msagher مصاغر
Algerian Darja · noun
“msagher” (مصاغر) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning young people, the youth.
Meanings
- young people, the youth
- the little ones, the youngest
Usage
Msagher is a plural noun meaning young people. It is used mostly to talk about young people in general, often with kindness or pride: "lmsagher" means "the young people". The word is common in the speech of central Algeria, notably in Algiers and its surroundings. It is opposed to the elders, called lkbar. In a family context, it can also mean the youngest ones. The term does not necessarily refer to small children, but rather to teenagers and young adults.
Example
المصاغر ولاو يحبو يخدمو روحهم.
lmsagher wellaw yhabbou ykhedmou rouhhom.
“Young people now want to work for themselves.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “msagher” but also “msaghar”, “msaghir”, “mesagher” and “msa8er”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 8 is light ha (ه) or ghayn (غ), depending on the writer.