khayef خايف
Algerian Darja · adjective
“khayef” (خايف) is an adjective in Algerian Darja meaning afraid, scared.
Meanings
- afraid, scared
- worried, fearing that
Usage
Khayef (feminine khayfa, plural khayfin) means "afraid". In darja it is used where English says "to be afraid". It is almost always preceded by rani, rak, rah, etc.: rani khayef, "I'm afraid". The cause is introduced by men: khayef men lkelb, "he's afraid of the dog". Followed by an imperfect verb, it expresses a fear: rani khayef nensa, "I'm afraid of forgetting". It is also used to express simple worry, without real fear. The register is everyday.
Example
راني خايف من الكلب
rani khayef men lkelb
“I'm afraid of the dog.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khayef” but also “khayf”, “5ayef”, “khaif” and “khayaf”. 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 “khayef” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “afraid, scared”; “worried (about someone)”: khayf in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “afraid, scared”; “worried about someone”: khayef in Tunisian.