ghachi rachi غاشي راشي
Algerian Darja · expression
“ghachi rachi” (غاشي راشي) is an expression in Algerian Darja meaning corrupt people, worthless folk.
Meanings
- corrupt people, worthless folk
- contemptible crowd, rabble
Usage
In the expression ghachi rachi, ghachi means people, the crowd or the population, and rachi means rotten, spoiled. It is very pejorative and expresses a sweeping, often bitter judgment of society or collective behavior: lack of civic sense, corruption, hypocrisy. It is used to complain or criticize, in conversation or on social media. The rhyme gives it a proverb-like ring. It is not obscene, but it is hurtful if aimed at a specific group. Note: ghachi alone is neutral ("there was ghachi", there were a lot of people).
Example
ما تستنى والو منهم، غاشي راشي.
ma testenna walou menhom, ghachi rachi.
“Don't expect anything from them, they're rotten people.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “ghachi rachi” but also “8achi rachi” and “ghachi rashi”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 8 is light ha (ه) or ghayn (غ), depending on the writer.