loukan لوكان
Algerian Darja · conjunction
“loukan” (لوكان) is a conjunction in Algerian Darja meaning if (hypothetical, unreal condition).
Meanings
- if (hypothetical, unreal condition)
- if only (wish)
Usage
Loukan is the most common conditional conjunction in darja. It introduces a hypothesis, real or unreal, where standard Arabic distinguishes in, idha and law. It is followed by the perfect or the imperfect: "loukan dji, nrouhou" (if he comes, we'll go), "loukan kount na3ref" (if I had known). Alone or with ghir, it expresses a wish: "loukan ghir..." (if only...). Note that it is also used for the past conditional. The main clause can then be introduced by kount or kan.
Example
لوكان جيت بكري لوكان لقيتو
loukan jit bekri loukan lqitou
“If you had come early, you would have found him.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “loukan” but also “lukan”, “lokan”, “louken” and “lokane”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “loukan” on the Arabic keyboard
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “if (unreal or uncertain hypothesis)”; “if only”: loukan in Tunisian.