Algerian Double Word Expressions
Welcome to today’s lesson about six Algerian double word expressions that you may hear or have heard in Algerian conversation and you may find them funny to hear. The sixth one is not really a double word, it’s a double letter I wanted to include in this group because they all share the same concept. So let’s dive in and find what they are.
*** NUMBER 1 ***
No /lala/ لا لا
(in the western side of Algeria they just say one /la/)
Example:
تُشْرُب قَهوة؟ / لالا صحّا
/tochrob qahwa/ _ /lala sa77a/
Do you want some coffee? _ No, thanks.
*** NUMBER 2 ***
exact, the same /swa:swa:/ سْوا سْوا
Examples:
شْحال؟ / سْواسْوا
/ch7al/ _ /swa:swa:/
How much? _ It’s exact (literal meaning).
(when you give the seller the exact amount of what something costs, so there’s no change in return)
شْكون كْبَر؟ / سْواسْوا
/chkoun kbar/ _ /swa:swa:/
Which one is bigger? _ They’re the same.
*** NUMBER 3 ***
exact, the same /gidgid/ قِد قد
It has the same meaning as number 2. However it is used instead of number 2 in some other parts of Algeria.
*** NUMBER 4 ***
same /ki:fki:f/ كيف كيف
Examples:
واش تُشْرُب؟ / قهوة
و انْتَ؟ / كيف كيف
/wa:ch tochrob/ _ /qahwa/
/w nta/ _ /ki:fki:f/
What do you want for a drink ? _ Coffee
And you? _ Same
*** NUMBER 5 ***
barely enough /qi:sqi:s/ قيس قيس
Examples:
بْقاو دْراهِم؟ / قيس قيس
/bqa:w drahim/ _ /qi:sqi:s/
Is there any money left? _ Barely enough left.
*** NUMBER 6 ***
It’s a double letter expression
I dare you! /chich/ شِ شْ
Examples:
تَقدر تسوطي من هذيك لبلاصة؟! شِشْ! / سْواسْوا
/taqdar tsouti min hadik liplasa chich/
I dare you can jump from that high place!
***
Thanks for reading! I hope you found this lesson useful.
