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Talking about feelings in Derja

Happy, tired, worried, in love. How Algerians say what they feel.

Feelings in Derja are often stated with راني, literally I am, but more like here I am. راني فرحان is I am happy; راني عيّان covers tired, unwell and fed up depending on the day.

This is also where you meet the fatalistic register that runs through Algerian speech: الحمد لله answers how are you whether things are wonderful or terrible, and the tone carries the difference rather than the words.

10 words to start with

فرحان
ferḥan
Happy
مغموم
meghmum
Sad, down
عيّان
3iyyan
Tired; unwell
مقلّق
mqelleq
Annoyed, stressed
زعفان
za3fan
Angry
خايف
khayef
Afraid
عطشان
3aṭshan
Thirsty
راني مستعجل
rani mesta3jel
I'm in a hurry
ما تقلقش
ma teqlaqsh
Don't stress
ما تخمّمش
ma tkhemmemsh
Don't overthink it

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