3la khater على خاطر
Algerian Darja · conjunction
“3la khater” (على خاطر) is a conjunction in Algerian Darja meaning because, since.
Meanings
- because, since
Usage
3la khater is the most common way of saying "because" in Algeria. It introduces a clause directly: "ma jitch 3la khater kont mrid" ("I didn't come because I was sick"). It can also stand alone, in answer to "3lach?" ("why?"). The register is neutral and suits all situations. The contracted forms 3lakhater and lakhater are very common in speech and in writing. Don't translate it word for word as "on the mind": the literal meaning of khater plays no role here any more.
Example
ما خرجتش على خاطر كانت الشتا
ma khrejtch 3la khater kanet echta
“I didn't go out because it was raining.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3la khater” but also “3la khatar”, “3la 5ater” and “3ala 5ater”. 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; 5 is kha (خ), like the ch in Scottish loch.
Type “3la khater” on the Arabic keyboard
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “because, since”; “because of, for the sake of”: 3la khater in Tunisian.