3la على
Algerian Darja · preposition
“3la” (على) is a preposition in Algerian Darja meaning on, above.
Meanings
- on, above
- about, concerning
- for, because of
Usage
A preposition pronounced "3la" (with the ‘ayn sound). It is used for position (3la ttabla, "on the table"). It is also used for the topic of a conversation, after hdar ("to talk"), and for cause or purpose: 3la jalek ("for you, because of you"). It appears in many expressions: 3lach ("why"), ma 3lich ("it doesn't matter"), 3la khater ("because"). With pronouns, it becomes 3liya, 3lik, 3lih. To express obligation, one says 3lik ("you must").
Example
حط المفاتح على الطابلة
7ot lmfate7 3la ttabla
“Put the keys on the table.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3la” but also “ala”, “3ala”, “aala” and “3al”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find على and علا, all the same word.
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 “3la” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “on, above”; “about, concerning”: 3la in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “on (position, direction)”; “for, because of”: 3la in Tunisian.