daira دائرة

Algerian Darja · noun

“daira” (دائرة) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning daïra, administrative district.

Meanings

1. daïra, administrative district
2. circle

Usage

In Algeria, daïra primarily refers to the administrative district between the wilaya and the commune (baladiya), as well as its seat: "rani men daïrat Hadjout". People go there for certain documents, such as a passport or vehicle registration: "rouh l daïra". The word has passed unchanged into Algerian French. The geometric sense of "circle" exists, but it belongs mostly to the school or standard register. In conversation, a circle or a round shape is usually called dwira or "rond".

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “daira” but also “daïra”, “da2ira” and “dayra”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 2 is hamza (ء), a glottal stop.

Type “daira” on the Arabic keyboard

In Moroccan Darija

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “circle, round shape”; “administrative district”: da2ira in Moroccan.