7 Important Linking Words
Welcome to today’s grammar lesson!
In this lesson, you will learn 7 important Algerian Arabic linking words you will definitely need to connect your ideas and make them flow easily when you speak and communicate with Algerian people.
1. and _ و
It is the most basic and easiest one. You use it when you want to add something to your idea or list of ideas.
Examples
هذا الشارع طويل وضيّق
/hada: echa:ri3 twi:l w dhiyyiq/
This street is long and narrow
شريت قمجة وسروال
/chri:t qmidja w serwa:l/
I bought a shirt and a pair of trousers
2. or _ ولاّ
It is used to link alternatives.
Examples
راني نخمّم إذا نروح غدوة ولاّ مانروحش
/rani: nkhammam ida: nrou7 ghodwa walla: ma:nrou7ch/
I’m thinking about whether I’m going to leave tomorrow or not
تشرب قهوة ولاّ أتاي؟
/tochrob qahwa walla: ata:y/
Do you want to have coffee or tea?
3. but _ بصّح
It is used to introduce a phrase to contrast what has already been mentioned
Examples
راني حابّة نخرج بصّح الجو بارد بزّاف
/rani: 7a:bba nokhroj bessa7 eljaw ba:rid bezza:f/
I want to go out but the weather is so cold
الدّار كبيرة بصّح ماعجبتنيش
/edda:r kbi:ra bessa7 ma3ijbitni:ch/
The house is big but I didn’t like it
4. because _ على خاطر
It is used to give an explanation or a reason
Examples
ماناكلش التشينة على خاطر مانحبهاش
/ma:na:kolch etchi:na 3la kha:tir ma:n7ibha:ch/
I don’t eat oranges because I don’t like them
مانجحتش في الامتحان على خاطر ماراجعتش مليح
/ma:nji7tich fi:l imti:7a:n 3la kha:tir ma: ra:ji3tch mli:7/
I didn’t pass the exam because I didn’t revise well
5. even though _ حتّى و / لاشتى
(not always interchangeable)
It is used to introduce a contrast to the main idea
Examples
حتّى ومريض رحت نخدم
/7atta w m’ri:d ro7t nakhdam/
Even though I was ill, I went to work
لاشتى كبيرة نشريها
/la:chta kbi:ra nechri:ha:/
Even though it’s big, I’ll buy it.
6. so (in that case)_ مالا
It is used to introduce a result or to make an exclamative response
Examples
بقى غير في هذا اللّون... مالا ندّيه وخلاص
/bqa ghi:r fi ha:d elloun mala: neddi:h w khla:s/
Only this colour left... So I’m gonna take it
مالا راكي هنا! عمبالي ماراكيش جاية
/mala: ra:ki: hna: 3amba:li: ma:ra:ki:ch ja:yya/
So you’re here! I thought you wouldn’t come
7. so (in order to)_ باش
It is used to introduce the goal of an action
Examples
خمّم مليح باش ما تندمش
/khammam m’li:7 ba:ch ma: tindimch/
Think carefully so you don’t regret it
باش تنوض بكري لازم ترقد بكري
/ba:ch tnoud bikri: la:zim torgod bikri:/
In order to wake up early, you have to sleep early
Thanks for reading! I hope you found this lesson useful.
