hassen حسن

Algerian Darja · verb

“hassen” (حسن) is a verb in Algerian Darja meaning to shave (beard, hair).

Meanings

1. to shave (beard, hair)
2. to get a haircut
3. to improve, make better

Usage

In everyday use, hassen first means to shave or to cut hair. People say "hassen lehytou" (he shaved his beard) or "rah yhassen" (he went to the barber). The barber is often called hassani or hallaq. The sense "to improve" also exists, mainly in religious or formal phrases such as "Allah yhassen 3wanek" (may God help you). Note: hassen is not used for "to improve" about a person. In that case people more often use twalla mlih.

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “hassen” but also “7assen”, “hasen”, “hessen” and “7essen”. 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 “hassen” on the Arabic keyboard

In Moroccan Darija

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “to shave, cut hair”; “to improve”: 7essen in Moroccan.