hannouni حنوني
Algerian Darja · expression
“hannouni” (حنوني) is an expression in Algerian Darja meaning my dear, sweetheart.
Meanings
- my dear, sweetheart
- buddy, bro
Usage
Hannouni is formed from hannoun (tender) and the possessive -i (my). It is an affectionate term of address, typical of Blida and its surroundings. It is used between friends, or toward a child or a close one, often at the end of a sentence: "sahit hannouni", thanks, my dear. Between men it has nothing romantic about it and is closer to "bro" or "buddy". The feminine is hannounti. Outside the region, it immediately sounds Blidean.
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “hannouni” but also “hanouni”, “hanoni”, “7anouni” and “hannoni”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat.