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Phrases What it costs Book
الأمثال والتعابير
Words

Algerian sayings and proverbs

The fixed phrases every Algerian knows, and what they actually mean.

Every one of these is understood instantly by any Algerian and by almost nobody else. They are the shortest route to sounding like you belong, and the fastest way to make somebody's grandmother laugh.

Do not translate them literally when you are working out what they mean. Most make no sense word by word. The meaning lives in the whole phrase and in the situation it is used in.

10 words to start with

زوج ريّاس يغرّقو بابور
zuj ryayes ygharrqu babor
Two captains sink a ship. Too many bosses ruin the job
طوال الخيط ماهو خيّاط
ṭwal lkhiṭ mahu khayyaṭ
A long thread does not make a tailor. Looking the part is not being it
المحبّة تجي بالكيف ماشي بالسيف
lmaḥabba tji b-lkif mashi b-ssif
Love comes willingly, not by the sword
كبّ القدرة على فمّها، كل بنت تطلع لأمّها
kebb lqedra 3la femmha, koll bent teṭla3 l'emmha
Tip the pot on its mouth, and every girl takes after her mother
خذ الكذّاب بالنسيان
khud lkeddhab b-nnisyan
Catch a liar through his forgetfulness
اللي خرج من دارو قلّ مقدارو
elli khrej men daru qell meqdaru
He who leaves his home loses his standing
مول الفول يقول طيّاب
mul lful yqul ṭayyab
The bean seller says they are well cooked. Everyone praises his own goods
يا قاتل الروح، وين تروح ؟
ya qatel rruḥ, win truḥ ?
O killer of a soul, where will you run? There is no escaping justice
خالط العطّار تنال الشموم
khaleṭ l3aṭṭar tnal shshmum
Mix with the perfumer and you will catch the scent. You become the company you keep
حتّى ينوّر الملح
ḥatta ynewwer lmelḥ
When salt blossoms, meaning never

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