bchwiya بشوية
Algerian Darja · adverb
“bchwiya” (بشوية) is an adverb in Algerian Darja meaning slowly, gently.
Meanings
- slowly, gently
- carefully
- little by little
Usage
B'chwiya is formed from chwiya ("a little") and means "slowly". It is used to ask someone to slow down (sougue b'chwiya, "drive slowly"), to act carefully, or to calm down. Doubled, chwiya b'chwiya means "little by little". The word is informal and very common, often said in a kindly tone. It should not be confused with chwiya on its own, which means "a little": chwiya khobz, "a little bread".
Example
سوق بشوية الطريق مزلقة
sou9 b chwiya ttri9 mzel9a
“Drive slowly, the road is slippery.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “bchwiya” but also “bechwiya” and “bshwiya”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “bchwiya” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “slowly, gently”; “carefully”: bchwiya in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “slowly, gently”; “with a little (of)”: bchwaya in Tunisian.