Darija - Interrogative Particles
Here is a list of interrogative particles:
|
English |
Darija in Transcription |
Darija in Arabic letters |
|
Who? |
Shkôn? |
شْكُون؟ |
|
Why? / What for? |
3lâsh? lâsh? |
عْلاش؟ لاش؟ |
|
Where? |
Fîn? |
فِينْ؟ |
|
When? |
Imtâ? |
إِيمْتا؟ |
|
How? / How so? |
Kifâsh? |
كيفاشْ؟ |
|
What? |
Ashnô? Ash?
Shnô? |
أَشْنُو؟ أَشْ؟ شنو؟ |
|
How much/many? |
Sh7âl? |
شحال؟ |
|
Where from? |
Mnîn? |
مْنين؟ |
|
Which? |
Ash mn? |
أشْ مْن؟ |
|
Which one? (m.s) Which one? (f.s) |
Înâ wâ7d?
Înâ w7da? |
إينا واحد؟ إينا وحدة؟ |
|
Whose? |
Dyâl mn? |
ديال من؟ |
A cultural flash:
When someone knocks on the door in Morocco for instance, you ask:
- Shkôn? شكون؟ [Who is it?]
And you get the answer:
- Qrîb قريب [A relative].
As to imply that the guest is not an enemy, or anybody having harmful intentions.
Examples:
|
English |
Darija in Transcription |
Darija in Arabic letters |
|
What’s this thing? |
Ash hâd sh-shî? |
أَش هادْ الشي؟ |
|
What’s that thing? |
Ash dâk sh-shî? |
أَش داك الشي؟ |
|
How much does this skirt cost? |
Bsh7âl hâd SSâya? |
بْشحَال هاد الصاية؟ |
|
When did you (s.) come? |
Imtâ jîti? |
إيمْتا جيتي؟ |
|
What are you (m.s.) doing? |
Ash kaddîr? |
أشْ كادّيرْ؟ |
|
What do you want? |
Ashnô bghîtî? |
أشْنُو بْغيتي؟ |
|
When will you (m.s.) arrive? |
Imtâ ghâdî twSl? |
إيمْتا غادي توصْل؟ |
|
Where are you (m.s.) going? |
Fîn ghâdî? |
فين غادي؟ |
