7ren حرن
Algerian Darja · verb
“7ren” (حرن) is a verb in Algerian Darja meaning be stubborn, refuse to obey.
Meanings
- be stubborn, refuse to obey
- sulk and cry inconsolably
Usage
7ren is said of someone who digs in and refuses to give way, like a pack animal that won't go any further. It is used above all for a child having a tantrum, crying and refusing to be comforted or hushed. An adult is also said to "7ren" when they dig in their heels. The corresponding adjective is 7rouni or m7arren. The source gives it as a usage from the Sétif region; elsewhere, other verbs may be preferred.
Example
الطفل حرن، ما حبّش يسكت.
tfel 7ren, ma 7abbch yaskot.
“The little one dug in his heels, he wouldn't calm down.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “7ren” but also “hren”, “7ran” and “haran”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat.