sal سال
Algerian Darja · verb
“sal” (سال) is a verb in Algerian Darja meaning to ask, to ask after someone.
Meanings
- to ask, to ask after someone
- to be owed money
- to flow (liquid)
Usage
A verb with several meanings. The most frequent is sal 3la, "to ask after someone": sal 3lik, "he asked after you". In the present, yesal / nsal is also used in the sense of "to be owed money": yesalni alf dinar, "he owes me a thousand dinars", literally "he is indebted to me". In this case, the creditor is the implied subject, which often trips up learners. Finally, sal means "to flow" for a liquid: sal edem, "the blood flowed". To ask a question, sa9sa is used more often.
Example
سال عليك بابا البارح
sal 3lik baba lbare7
“Dad asked after you yesterday.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “sal” but also “saal” and “sel”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “sal” on the Arabic keyboard
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “to ask, ask a question”; “to ask after (s2el 3la)”: s2el in Tunisian.