9al قال
Algerian Darja · verb
“9al” (قال) is a verb in Algerian Darja meaning to say.
Meanings
- to say
- to tell, report what was said
Usage
The basic verb for reporting speech. Pronunciation varies by region: "qal" in the cities, "gal" in many inland regions, in the East and in the West. It is very often used with a pronoun attached for the person addressed: "qalli" (he told me), "qallek" (he told you), "qoulli" (tell me). The imperfect is "yqoul" or "ygoul". The fixed form "qalek" or "galek" means "they say that" or "apparently" and introduces a rumor. The verb follows the pattern of hollow verbs: "qolt" (I said), "qalet" (she said).
Example
قالّي راح يجي غدوا
9alli ra7 yji ghodwa
“He told me he'd come tomorrow.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “9al” but also “gal”, “qal”, “kal” and “9alli”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.
Type “9al” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “to say”; “to tell, report”: gal in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “to say”; “to tell, to report”: 9al in Tunisian.