Construction

عقد التسعينيات (The decade of the nineties)

Noun-Adjective Agreement

عقدٌ طويلٌ (A long decade)

Plural of Non-Human Nouns

العقود الماضية (The past decades - adjective is feminine singular)

Numbers 3-10 with Years

ثلاثة عقود (Three decades)

Prepositional Phrases of Time

خلال عقد (During a decade)

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Exemplos por nível

هذا البيت عمره عقد واحد.

This house is one decade old.

Simple noun usage with a number.

عقد يعني عشر سنوات.

Aqd means ten years.

Equative sentence.

مر عقد على زواجي.

A decade has passed since my marriage.

Verb 'marra' (passed) used with 'aqd'.

أنا هنا منذ عقد.

I have been here for a decade.

Preposition 'mundhu' (since) with 'aqd'.

العقد هو وقت طويل.

A decade is a long time.

Definite noun 'al-aqd'.

درست اللغة لمدة عقد.

I studied the language for a decade.

Duration phrase 'li-muddat' (for a period of).

هذا عقد من الزمان.

This is a decade of time.

Demonstrative 'hadha' with noun phrase.

كل عقد فيه عشر سنين.

Every decade has ten years in it.

Universal statement.

عاش جدي في هذا البيت لعقدين.

My grandfather lived in this house for two decades.

Dual form 'aqdayn' in the genitive/accusative.

بدأ المشروع قبل عقد من الآن.

The project started a decade ago.

Preposition 'qabla' (before).

تغيرت التكنولوجيا في عقد واحد.

Technology changed in one decade.

Preposition 'fi' (in).

نحن نحتفل بمرور عقد على الشركة.

We are celebrating a decade of the company.

Preposition 'bi-' with 'murur' (passing).

سافرت إلى دول كثيرة خلال عقد.

I traveled to many countries during a decade.

Preposition 'khilala' (during).

هذا العقد كان صعباً جداً.

This decade was very difficult.

Adjective agreement (masculine).

أريد أن أعمل هنا لعقد كامل.

I want to work here for a full decade.

Adjective 'kamil' (full).

العقود تمر بسرعة كبيرة.

Decades pass very quickly.

Plural form 'al-uquud'.

شهد عقد التسعينيات تطوراً كبيراً في الإنترنت.

The nineties decade witnessed a great development in the internet.

Idafa construction 'aqd al-tis'iniyyat'.

يعتبر هذا العقد حاسماً لمستقبل البيئة.

This decade is considered decisive for the future of the environment.

Passive verb 'yu'tabar' (is considered).

بعد عقود من البحث، وجدوا العلاج.

After decades of research, they found the cure.

Plural 'uquud' after 'ba'da' (after).

كان العقد الماضي مليئاً بالتحديات السياسية.

The past decade was full of political challenges.

Adjective 'al-madi' (the past).

سيتغير شكل المدن في العقد القادم.

The shape of cities will change in the next decade.

Future tense 'sa-' with 'al-aqd al-qadim'.

استمرت الحرب لمدة عقد من الزمن.

The war continued for a decade of time.

Phrase 'aqd min al-zaman'.

حقق الرياضي نجاحات باهرة طوال عقد.

The athlete achieved brilliant successes throughout a decade.

Preposition 'tawal' (throughout).

نحن نعيش في عقد من التحولات الرقمية.

We are living in a decade of digital transformations.

Idafa 'aqd min al-tahawwulat'.

يتطلب الإصلاح الاقتصادي عقوداً من العمل الجاد.

Economic reform requires decades of hard work.

Accusative plural 'uquudan' as an object.

تميز هذا العقد بنهضة ثقافية غير مسبوقة.

This decade was characterized by an unprecedented cultural renaissance.

Verb 'tamayyaza' (was characterized) with 'bi-'.

خلال العقدين الماضيين، زاد عدد السكان بشكل ملحوظ.

During the last two decades, the population increased significantly.

Dual genitive 'al-aqdayn'.

يعد العقد الحالي فرصة ذهبية للاستثمار.

The current decade is considered a golden opportunity for investment.

Adjective 'al-hali' (current).

انتهى عقد من الركود ببدء مشاريع جديدة.

A decade of stagnation ended with the start of new projects.

Subject 'aqd' in a verbal sentence.

تراكمت الخبرات لدى الفريق عبر عقود متتالية.

Experiences accumulated within the team across consecutive decades.

Adjective 'mutataliya' (consecutive).

لا يمكن اختصار تاريخ الأمة في عقد واحد.

A nation's history cannot be summarized in a single decade.

Passive voice 'la yumkin ikhtisar'.

كان عقد السبعينيات نقطة تحول في السياسة الخارجية.

The seventies decade was a turning point in foreign policy.

Predicate 'nuqtat tahawwul' (turning point).

