More phrases in 1847’s Algerian Derdja
Here are some more handy phrases from the phrasebook I found on Google books. For an introduction and and overview of the different parts, go to part one:
Second dialogue
Consent, refusal, giving thanks and excusing oneself
I agree |
رضيت |
Rdhit |
I-have-consented |
||
Of course, with all of my heart |
على رسي و عيني |
Âla rasi ou âïni |
On my-head and my-eye |
||
Okay |
ما عليه |
Ma âlïh |
Not on-him |
||
Why not? The thing is done |
الاش ما ننجم شي الدعوة راهي مقضية |
Âlach ma nendjem chi, ed-daoûa rahi maqdhia |
Why not I-can not the-affair is finished |
||
The thing is easy |
الدعوة ساهلة |
Ed-daoûa sahla |
The-affair easy |
||
I can think of nothing to say |
ما عندي ما نقول |
Ma ândi ma nquoul |
Not I-have what I-say |
||
I am at your service |
راني بين يديك |
Rani bein ieddik |
I-am between your-hands |
||
You may command me |
تنجم تتصرف فيّ |
Tendjem tetssarref fiia |
You-can you-dispose in-me |
||
Order, and you will be obeyed |
انتتامر عليّ وانا طايع لامرك |
Nta tamer âliia ou ana thaiâ lamrek |
You you-order on-me and I obey on-your-order |
||
Talk, and everything will be good |
تكلّم و ما يكون الّا الخير |
Tkellem ou ma ikoun illa elkhir |
Talk and not will-be except the-good |
||
I am happy to have found the opportunity to fulfill your desires |
راني فرحان بالزاف بلّي صبت الطريق باش نواسي ما في خاطرك |
Rani ferhhan bezaf belli ssobt eth-thriq bach nouasi ma fi khathrek |
I-am happy very that I-found the-way so-that I-make what in your-will |
||
I will do my utmost for you |
ما ننجم شي نوجّع لك خاطرك |
Ma nendhem chi nouedj-djâ lek khatrek |
Not I-can not I-make-effort to-you your-willingness |
||
I cannot refuse. |
محال نقول لك لا لا |
Mouhhal nquoul lak la la |
Impossible I-say to-you no no |
||
How I wish that I could make you a bigger favor |
ما ذا بيّ اذا ننجم نواسي لك مزيّة خير من هدة |
Ma da biia ida nendjem nouassi lak mziia khir men hadi |
How-much that with-me if I-could make to-you favor better than this |
||
Trust in me |
توكّل عليّ |
Touekkel âliia |
You-have-confidence on-me |
||
I would also like to make you a favor |
ما ذا بيّ نعمل لك مزيّتك |
Ma da biia nâmel lek maziitek |
How-much that with-me I-make to-you your-favor |
||
You know that I love you a lot |
تعرفني بلّي نحبّك بالزاف |
Târafni belli nhhebbek bezzef |
You-know-I that I-love-you much |
||
Excuse me, sorry |
اسمح لي |
Esmahh li |
Pardon to-me |
||
That is impossible |
هذا الشي محال |
Had ech-chi mouhhal |
This the-thing impossible |
||
That doesn’t depend on me |
هذا الشي ما هو شي في يدّي |
Had ech-chi ma hou chi fi ieddi |
This the-thing not it not in my-hands |
||
I can’t do anything |
ما ننجم شي حتّى حاجة |
Ma nendjem chi hhatta hhadja |
Not I-can not none thing |
||
I’m sorry I can’t help you |
كيف ما نجّمت شي نقضي لك |
Kif ma nedj-demt chi maqdhi lek |
How not I-could not accomplish to-you |
||
I swear that it isn’t my fault |
وااله اللومة ما في منّي |
Ouollah el-louma ma hi menni |
By-god the-fault not it of-me |
||
Another time, if god is willing |
مرّة اخرى نقضيها لك ان يأ الله |
Marra okhra naqdhiha lek in cha allah |
Time other I-do-it to-you if wants god |
||
The time is not good |
الحال ما يوالم شي |
Elhhal ma ioualem chi |
The-time not convene not |
||
Excuse me for this time |
هذه المرة تسمح لي |
Had elmarra tesmahh li |
This the-time you-excuse to-me |
Thank you so, so much for translating these phrases. Especially with the actual Arabic script, which is VERY useful because it helps to know exactly how to pronounce it. It’s much more difficult with only transliteration into Latin script.
It is so very difficult to find ANY resources on Darija in English, so this is great. Thanks
Hi Kamal. Thank you very much. It is indeed difficult to find resources for Algerian Derja – good or bad! I’m planning on publishing more – hopefully, a long list of useful phrases along with audio, but we’ll see 🙂
That is something to look forward to, thanks for sharing all of your hard work on language resources !
You’re very welcome! I hope you find it useful!