hadtha حادثة
Algerian Darja · noun
“hadtha” (حادثة) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning incident, notable event.
Meanings
- incident, notable event
- accident
Usage
Hadtha (or haditha) refers to a notable event, often unfortunate or famous: "hadthet..." followed by the place or subject. The word belongs to a rather formal register, close to the language of the media; it is heard when talking about history, news items or well-known affairs. For a road accident, darja generally prefers "accident" or other everyday words. In the construct state, the final t is pronounced: "hadthet el-marwha" (the fan incident). Do not confuse it with hadith, the prophetic narration.
Example
تفكرت حادثة صرات في الحومة بكري
tfekkert hadtha srat fel houma bekri
“I remembered an incident that happened in the neighbourhood long ago.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “hadtha” but also “haditha”, “hadetha” and “hadita”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “hadtha” on the Arabic keyboard
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “incident, notable event”; “accident”: 7adtha in Tunisian.