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Getting started
Search for a word with multiple possible spellings and check it in a sentence. This little dictionary includes 30 starting entries; it is neither exhaustive nor an automatic translation tool.
30 entries to start
The Latin transcription is indicative. Numbers can represent consonants; Vowels and certain sounds are noted differently depending on people and regions.
| Algerian Darija | English | Usage reference |
|---|---|---|
| ana | I, me | The person speaking |
| nta | you (singular) | Addressing a man |
| nti | you (singular) | Addressing a woman |
| houwa | he, him | A male person |
| hiya | she | A female person |
| 7na | we | A group including the speaker |
| ntouma | you (plural) | More than one person being addressed |
| houma | they | A group being discussed |
| wesh | what / question marker | Meaning depends on the sentence |
| win | where | Asking about a place |
| kifesh | how | Asking about a manner or method |
| wa9tesh | when | Asking about a time |
| 3lash | why | Asking for a reason |
| sh7al | how much / how many | Price or quantity |
| ih | yes | An affirmative answer |
| lala | no | A negative answer |
| sa7a | hi / thank you | Used differently depending on the situation |
| mli7 | well / good | The form depends on the sentence |
| bezzaf | a lot / very | Quantity or intensity |
| chwiya | a little | A small quantity |
| ghali | expensive | A high price |
| rkhis | cheap | A low price |
| lma | water | A drink or substance |
| khobz | bread | Food |
| dar | house | A place to live |
| tri9 | road / path | Travel and directions |
| lyoum | today | The current day |
| ghedwa | tomorrow | The following day |
| elbare7 | yesterday | The previous day |
| drouk | now | The present moment |
Find a word written differently
A message received may not use the exact spelling of the table. Try vowel variations or request Arabic script and a recording. Don't change all the letters at once: keep the original message for comparison.
For example, bezzaf and bzzaf can represent the same word. Conversely, two words that sound alike are not necessarily equivalent. The complete sentence often allows you to choose the appropriate meaning.
Combine words rather than stack them
In ghali bezzaf , the word expressing intensity accompanies the adjective: the whole means “very expensive”. Memorize the small group with their situation, for example a discussion about a price.
The words in the table are not enough to construct any sentence. A verb can change form, a noun can require an article and a pronoun can attach to another word. For complete sentences, use everyday phrases .
A five-minute review
- Choose five entries for the same need, for example requesting information.
- Cover the meaning column and try to recall each meaning.
- Reverse the exercise: start from the meaning and write the Algerian form.
- Ask a speaker for a natural sentence with one of the words.
- Note the region or context if the form differs from this table.
Do not mark another regional usage as false without verifying it. Your notebook can contain several forms, each with its context.
Algerian, Moroccan and Kabyle Darija
Algerian Darija and Moroccan Darija belong to Maghrebi Arabic, but the uses are not identical. Kabyle is a distinct Amazigh language. If you are learning to speak as a family, start from the language actually used by your loved ones.
For Kabyle, open the Kabyle section . For Moroccan expressions, see the Moroccan darija dictionary .