chinwi شينوي
Algerian Darja · adjective
“chinwi” (شينوي) is an adjective in Algerian Darja meaning Chinese (person or product).
Meanings
- Chinese (person or product)
- MC Alger supporter
Usage
Chinwi, plural chnawa, means "Chinese". It is used for a person as well as an object: "tilifoun chinwi", "a Chinese phone". For a product, the word sometimes implies poor quality. In Algiers football, chnawa is also the nickname of Mouloudia d'Alger (MCA) supporters, because of how numerous they are. This meaning is recognised from the sporting context. The feminine is chinwiya. The word is informal but not insulting in itself. The tone can, however, turn mocking depending on the speaker's intent.
Example
شريت تيليفون شينوي ما دامش
chrit tilifoun chinwi ma damch
“I bought a Chinese phone, it didn't last.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “chinwi” but also “chinoui”, “chinwy” and “shinwi”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.