kirak dayer كيراك داير
Algerian Darja · expression
“kirak dayer” (كيراك داير) is an expression in Algerian Darja meaning how are you? (to a man).
Meanings
- how are you? (to a man)
- how are things going for you?
Usage
Kirak dayer is one of the most common ways of asking "how are you?", especially in the West and Centre. The expression agrees with the person addressed: kirak dayer to a man, kiraki dayra to a woman, kirakom dayrin to several people. You can also just say kirak or kirak? on its own. The usual answer is labas, lhamdoullah, "fine, thank God". The register is informal but polite, and the expression suits most situations. It is also heard as a simple greeting formula, with no real answer expected.
Example
سلام خويا، كيراك داير؟
salam khouya, kirak dayer ?
“Hi brother, how are you?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “kirak dayer” but also “kirak dayr”, “kirak daiyer”, “kirek dayer” and “kiraak dayer”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.