galouli قالولي
Algerian Darja · expression
“galouli” (قالولي) is an expression in Algerian Darja meaning they told me.
Meanings
- they told me
- I was told
Usage
This is the conjugated form of gal (to say) in the third person plural, followed by the pronoun -li ("to me"). It means "they told me", but very often also "I was told", with a vague subject. It is used to report second-hand information, a rumor, or the answer given by an administration (galouli arja3 ghodwa, "I was told to come back tomorrow"). The g pronunciation is the most widespread. The variants qalouli or 9alouli are heard in some cities. Related forms are galli (he told me) and gatli (she told me).
Example
قالولي الكاغط ما زال ما وجدش
galouli lkaghet mazal ma wjedch
“I was told the paper isn't ready yet.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “galouli” but also “9alouli”, “qalouli” and “galoli”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.