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الفرنسية في الدارجة
Words

French words inside Algerian Derja

The French that became Algerian, and how it is pronounced now.

Algerian Derja contains more French than any other Arabic dialect, and pretending otherwise makes you harder to understand rather than more correct. These words are not code-switching. They are Algerian words, conjugated with Arabic prefixes and pluralised with Arabic endings.

If you speak French already this page is the fastest vocabulary you will ever acquire. Just be ready for the pronunciation to have moved: the vowels shift, and the stress lands where Arabic wants it.

10 words to start with

normalement
Normally, in principle

Sentence-initial hedge, heard constantly in Derja.

direct
Straight away, directly
environ
About, approximately

Dropped straight into an Arabic sentence, right before a number.

ça va
OK / how are you
bien
Fine, good
gratuit
Free of charge
tranquille
Calm, chill, leave-me-alone

خلّيني تراونكيل khallini tranquille = leave me in peace.

la crise
The crisis; a fit of rage
la tension
Blood pressure; tension
ليكول
likul
School

There are 44 more in this theme

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