9ray قراي
Algerian Darja · adjective
“9ray” (قراي) is an adjective in Algerian Darja meaning studious, good student.
Meanings
- studious, good student
- educated, schooled
Usage
9ray (with 9 standing for the qaf) describes someone who studies seriously and does well at school, or more broadly an educated person. The word comes from the verb 9ra, "to study, to read". Feminine 9raya, plural 9rayin. It is often used as a compliment ("bentek 9raya") or in the negative ("machi 9ray", "not very academically inclined"). Pitfall: the same spelling can also be the feminine imperative "9ray!", "study!", addressed to a girl; context tells them apart.
Example
خوك قراي بزاف، ديما يجيب نقاط مليحة
khouk 9ray bezzaf, dima yjib n9at mliha
“Your brother is very studious, he always gets good grades.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “9ray” but also “qray”, “kray” and “9rai”. 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.