khazra خزرة
Algerian Darja · noun
“khazra” (خزرة) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning look, glance.
Meanings
- look, glance
- long or sideways look
Usage
Khazra is the noun of action of the verb khzar, "to look", very common in Algeria. It refers to a glance or a look. Several expressions are frequent: dir khazra, "take a look", and khzarli khazra, "he gave me a look", often a dark or meaningful one. Depending on context, the word can also evoke the envious gaze that brings bad luck, in other words the evil eye. It belongs to the common, informal register. Note: khzar is more active than "to see", which is chaf. It is used for a deliberate or insistent look.
Example
دير خزرة على الطاجين باش ما يتحرقش.
dir khazra 3la tajine bach ma yet7ra9ch.
“Keep an eye on the tajine so it doesn't burn.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khazra” but also “khezra”, “5azra”, “5ezra” and “khzra”. 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.