Body Parts in Algerian Arabic

Talking about your body is part of everyday communication, and these words come up often in Algerian Arabic.

In this lesson, you’ll learn the most essential body parts with simple, real-life examples to help you use them naturally.

1_ Head - راس /ra:s/
my head - راسي /ra:si:/

Example:

نهار كامل وأنا نخمم راسي راهو يدور

/n’ha:r ka:mil w ana n’khammam ra:si: ra:ho y’dour/

I’ve been thinking all day, my head is spinning

2_ Chest - صدر /s’dar/
my chest - راسي /sadri:/

Example:

ضاق صَدْري، حاب نِتْنَفّس شْويّة

/da:q sadri: 7a:b nitnaffas ch’wiyya/

My chest feels tight, I want to breathe a little

3_ Stomach - كرش /kirch/
my stomach - كرشي /kirchi:/

Example:

كِرْشي تُوجَع فِيَّا، كْلِيتْ بزّاف

/kirchi: touja3 fiyya: k’li:t bizza:f/

My stomach hurts, I ate too much

4_ Back - ظهر /d’har/
my back - ظهري /dahri:/

Example:

راني تعبانة، حابّة نِتْكَسَّل عْلَى ظَهْري

/ra:ni: ta3ba:na 7a:bba nitkassal 3'la dari:/

I’m tired, I just want to lie on my back and relax

5_ Arm - ذراع /d’ra:3/
my arm - ذراعي /d’ra:3i:/

2 arms - ذرعين /dir3i:n/

my arms - ذرعيّا /dir3iyya:/

Example:

طُحْت من لْكُرْسي، تِكْسَر ذْراعي

/to7t min l’korsi: tiksar d’ra:3i:/

I fell from the chair, my arm got broken

6_ Legs - رجلين /rijli:n/
my legs - رجليّا /rijliyya:/

1 leg - رجل /r’jil/

my leg - رجلي /rijli:/

Example:

مْشِيتْ بِزّاف، رِجْلِيّا وَجْعُوني

/m’chi:t bizza:f rijliyya: waj3ouni:/

I walked a lot, my legs hurt

Now you know the essential body parts in Algerian Arabic—start using them in your daily conversations. Thank you for reading!