أفرز هذا العقد نخبًا فكرية جديدة أثرت في الساحة.

This decade produced new intellectual elites that influenced the scene.

Verb 'afraza' (to produce/yield).

عانت المنطقة من عقود من التهميش والإقصاء.

The region suffered from decades of marginalization and exclusion.

Genitive plural 'uquud' after 'min'.

يرى المؤرخون أن هذا العقد هو نهاية عصر وبداية آخر.

Historians believe that this decade is the end of one era and the beginning of another.

Complex noun clause with 'anna'.

تجسد هذه الرواية روح عقد الستينيات بكل تناقضاته.

This novel embodies the spirit of the sixties decade with all its contradictions.

Verb 'tajassada' (to embody).

اتسم العقد المنصرم بتسارع وتيرة العولمة.

The past decade was characterized by the acceleration of the pace of globalization.

Adjective 'al-munsarim' (the past/elapsed).

تطلب بناء هذه الحضارة عقوداً من التضحية والبناء.

Building this civilization required decades of sacrifice and construction.

Object 'uquudan' with dual abstract nouns.

لم يكن العقد مجرد زمن، بل كان حالة شعورية جماعية.

The decade was not just time, but a collective emotional state.

Negative 'lam yakun' with 'bal' (but rather).

تأرجحت السياسات في هذا العقد بين الانفتاح والانغلاق.

Policies in this decade fluctuated between openness and closure.

Verb 'ta'arjahat' (fluctuated/swung).

إن استنطاق أحداث هذا العقد يكشف عن عمق الأزمة الهيكلية.

Interrogating the events of this decade reveals the depth of the structural crisis.

Gerund 'istințaq' (interrogating) as subject.

ظل العقد رهين التجاذبات الأيديولوجية الكبرى.

The decade remained hostage to major ideological polarizations.

Verb 'zalla' (remained) with 'rahin' (hostage to).

لا يمكن فهم الراهن دون سبر أغوار العقود الخوالي.

The present cannot be understood without probing the depths of past decades.

Metaphorical phrase 'sabr aghwar' (probing depths).

اتخذ العقد مساراً تراجيدياً ألقى بظلاله على الجيل القادم.

The decade took a tragic path that cast its shadows over the next generation.

Verb phrase 'alqa bi-zilalihi' (cast its shadows).

ثمة إجماع على أن هذا العقد يمثل قطيعة معرفية مع الماضي.

There is a consensus that this decade represents an epistemological break with the past.

Technical term 'qati'a ma'rifiyya'.

تضافرت العوامل لتجعل من هذا العقد حقبة استثنائية.

Factors combined to make this decade an exceptional era.

Verb 'tadafarat' (combined/intertwined).

ينطوي هذا العقد على تحولات جيوسياسية بالغة التعقيد.

This decade involves highly complex geopolitical transformations.

Verb 'yantawi 'ala' (involves/contains).

كان العقد بمثابة مرآة تعكس انكسارات المجتمع وتطلعاته.

The decade was like a mirror reflecting society's failures and aspirations.

Simile 'bi-mathabat mir'ah' (like a mirror).

Sinônimos

عشر سنوات حقبة (small)

Colocações comuns

عقد من الزمن

عقد التسعينيات

خلال عقد واحد

عقود متتالية

العقد الماضي

العقد القادم

عقد ذهبي

بمرور عقد

نهاية العقد

بداية العقد

Frases Comuns

على مدار عقد

— Over the course of a decade. Used to describe continuous action.

تطورت الشركة على مدار عقد.

عقد كامل

— A full decade. Emphasizes the length of the period.

انتظرت عقداً كاملاً.

عقود من الزمان

— Decades of time. A plural, more dramatic version of the phrase.

مرت عقود من الزمان على الحرب.

في مطلع العقد

— At the beginning of the decade. Very formal.

في مطلع العقد الجديد.

منذ زهاء عقد

— Since about a decade ago. 'Zahaa' means approximately.

بدأنا منذ زهاء عقد.

طيلة عقد

— Throughout a decade. Similar to 'khilala'.

عمل طيلة عقد في الخارج.

عقد من الإنجاز

— A decade of achievement. Common in corporate reports.

نحتفل بعقد من الإنجاز.

عقد من الصمت

— A decade of silence. Poetic or journalistic.

كسر الفنان عقداً من الصمت.

في غضون عقد

— Within a decade. Used for future predictions.

سنبني المدينة في غضون عقد.

عقد ضائع

— A lost decade. Used in economics to describe stagnation.

عانت البلاد من عقد ضائع.

Frequentemente confundido com

عقد vs عِقْد (Iqd)

Means 'necklace'. Distinguished by the 'i' vowel and context (wearing vs. time).

عقد vs عَقْد (Aqd - Contract)

Same spelling and pronunciation. Distinguished by legal vs. temporal context.

