charak dir شاراك دير
Algerian Darja · expression
“charak dir” (شاراك دير) is an expression in Algerian Darja meaning what are you doing?.
Meanings
- what are you doing?
- how's it going? (greeting)
Usage
This question, typical of western Algeria, is addressed to a man. It combines cha ("what"), rak ("you are") and dir ("do"). It also serves as a greeting to ask for news, like "how are you, what's new?". The equivalent form in the centre is wach rak dir. The expression is often written as one word, charak dir or charakdir, especially in messages. To a woman, one says charaki diri. The register is informal: it is used among close friends and family, not in formal settings.
Example
واش خويا، شاراك دير؟
wach khouya, charak dir ?
“Hey bro, what are you up to?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “charak dir” but also “chrak dir”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.