bessah بصح
Algerian Darja · conjunction
“bessah” (بصح) is a conjunction in Algerian Darja meaning but, however.
Meanings
- but, however
- really? is that true?
- really, for real
Usage
Bessah is the most common adversative conjunction in Darja. It is equivalent to "but" and introduces a restriction: nhabbou bessah ma nqderch, "I love him but I can't". Lakin also exists, but it sounds more formal. Said alone with a rising intonation, bessah? means "really?" or "seriously?" and expresses surprise or doubt. In that case it corresponds to b-essah, "for real". The word is colloquial and used in all spoken contexts. It is also very common in writing on social media, often spelled with the digit 7 for the h.
Example
حبيت نجي بصح ما لقيتش الوقت
habit nji bessah ma lqitch el waqt
“I wanted to come, but I didn't find the time.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “bessah” but also “bsah”, “bessa7”, “bsa7”, “bssa7” and “besah”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find بصح and بالصح, all the same word.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat.