rayeh رايح
Algerian Darja · adjective
“rayeh” (رايح) is an adjective in Algerian Darja meaning going, on the way to.
Meanings
- going, on the way to
- about to (near future)
Usage
Rayeh is the active participle of the verb "rah" (to go). It agrees: rayeh, rayha, rayhin. On its own, it indicates movement in progress or planned: "rani rayeh l'khedma" (I'm going to work). Followed by an imperfect verb, it expresses a near future or an intention: "rayeh nakoul" (I'm going to eat). Pitfall: rayeh is not conjugated like a verb, it varies only in gender and number; the person is indicated by "rani, rak, rah…" or by context.
Example
راني رايح للسوق، تحب نجيبلك حاجة؟
rani rayeh l souq, t7ebb njiblek 7aja?
“I'm going to the market, do you want me to bring you something?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “rayeh” but also “raye7”, “rayah” and “rayh”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat.