el ل
Algerian Darja · preposition
“el” (ل) is a preposition in Algerian Darja meaning to, towards (direction).
Meanings
- to, towards (direction)
- for, on behalf of
Usage
A very frequent preposition, generally attached to the following word. It indicates direction ("rouh l dar", go home) or the recipient ("jebtha l khouya", I brought it for my brother). Before the article, it merges with it: "lel" or "l", as in "rouh lel-jami3". With pronouns, it becomes "liya, lik, lih, liha" (to me, to you, to him, to her). In online writing, it is often found detached ("l jazira"), which does not match the pronunciation. In many cases it replaces the "ila" of Standard Arabic.
Example
روح للسوق وجيب الخبز
rouh lessouq w jib lkhobz
“Go to the market and bring back bread.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “el” but also “l”, “li” and “lel”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “el” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “to, toward (destination)”; “for, to (recipient)”: li in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “to, toward (direction)”; “for, to (recipient)”: li in Tunisian.