kas l3alem كاس العالم
Algerian Darja · noun
“kas l3alem” (كاس العالم) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning world cup (football).
Meanings
- world cup (football)
Usage
Kas el 3alem refers to the World Cup, almost always the football one. The word kas means both "cup" (trophy) and "glass" in darja, but context removes any ambiguity. The expression is very common in conversations about the national team, qualifications and memories of matches. People say "tela3 l kas el 3alem" for a team that has qualified. In everyday speech, "el mondial", a borrowing from French, is also heard and is often preferred by young people. The register is neutral.
Example
الخضرا طلعت لكاس العالم!
el khadra tel3et l kas el 3alem!
“The Greens have qualified for the World Cup!”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “kas l3alem” but also “kass l3alam”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent.
Type “kas l3alem” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “World Cup (football)”: kas l3alam in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “World Cup (football)”: kas l3alem in Tunisian.