drif ضريف
Algerian Darja · adjective
“drif” (ضريف) is an adjective in Algerian Darja meaning kind, friendly, pleasant.
Meanings
- kind, friendly, pleasant
- cute, charming
Usage
Drif (feminine drifa, plural drafa) describes a pleasant, gentle, polite person with whom one feels at ease. It also applies to a cute child, a delicate gesture or a pleasing thing: "hadi drifa" is said of a nice song or object. The register is informal and affectionate, and the word is frequent in compliments, often reinforced by bezzaf or "jed". It is warmer than the English "kind", with nothing condescending. It is readily paired with khfif ("light, likeable") to describe someone who is good company.
Example
خوك ضريف بزاف، يحب يعاون الناس.
khouk drif bezzaf, y7eb y3awen ennas.
“Your brother is very kind, he likes to help people.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “drif” but also “dhrif”, “dharif” and “driif”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “drif” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “kind, nice”; “gentle, calm”: drif in Moroccan.