houma هوما
Algerian Darja · pronoun
“houma” (هوما) is a pronoun in Algerian Darja meaning they.
Meanings
- they
- them (emphatic form)
Usage
Houma is the third-person plural personal pronoun. It does not distinguish gender: it stands for both masculine and feminine "they". Since the verb already carries the person, it is mainly used for emphasis or contrast: houma lli dirou (they are the ones who did it). It also serves as subject in verbless sentences: houma hna (they are here). The variant houm is also found. The corresponding suffix is -houm, for example rahoum (they are) or ktabhoum (their book).
Example
هوما لي قالولي
houma lli qalouli
“They are the ones who told me.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “houma” but also “homa”, “huma” and “hooma”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “houma” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “they (masculine or feminine)”; “them (emphatic form)”: homa in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “they, them”; “they are (plural copula)”: houma in Tunisian.