kraghla الكراغلة
Algerian Darja · noun
“kraghla” (الكراغلة) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning Kouloughlis, descendants of Turks and Algerian women.
Meanings
- Kouloughlis, descendants of Turks and Algerian women
- descendant of a Turk and an Algerian woman
- of Turkish origin (family)
Usage
The word lkraghla is the plural of kourghli. It refers to the descendants of unions between Turkish soldiers of the Ottoman period and Algerian women. Some families in Tlemcen, Médéa or Algiers claim this origin. The word is used mostly when talking about history, genealogy or identity. In online political debates, it is sometimes used to call a person's origin into question. Depending on the tone, it can therefore become controversial. The usual French form is "Kouloughli". In darja, the word is used mostly in the plural, with the article.
Example
جدّو من الكراغلة تاع تلمسان
jeddou mel kraghla ta3 Tlemcen
“His grandfather is descended from the Kouloughlis of Tlemcen.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “kraghla” but also “lkraghla” and “kourghli”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find الكراغلة and كرغولي, all the same word.