mala ملا
Algerian Darja · particle
“mala” (ملا) is a particle in Algerian Darja meaning so, then.
Meanings
- so, then
- what a…! (exclamatory)
Usage
Mala (or mela) is a very frequent particle in speech. At the start of a sentence it works as a transition or conclusion: "so", "well, in that case", often to move things along or draw a consequence (mala nrouhou, so let's go). Before a noun it takes an exclamatory value: mala nhar! (what a day!). The sense "to dictate" given by some sources belongs to the Standard Arabic verb and does not reflect everyday usage. Informal register. Watch the intonation: with a questioning tone, mala? means "so what?", "and so?".
Example
ملا نروحو درك؟
mala nrouhou dork?
“So, shall we go now?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “mala” but also “mela”, “mla”, “malla” and “mella”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.