fatra فترة
Algerian Darja · noun
“fatra” (فترة) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning period, time.
Meanings
- period, time
- a while
Usage
Fatra refers to a period of time, often a defined one: fatra ta3 el confinement (the lockdown period), fatra fel kharif (a period in autumn). One also says had el fatra (these days) and fatra twila (a long time). The word comes from Standard Arabic but is quite common in everyday speech. It alternates with the French "période". For a vague length of time, people readily use chwiya wa9t or mudda, the latter more formal. Fatra is feminine: had el fatra, fatra s3iba (a difficult period).
Example
هاد الفترة راني عيّان بزاف
had el fatra rani 3ayyan bezzaf
“These days I'm very tired.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “fatra” but also “fetra” and “fatraa”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “fatra” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “period, span of time”; “difficult time, rough patch”: ftra in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “period, length of time”; “time slot, moment”: fatra in Tunisian.