khater خاطر

Algerian Darja · noun

“khater” (خاطر) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning mood, desire, heart for.

Meanings

1. mood, desire, heart for
2. regard ("for you")
3. "3la khater": because

Usage

Khater refers to one's state of mind. "Ma 3andich khater" means "I'm not in the mood for it, I don't have the heart for it". "3la khatrek" means "for you, out of regard for you"; "khatri dayeq" expresses annoyance or sadness. Especially in eastern Algeria, "3la khater" is used as a conjunction: "because". Do not confuse this word with "khatra" (one time) or with the standard sense of "danger".

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khater” but also “5ater”, “khatar” and “khatr”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 5 is kha (خ), like the ch in Scottish loch.

Type “khater” on the Arabic keyboard

In Moroccan Darija

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “liking, pleasing someone”; “mood, heart”: khater in Moroccan.

In Tunisian Derja

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “because, since”; “for, out of consideration for (3la khater)”: 5ater in Tunisian.