3awen عاون

Algerian Darja · verb

“3awen” (عاون) is a verb in Algerian Darja meaning to help someone.

Meanings

1. to help someone
2. to assist, lend a hand
3. to support, contribute (gift, effort)

Usage

3awen is the usual verb for "to help". It is conjugated as follows: 3awen (he helped), y3awen (he helps), 3awenni (help me). The person helped is a direct object: 3awen khouh (he helped his brother). To specify the area, f is used: 3awenni f el khedma (help me with the work). The corresponding noun is m3awna (help). The formula Rabbi y3awnek ("may God help you") is very common to encourage someone facing a hard task. The verb is also used for material help or a donation to a good cause.

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3awen” but also “awen”, “3aouen”, “3awn” and “aouen”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent.

Type “3awen” on the Arabic keyboard

In Moroccan Darija

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “to help, assist”; “to lend a hand”: 3awen in Moroccan.

In Tunisian Derja

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “to help, assist”; “to help oneself”: 3awen in Tunisian.