hawes حوس

Algerian Darja · verb

“hawes” (حوس) is a verb in Algerian Darja meaning to look for, search.

Meanings

1. to look for, search
2. to look around, inquire
3. to wander, stroll around

Usage

Hawes is very common for "to look for" something or someone. It is used mainly with the preposition 3la: hawes 3lih ("look for him/it"), nhawes 3la khedma ("I'm looking for work"). Figuratively, it also means "to find out, dig into a question", for example on the Internet. In some contexts the verb means "to wander, stroll" with no particular aim: rani nhawes. Context decides between the two meanings. The form hawes is the imperative or the past depending on the sentence. Informal register, understood everywhere in Algeria.

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “hawes” but also “7awes”, “hawess”, “hwes” and “7aws”. 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 “hawes” on the Arabic keyboard

In Moroccan Darija

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “to wander, stroll around”; “to search around for something”: 7ewwes in Moroccan.

In Tunisian Derja

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “to stroll, go for a walk”; “to look for (with 3la)”: 7awes in Tunisian.