lalla لالة
Algerian Darja · noun
“lalla” (لالة) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning madam, respectful title for a woman.
Meanings
- madam, respectful title for a woman
- saint, in place names
Usage
Lalla is a title of respect placed before a woman's first name, especially an older woman, a female relative or the lady of the house: Lalla Fatma. Used alone, it is a polite way to address a woman, like "madam". It is also found in place names associated with female saints, such as Lalla Setti in Tlemcen or Lalla Khedidja in the Djurdjura. In these names, it is part of a proper noun. The word carries an affectionate, traditional nuance. It is rarer among young people.
Example
صحّيت يا لالة، الله يخليك
sa77it ya lalla, allah y5allik
“Thank you, madam, may God keep you.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “lalla” but also “lala”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.