chab شاب
Algerian Darja · noun
“chab” (شاب) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning young man.
Meanings
- young man
- young (adjective)
- title of raï singer
Usage
Chab means a young man; the feminine chaba means a young woman, and the plural is chbab. It is also used as an adjective: rajel chab (a young man). Note: chbab, in the plural or used as an adjective, commonly means "beautiful, great" in darja, for example had lblasa chbab. Before an artist's name, cheb or chaba is the traditional title of raï singers (Cheb Khaled, Chaba Fadela). The word is neutral and common, in speech as well as in the media.
Example
هذا شاب قافز ويخدم بزاف
hada chab gafez w yekhdem bezzaf
“He's a resourceful young man who works a lot.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “chab” but also “cheb”, “shab”, “chabb” and “chaab”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “chab” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “young man”; “young (adjective)”: chabb in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “young man”; “young (adjective)”: cheb in Tunisian.