chahr شهر
Algerian Darja · noun
“chahr” (شهر) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning month.
Meanings
- month
- monthly pay, monthly installment
Usage
Chhar is the usual word for "month". Its plural is chhour, and the dual form is chahrin (two months). People say "chhar ramdan" for the month of Ramadan, "had chhar" for this month and "chhar jay" for next month. To express a duration, men is used: "rani hna men chhar" (I've been here for a month). By extension, chhar can mean the monthly salary or an installment to be paid. Be careful not to confuse it with chahr, which means "famous", or with sahar, which means "to stay up late".
Example
راني هنا من شهر وما شفتوش.
rani hna men chhar w ma cheftouch.
“I've been here for a month and haven't seen him.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “chahr” but also “shhar”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “chahr” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “month”: ch8er in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “month (about thirty days)”: chahr in Tunisian.