hass حس
Algerian Darja · verb
“hass” (حس) is a verb in Algerian Darja meaning to feel, sense.
Meanings
- to feel, sense
- (noun) noise, sound
- (noun) sense, sensitivity
Usage
As a verb, hass means "to feel, to sense", often with b-: "hassit b rouhi 3ayan" (I felt tired), "ma hassitch bih" (I didn't notice it). As a noun, hess is very common in the sense of "noise" or "sound": "dir hess" (make noise), "ma kan hatta hess" (not a sound). It also appears in "hess el fokaha" (sense of humour). Context tells you whether it is the verb or the noun. The register is neutral and it is used everywhere in Algeria.
Example
حسيت روحي عيان بزاف اليوم.
hassit rouhi 3ayan bezzaf el youm.
“I felt very tired today.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “hass” but also “hess”, “has”, “7ess” and “7ass”. 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.
Type “hass” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “to feel, to sense”; “to empathize, care about someone”: 7ess in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “to feel, sense”; “to empathize with someone”: 7ess in Tunisian.