إلى اللقاء في المرة القادمة
ilā al-liqā’ fī al-marrah al-qādimah
The English phrase "until next time" is translated into Arabic as إلى اللقاء في المرة القادمة (ilā al-liqā’ fī al-marrah al-qādimah).
This phrase is used to say goodbye when you expect to see the person again.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ilā (until), al-liqā’ (the meeting), fī (in), al-marrah (the time/the instance) and al-qādimah (the next).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
A shorter version, إلى اللقاء, which literally translates to "to the meeting," is a very common and standard way to say "see you" or "until we meet again" in both formal and semi-formal settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In spoken Levantine or Egyptian dialects, people are more likely to use a colloquial phrase such as بنشوفك المرة الجاية (we will see you next time) rather than the formal إلى اللقاء في المرة القادمة.
How do you pronounce it?
ilā al-liqā’ fī al-marrah al-qādimah
Did you know?
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, instead of saying 'until next time', it is more traditional to say في أمان الله, which means 'in God's safety'. This places the intention of the future meeting under divine protection.
- While the formal phrase uses اللقاء (the meeting), many Arabic speakers will simply say مع السلامة, which literally means 'with safety'. It is often used as a standard goodbye even when you do not explicitly mention seeing the person again.
- The word في possibly shares a root with ancient terms for 'mouth' or 'entrance', conceptually framing the 'time' as a space one enters.
Examples in context
- شكرًا على حسن الضيافة. إلى اللقاء!Thank you for your hospitality. Until next time!
- نتمنى لك يومًا سعيدًا. حتى اللقاء!Wishing you a great day. Until next time!
- وداعاً، إلى اللقاء في المرة القادمة.wada'an, ila al-liqa' fi al-marra al-qadima.Goodbye, until next time.
Example conversation
Ziad and Nour are finishing a coffee meeting at a cafe.
- زياد Ziadكان وقتاً ممتعاً يا نور.kana waqtan mumti'an ya Nour.It was a fun time, Nour.
- نور Nourنعم، شكراً لك يا زياد.na'am, shukran laka ya Ziad.Yes, thank you, Ziad.
- زياد Ziadإلى اللقاء في المرة القادمة.ila al-liqa' fi al-marra al-qadima.Until next time.
- نور Nourإلى اللقاء.ila al-liqa'.See you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries إلى, في, CC BY-SA 4.0.
