kra3in كورعين
Algerian Darja · noun
“kra3in” (كورعين) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning sheep's trotters (as food).
Meanings
- sheep's trotters (as food)
- legs of livestock
Usage
Refers to the legs of livestock, especially sheep, and in particular the feet prepared for cooking. They are cleaned and singed, notably after Eid al-Adha, then cooked in a sauce or with chickpeas. They are often paired with the head (bouzellouf). The word is generally used in the plural, often with the article: lekra3in. The singular is kra3. Said of a person, the word becomes familiar and mocking when referring to their legs.
Example
يما طيبت الكرعين
yemma tayebt lekra3in
“Mum cooked the sheep's trotters.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “kra3in” but also “kra3en”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent.