to carry [ cardinal number] years (living together

In French, the phrase 'porter [nombre cardinal] ans' is used to express the duration of time spent living together, typically in the context of a relationship or partnership. The verb 'porter' translates to 'to carry' in English, but in this context, it signifies the notion of having shared that length of time together. The '[nombre cardinal]' portion is replaced by the actual number of years, making the expression specific to the timeframe being referenced.