Learn to talk about major life transitions, from celebrations of new beginnings to solemn ceremonies, and how to express your support.
Engagements and Hosting
When talking about happy life events like an engagement (خطوبة), a key verb is أقام, meaning to host, establish, or put on an event. For formal dinners or large feasts, you might be invited to a banquet (مأدبة).
| My sister's engagement party is tomorrow. | حفلة خطوبة أختي غدا.haflatu khutûbati ukhtî ghadan |
| My brother hosted an engagement party. | أقام أخي حفلة خطوبة.aqâma akhî haflata khutûba. |
| The managers hosted a big banquet. | أقام المديرون مأدبة كبيرة.aqâma al-mudîrûna ma'dubatan kabîratan |
Milestones and Retirement
After a long professional (مهني) career, a major life milestone is retirement (تقاعد). A person who reaches this stage is a retiree (متقاعد).
| Her retirement began after a long professional life. | بدأ تقاعدها بعد حياة مهنية طويلة.bada'a taqâ'uduhâ ba'da hayâtin mihaniyyatin tawîlatin |
| The retirees attended the banquet. | حضر المتقاعدون المأدبة.hadara al-mutaqâ'idûna al-ma'dubata. |
Ceremonies and Expressing Support
Formal life events are typically accompanied by ceremonies (مراسم). This plural noun is frequently used in an Idafa construction to specify the type of event, whether for an engagement or a funeral (جنازة).
| The engagement ceremonies started in the evening. | بدأت مراسم الخطوبة في المساء.bada'at marâsimu-l-khutûbati fil-masâ'. |
| The participants attended the funeral ceremonies. | حضر المشاركون مراسم الجنازة.hadara al-musharikuna marasima al-jinazah |
To express your support during these transitions, Arabic uses dedicated nouns for offering congratulations (تهنئة) or condolences (تعزية). You will often see these paired with words like رسالة (message) or كلمة (word/speech) to form common phrases.
| The manager sent a congratulation message to the retirees. | أرسل المدير رسالة تهنئة إلى المتقاعدين.arsala al-mudîru risâlata tahni'atin ilâ al-mutaqâ'idîna |
| Our professional colleagues sent a condolence message. | أرسل زملاؤنا المهنيون رسالة تعزية.arsala zumalâ'unâ al-mihaniyyûna risâlata ta'ziyatin |
