kifach كيفاش
Algerian Darja · adverb
“kifach” (كيفاش) is an adverb in Algerian Darja meaning how (interrogative).
Meanings
- how (interrogative)
- how come? why on earth?
- how?
Usage
Kifach is the interrogative of manner: kifach jit?, "how did you come?". It is also used in indirect questions: ma n3arfech kifach ndir, "I don't know how to do it". Alone or at the start of a reply, kifach? expresses surprise or objection ("what do you mean?"). It then comes close to "why", which explains some English glosses. Do not confuse it with kif, "like", used for comparison: kif kif, "the same". The form kifah is heard in some regions. Kifach is the most widespread.
Example
كيفاش نروح للبوسطة؟
kifach nrouh lel bosta ?
“How do I get to the post office?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “kifach” but also “kifech”, “kifache”, “kifash”, “kfach” and “kfech”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find كيفاش and كفاش, all the same word.
Type “kifach” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “how (question)”; “how come, why”: kifach in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “how, in what way”; “how come? (astonishment)”: kifech in Tunisian.