men من
Algerian Darja · preposition
“men” (من) is a preposition in Algerian Darja meaning from (origin).
Meanings
- from (origin)
- of, among (part of a set)
- since (time)
Usage
A very common preposition, pronounced "men". It indicates origin (ana men dzayer, "I'm from Algeria") or the starting point of a journey. It also marks part of a set (wahed men s7abi, "a friend of mine") and the starting point in time (men zman, "for a long time"). It also introduces the comparative: kbir mennou ("bigger than him"). With pronouns, it doubles: menni, mennek, mennou. Do not confuse it with mena / mnin ("where from?").
Example
جيت من وهران البارح
jit men wahran lbare7
“I came from Oran yesterday.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “men” but also “mn”, “min” and “man”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “men” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “from (source, origin)”; “of, among (part of a set)”: men in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “from (origin, provenance)”; “since, for (time)”: men in Tunisian.