عقد vs عُقَد (Uqad)

Means 'knots' (plural of Uqdah). Distinguished by the 'u' vowel.

Expressões idiomáticas

"عقد من اللؤلؤ"

— A necklace of pearls. Note: This uses the 'Iqd' pronunciation, but the spelling is identical.

لبست عقداً من اللؤلؤ.

General

"حل العقدة"

— To solve the knot (problem). Related root.

نجح في حل العقدة الصعبة.

Metaphorical

"عقد العزم"

— To make up one's mind/to resolve. Uses the root meaning of 'tying' an intention.

عقد العزم على السفر.

Formal

"عقد القران"

— To perform a marriage contract. Root meaning of 'binding'.

تم عقد القران في المسجد.

Formal/Legal

"عقد النية"

— To set an intention (often religious or serious).

عقد النية على الصيام.

Religious/Formal

"انفرط العقد"

— The necklace broke (figuratively: the group split up).

بعد موت القائد، انفرط العقد.

Literary

"عقد لسانه"

— To make someone tongue-tied (literally: tie his tongue).

عقد الخوف لسانه.

Literary

"عقد الحاجبين"

— To frown (literally: tie the eyebrows).

عقد حاجبيه من الغضب.

General

"عقد الأمل"

— To pin hopes on something/someone.

نعقد الأمل على الشباب.

Formal

"عقد اجتماع"

— To hold a meeting (literally: tie/convene a meeting).

قرر المدير عقد اجتماع طارئ.

Formal/Business

Fácil de confundir

عقد vs قرن (Qarn)

Both are units of time used in history.

Aqd is 10 years, Qarn is 100 years. They are often used together in historical summaries.

استمرت الدولة لقرن وثلاثة عقود.

عقد vs حقبة (Hiqba)

Both refer to periods of time.

Aqd is exactly 10 years. Hiqba is an undefined era or epoch of significance.

عاش في حقبة الاستعمار لمدة عقد.

عقد vs فترة (Fatra)

Both mean 'period'.

Fatra is general and can be any length. Aqd is specific to ten years.

كانت فترة قصيرة، لم تدم عقداً.

عقد vs جيل (Jeel)

Both group years together.

Aqd is 10 years. Jeel is a generation, usually 25-30 years.

تغير الجيل خلال ثلاثة عقود.

عقد vs ألفية (Alfiyya)

Both are large units of time.

Aqd is 10 years. Alfiyya is 1000 years (a millennium).

نحن في الألفية الثالثة، وفي عقدها الثالث.

Padrões de frases

مر [Number] عقد على [Event]

مر عقد واحد على سفري.

في عقد [Year Group]، حدث [Event]

في عقد الثمانينيات، حدثت الحرب.

استمر [Subject] لـ [Duration] عقد

استمر المشروع لعقد كامل.

شهد العقد الماضي [Noun Phrase]

شهد العقد الماضي تطوراً تكنولوجياً.

بعد عقود من [Noun]

بعد عقود من الصبر، نال حريته.

يعتبر هذا العقد بمثابة [Metaphor]

يعتبر هذا العقد بمثابة جسر للمستقبل.

اتسم العقد بـ [Characteristic]

اتسم العقد بالانفتاح الثقافي.

ينطوي العقد على [Complex Concept]

ينطوي العقد على تناقضات صارخة.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

Verbos

Adjetivos

Relacionado

Cadastre-se grátis para ver todos os exemplos

Como usar

frequency

Common in formal writing, news, and history. Less common in daily dialect.

Erros comuns

Using 'Iqd' instead of 'Aqd'. → عَقْد (Aqd)
Changing the vowel to 'i' makes it mean 'necklace'. This is a very common pronunciation error.
Saying 'عقد من خمس سنوات'. → خمس سنوات
An 'Aqd' is strictly ten years. You cannot use it for other numbers of years.
Putting 'Al-' on 'Aqd' in an Idafa. → عقد الثمانينيات
In an Idafa (possessive) construction, the first noun never takes 'Al-'.
Confusing 'Uquud' with 'Uqad'. → عقود (Uquud)
'Uquud' is the plural for decades/contracts. 'Uqad' is the plural for knots/complexes.
Using 'Aqd' for a century. → قرن (Qarn)
A century is 100 years. An 'Aqd' is only 10 years. Don't mix up your historical units!

Dicas

Idafa Rule

When using 'Aqd' with a specific era, don't put 'Al-' on 'Aqd'. Say 'عقد التسعينيات', not 'العقد التسعينيات'.

Precision

Use 'Aqd' to sound more professional in your writing. It's the difference between saying 'ten years' and 'a decade' in English.

The Deep Qaf

Make sure to pronounce the 'Q' in 'Aqd' from the back of your throat. If it sounds like a 'K', it might be harder to understand.

