khechm خشم
Algerian Darja · noun
“khechm” (خشم) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning nose.
Meanings
- nose
- snout, muzzle (animal)
Usage
Khechm means "nose". It is heard mostly in eastern Algeria and in some inland regions. Elsewhere, notably in Algiers, the most widespread word is nif, which also has the figurative sense of pride and honour. Khechm remains more concrete, and sometimes a bit informal or mocking, for example when talking about a big nose. It is also used for an animal's snout. With a possessive it gives khechmi, "my nose", or khechmou, "his nose". A pitfall: the figurative sense of honour is reserved for nif and does not carry over to khechm.
Example
طاح وتجرح في خشمو.
ta7 w tjre7 f khechmou.
“He fell and hurt his nose.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khechm” but also “5echm”, “khachm” and “kheshm”. 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 “khechm” on the Arabic keyboard
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “nose”; “snout (colloquial)”: 5chem in Tunisian.