barra برا
Algerian Darja · adverb
“barra” (برا) is an adverb in Algerian Darja meaning outside, exterior.
Meanings
- outside, exterior
- abroad
- get out! out!
Usage
Barra means "outside": rani barra ("I'm outside"), men barra ("from the outside"). In the context of emigration, it very often takes the meaning "abroad": rah barra ("he went abroad"), especially to Europe. Said alone in a curt tone, barra! means "get out!" or "go away!". This use is an imperative and not polite. Its opposite is dakhel or el dakhel. Spellings with one or two r's coexist online, but the double consonant is indeed pronounced.
Example
راني برا، نجي بعد شوية
rani barra, nji ba3d chwiya
“I'm outside, I'll be there in a little while.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “barra” but also “bara”, “berra” and “bera”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “barra” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “outside, out”; “abroad”: berra in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “outside”; “come on, go ahead”: barra in Tunisian.