lahlou الحلو
Algerian Darja · adjective
“lahlou” (الحلو) is an adjective in Algerian Darja meaning sweet, mild.
Meanings
- sweet, mild
- pleasant, nice
- lham lahlou, sweet meat dish
Usage
Lahlou is the form of 7lou, "sweet" or "mild", with the article. It describes a fruit, a dish or a drink: limoun lahlou, a mild citrus fruit that is not sour. Figuratively, it means pleasant or charming: dawqek lahlou, your good taste. It is also part of the name of a traditional dish, lham lahlou, a meat dish with prunes served especially during Ramadan. The feminine is 7lowa. Words from the same root, such as 7lawa (sweet, pastry), should be kept separate. In cooking, do not confuse "mild" (not spicy or not sour) with "sweet".
Example
هاد الدلاع حلو بزاف
had ddella3 7lou bezzaf
“This watermelon is very sweet.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “lahlou” but also “l7lou”, “el7lou”, “lhlou” and “al7alw”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat.