khelles خلص

Algerian Darja · verb

“khelles” (خلص) is a verb in Algerian Darja meaning to pay, settle.

Meanings

1. to pay, settle
2. to repay a debt
3. (form khles) to end, be over

Usage

Khelles is the usual verb for paying in Algeria: khelles el kra (to pay the rent), khelles el facture. With the preposition, one says khelles-li "pay me" or "pay me back". The derived noun khlass means payment or salary. Be careful not to confuse it with khles, without the doubled consonant, which means "to end, to be finished": el film khles, "the film is over". In writing, the two forms often have the same spelling, and context decides. The interjection khlas, "it's over, enough", is also very frequent. The word is in the standard register and is not colloquial.

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khelles” but also “khalles”, “khlas”, “khles” and “khallas”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Type “khelles” on the Arabic keyboard

In Moroccan Darija

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “to pay, settle a sum”; “to repay a debt”: khalles in Moroccan.

In Tunisian Derja

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “to pay, settle”; “to deliver, rescue”: khalles in Tunisian.