sifr صفر
Algerian Darja · numeral
“sifr” (صفر) is a numeral in Algerian Darja meaning zero, nothing.
Meanings
- zero, nothing
- worthless, terrible
- yellow (pronounced sfer)
Usage
Written the same way, this word covers two distinct words. Pronounced sifr, it means "zero". It is often used figuratively to call something worthless: el qualité sifr. In speech, many Algerians say "zéro" instead, in the French way. Pronounced sfer, it is the adjective "yellow"; its feminine is safra and its plural is sofrine. In writing without vowels, only context can decide between the two meanings. The sense "worthless" belongs to a familiar, critical register, very frequent in online comments.
Example
الخدمة تاعهم صفر
lkhedma ta3hom sifr
“Their service is zero.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “sifr” but also “sefr”, “sfer”, “sifer” and “sfr”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “sifr” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “yellow”; “pale, pallid (complexion)”: sfer in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “zero”; “yellow (plural of asfer)”: sfer in Tunisian.