cherref شرف
Algerian Darja · verb
“cherref” (شرف) is a verb in Algerian Darja meaning to honor, do honor to.
Meanings
- to honor, do honor to
- to be a source of pride
Usage
Cherref means "to honor" or "to do honor to". It is heard mostly in welcome formulas: "cherraftna" ("you have honored us with your visit") or "cherraft" in the singular. It is also used to congratulate someone who represents their country or family well: "cherraf bladou" ("he did honor to his country"). The reflexive form tcherref, in the past ("tcherrafna"), is used as "pleased to meet you" during an introduction. The related noun, cheref, means honor. The register is polite and often warm. The sense of "to supervise" belongs to Standard Arabic (achraf) and is not common here.
Example
مرحبا بيك، شرّفتنا بالزيارة
marhba bik, cherraftna bel ziyara
“Welcome, you honor us with your visit.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “cherref” but also “charraf”, “cherraf”, “sharraf” and “chref”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “cherref” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “to honor, to do credit to”; “to welcome (polite formula)”: chrref in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “honor, dignity”; “family reputation”: chref in Tunisian.