belghalat بالغالط
Algerian Darja · adverb
“belghalat” (بالغالط) is an adverb in Algerian Darja meaning by mistake, unintentionally.
Meanings
- by mistake, unintentionally
- wrongly, incorrectly
Usage
Belghalat means "by mistake": it is used to apologize for an involuntary action, such as pressing a button, sending a message or taking someone else's belongings. With verbs like fhem ("to understand"), it means "wrongly, incorrectly": fhemt belghalat, "I misunderstood". The register is neutral and common. You also come across the synonym khtayla, and the expression machi bel3ani, "not on purpose". The word ghalat alone means "mistake" or "wrong". Not to be confused with ghlat, "he made a mistake".
Example
سمحلي، كسرتها بالغالط
sme7li, kssertha belghalat
“Sorry, I broke it by accident.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “belghalat” but also “bel3'ala6” and “belghalt”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent; 6 is emphatic ta (ط).