ma3raka معركة
Algerian Darja · noun
“ma3raka” (معركة) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning battle, combat.
Meanings
- battle, combat
- brawl, violent quarrel
- showdown, duel (game, rap)
Usage
Ma3raka refers to a battle in the historical sense, such as the battles of the war of liberation that are commemorated. In everyday language it is also used figuratively for a brawl, a big quarrel or a hard ordeal: "kanet ma3raka bach dkhalt" means "it was a battle to get in". Among young people it also names a video game or rap duel. The plural is ma3arik. For a simple street fight, people more often say "dabza"; ma3raka adds an idea of scale or ferocity.
Example
البارح كانت معركة في الطوبيس باش ركبنا
lbare7 kanet ma3raka f tobis bach rkebna
“Yesterday it was a real battle to get on the bus.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “ma3raka” but also “maaraka”, “ma3rka” and “m3arka”. 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.
Type “ma3raka” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “battle, military combat”; “brawl, fierce struggle”: m3raka in Moroccan.