When I started learning Darija one of the first phrases I learned was me too. When I think back this seems to be a strange a thing to learn at first. I think that the reason I learned this first was because I wanted to know how to agree with someone. Just to let you know the phrase in Darija is 7ta ana, which if translated literally would translate to me also. As with many of these words 7ta has many meanings. Here are some of the translations of 7ta
also |
too |
until |
after |
when (connotes an element of surprise) |
so much that |
to the point that |
in order to |
so that |
to |
even |
not |
either |
neither |
If my math is correct this is 14 translations for 7ta. That’s a lot of uses for this one word. Based on the translations it seems to me that this word would generally be used to add additional information to a sentence. Like I mentioned earlier the word is also used when agreeing to someone. In addition to the translations mentioned, 7ta has other meanings when combined with other words
- 7ta l – when this combination is used the translation is up to or until (the words after until will be time related).
- 7ta shi – nothing
- 7ta 7ad – nobody
Finally 7ta can be used in combination with wallah which is used in oaths. When used with wallah the oath is given emphasis.
Word List
kml | to smoke |
shrb | to drink |
s7a | to wake up |
fi9 | to realize |
tbdl | to be changed |
tkhayal | to imagine |
sid | to close |
taya9 | to believe |
Works Cited
Sobleman, H., and Richard S. Harrell. A Dictionary of Moroccan Arabic: Moroccan-English. Washington, D.C.: Harvey Sobelman and Richard S. Harrell, 1963. Print.
“Speak Moroccan Arabic.” Speak Moroccan Arabic RSS. Web. 06 Sept. 2017.