mazal مزال
Algerian Darja · adverb
“mazal” (مزال) is an adverb in Algerian Darja meaning still, yet.
Meanings
- still, yet
- not yet (with negation)
- there is still left
Usage
Mazal marks that a situation continues: mazal rani nekhdem (I'm still working). A pronoun is often attached: mazalni, mazalou. Followed by a negation, it means "not yet": mazal ma ja (he hasn't come yet), or simply mazal! (not yet!) as a reply. Mazal always points toward what is not yet finished. The word is very frequent in everyday speech.
Example
مزال ما كليتش
mazal ma kliteh
“I haven't eaten yet.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “mazal” but also “mazel”, “mzal”, “mezal”, “mazale” and “mazzal”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find مزال and مازال, all the same word.
Type “mazal” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
The same word also exists in Moroccan Darija, written مازال, where it means “still, yet”; “not yet (with negation)”: mazal in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
The same word also exists in Tunisian Derja, written مازال, where it means “still, yet”; “not yet (with negation)”: mazel in Tunisian.