khrofa خروفة
Algerian Darja · noun
“khrofa” (خروفة) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning ewe lamb, young ewe.
Meanings
- ewe lamb, young ewe
- pretty young girl (affectionate)
Usage
Khrofa is the feminine of khrouf, "lamb". The word refers to a ewe lamb, a young female sheep, as opposed to the kebch, the ram. It is heard especially around Eid or at the livestock market. Metaphorically, it can describe a gentle, pretty young girl, in an affectionate or teasing tone. This use is informal and may seem out of place depending on who is being addressed. For an English speaker, the image may be surprising, but it is not insulting in its affectionate use.
Example
بابا شرا خروفة للعيد
baba chra khrofa l l3id
“Dad bought a ewe lamb for Eid.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khrofa” but also “khroufa”, “5roufa” and “khrufa”. 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.