Context Clues

If you hear 'Aqd' in a news report about the economy, look for words like 'growth' or 'stagnation' to confirm it means decade.

Plural Adjectives

When using the plural 'Uquud', remember that adjectives will be feminine singular (e.g., عقود طويلة) because it's a non-human plural.

Historical Eras

Arab historians often divide the 20th century into 'Uquud' to discuss political shifts. Knowing this helps in history class.

The Knot Image

Always visualize a knot being tied. This root (ʕ-q-d) is very productive in Arabic; the knot image will help you learn many other words.

Emphasis

Use the word 'كامل' (full) after 'Aqd' to emphasize that a whole ten years have passed. 'عقد كامل!'

Homograph Alert

In a legal text, 99% of the time 'Aqd' will mean contract. In a history text, it will mean decade.

IELTS Prep

This is a high-scoring word for Task 1 of the IELTS when describing data that spans many years.

Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of 'Aqd' as 'A Quad' of years (though it's 10, not 4). Or imagine tying a 'knot' (Aqd) every 10 years to remember where you are in life.

Associação visual

Imagine a thick rope with a large knot tied every ten inches. Each section between the knots is an 'Aqd'.

Word Web

Time History Ten Knot Contract Nineties Century Era

Desafio

Write three sentences about what you want to achieve in the next 'aqd' of your life. Use the plural 'uquud' at least once.

Origem da palavra

The word comes from the Proto-Semitic root ʕ-q-d, which means to tie or bind. This root is found in many Semitic languages with similar meanings.

Significado original: To tie a knot in a rope.

Afroasiatic -> Semitic -> Central Semitic -> Arabic.

Contexto cultural

No specific sensitivities. It is a neutral temporal term.

Translates perfectly to 'decade', but in English, 'decade' is used more often in casual speech than 'aqd' is in Arabic dialects.

العقد الضائع (The Lost Decade) - often used in Arabic economic news regarding stagnant periods. عقد التسعينيات (The 90s) - a common nostalgic reference in Arab pop culture. عقد من الزمان (A decade of time) - a very common literary and journalistic phrase.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

History Class

في أي عقد حدث هذا؟
عقد النهضة
خلال العقود الوسطى
تأثير هذا العقد

Business Report

نمو الشركة خلال عقد
خطة العشر سنوات
توقعات العقد القادم
أرباح العقد الماضي

Personal Biography

أجمل عقد في حياتي
مر عقد على تخرجي
عقد من الغربة
في العقد الثالث من عمري

News/Politics

عقد من الصراعات
نهاية عقد من الاستقرار
العقد الضائع
تحولات العقد الحالي

Science/Technology

تطور الحاسوب في عقد
عقد من الاكتشافات
خلال العقد القادم سنصل للمريخ
تغير المناخ في العقد الأخير

Iniciadores de conversa

"كيف تتخيل حياتك بعد عقد من الآن؟"

"ما هو العقد المفضل لديك في التاريخ العربي؟"

"هل تعتقد أن العقد الماضي كان أفضل من الحالي؟"

"ما هي أهم تكنولوجيا ظهرت في العقد الأخير؟"

"كيف تغيرت مدينتك خلال العقد الماضي؟"

Temas para diário

اكتب عن أهم ثلاثة أحداث حدثت لك في العقد الماضي.

تخيل أنك تكتب رسالة لنفسك بعد عقد من الزمن. ماذا ستقول؟

صف كيف تغير العالم في عقد التسعينيات بناءً على ما تعرفه.

هل تعتقد أن العقد القادم سيكون أكثر سلاماً؟ لماذا؟

اكتب عن شخص أثر في حياتك طوال عقد كامل.

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

You say 'عقد الستينيات' (Aqd al-Sittiniyyat). You take the word for sixty, make it plural/feminine, and put it after 'Aqd' in an Idafa construction.

It is masculine. Therefore, you say 'عقدٌ واحدٌ' (one decade) and 'العقد الماضي' (the past decade) using masculine adjectives.

No, 'Aqd' specifically means ten years. For five years, just say 'خمس سنوات'.

The plural is 'عقود' (Uquud). It is used to mean 'decades' or 'contracts'.

Context is usually enough. If you see 'وقع' (signed) or 'إيجار' (rent), it's a contract. If you see 'زمن' (time) or 'مر' (passed), it's a decade.

It is understood but rarely used in casual speech. People usually prefer 'ashr sanawat' (ten years) unless they are speaking formally.

Yes, 'عقدان' (Aqdan) for two decades (nominative) and 'عقدين' (Aqdayn) for accusative/genitive.

Yes, it comes from the same root. Conceptually, ten years are 'tied' together into one knot or unit.

Yes, it is used for any ten-year period in any calendar system.

It is generally considered B1 because it moves beyond simple counting into more academic and analytical time descriptions.

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