khawa خاوة
Algerian Darja · noun
“khawa” (خاوة) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning brothers.
Meanings
- brothers
- brother peoples, close kin
Usage
Khawa is one of the plurals of khou ("brother"), alongside khout and khwatat. Literally, it refers to brothers in the same family. It is widely used figuratively to affirm brotherhood between people, regions or nations. The repeated slogan "khawa khawa" ("brothers, brothers") has become emblematic, notably at demonstrations and between Algerians and Moroccans online. "Rana khawa" means "we are like brothers". Note: the reference definition, which speaks of something obtained effortlessly, does not match common usage.
Example
حنا خاوة، ما كاين حتى مشكل
7na khawa, makan 7atta mochkil
“We're brothers, there's no problem at all.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khawa” but also “5awa”, “khaoua” and “khaw”. 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.