dalya دالية
Algerian Darja · noun
“dalya” (دالية) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning trellised grapevine, climbing vine.
Meanings
- trellised grapevine, climbing vine
- vine plant
Usage
The word refers to the vine trained to climb over an arbour, a wall or a courtyard, rather than vines grown in an open field. The courtyard dalya, which gives shade and grapes in summer, is part of the familiar landscape of traditional houses. The common plural is dwali. For the fruit, one says 3nab ("grapes"). Note: Dalia or Dalya is also a female first name, and the word appears in place names, such as 3in Dalya. Context resolves the ambiguity.
Example
قعدنا تحت الدالية فالحوش
93adna ta7t dalya fel 7ouch
“We sat under the grapevine in the courtyard.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “dalya” but also “dalia”, “daliya” and “dallya”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.