l3oud العود
Algerian Darja · noun
“l3oud” (العود) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning horse.
Meanings
- horse
- stick, piece of wood
- oud (lute instrument)
Usage
In Algeria, l3oud above all means the horse, in the everyday sense: one says mol l3oud for the rider or owner, and fantasia with the horses. The word also keeps its meaning of stick or piece of wood, found in certain proverbs, as well as that of lute, the musical instrument. Context is enough to tell these senses apart. In other Arab countries, the same word can mean an old man or a grandfather. This is not the common meaning in Algeria, where one says chiboun or jeddi instead.
Example
شريت عود جديد للفانتازيا
chrit 3oud jdid lel fantazia
“I bought a new horse for the fantasia.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “l3oud” but also “3oud”, “el3oud”, “al3awod” and “le3oud”. 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.