khatir خطير
Algerian Darja · adjective
“khatir” (خطير) is an adjective in Algerian Darja meaning dangerous, serious.
Meanings
- dangerous, serious
- awesome, impressive (slang)
Usage
Khatir first means "dangerous" or "serious": triq khatira (a dangerous road), mard khatir (a serious illness). In informal speech, especially among young people, it is also a compliment: "awesome, amazing, top-level". In that use it carries a positive value. Context tells you which meaning is intended. It is often heard on its own as an exclamation: khatir! The feminine is khatira. Note: the same word can be a warning or praise.
Example
هاد الطريق خطيرة بالليل
had tri9 khatira bellil
“This road is dangerous at night.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khatir” but also “5atir”, “khtir”, “5tir” and “khatire”. 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 “khatir” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “dangerous”; “serious, grave”: khatir in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “dangerous”; “serious, grave”: khtir in Tunisian.