rejlin رجلين
Algerian Darja · noun
“rejlin” (رجلين) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning both feet.
Meanings
- both feet
- both legs
Usage
Rejlin is the dual of rjel or rejl, which means both foot and leg. Context resolves the ambiguity. It is used in "ghsel rejlin", wash your feet, or "bou zouj rejlin", a human being, literally "the one with two legs". With a possessive, one says rather rejliya (my feet) or rejlik (your feet); with ta3, you get "rejlin ta3i". The pitfall for an English speaker: where English distinguishes foot and leg, Darja often uses a single word.
Example
تعبو رجلين تاعي من المشي
t3abou rejlin ta3i men lmechi
“My feet hurt from all the walking.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “rejlin” but also “rajlin”, “rjelin”, “rejline” and “rjlin”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.