rjal رجال
Algerian Darja · noun
“rjal” (رجال) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning men (plural of "man").
Meanings
- men (plural of "man")
- men of worth, brave people
Usage
Rjal is the plural of rajel ("man"). It is commonly contrasted with nsa or nsawen ("women"): "rjal w nsawen". It also carries a strong moral value: saying that someone is one of the rjal praises their courage, reliability and sense of honour. "Mazal rjal" means "there are still good people left". The word is often used in praise or thanks, sometimes figuratively for women too. Pitfall: do not confuse it with rjel ("foot"), which looks similar in writing.
Example
الحمد لله مازال الرجال في هاد البلاد
el-hamdoullah mazal rjal fi had el-blad
“Thank God, there are still men of worth in this country.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “rjal” but also “rdjal”, “redjal”, “rijal” and “rjel”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “rjal” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “men (plural of rajel)”; “real men, brave men”: rjal in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “men (plural of rajel)”; “real men, men of worth”: rjel in Tunisian.