t9ar3ij تقرعيج
Algerian Darja · noun
“t9ar3ij” (تقرعيج) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning nosiness, prying.
Meanings
- nosiness, prying
- intrusive questions
Usage
T9ar3ij refers to meddling in what is none of your business: digging into other people's lives, asking too many questions, reading other people's messages. The corresponding verb is t9ar3ej ("he snoops"). It is a common colloquial word, often used to reproach someone for their curiosity: bla t9ar3ij ("no prying", "mind your own business"). It is also used humorously to apologize in advance for a personal question. The nuance is negative but not insulting. It corresponds fairly well to the colloquial French "fouiner" or "être curieux" ("to snoop" or "to be nosy").
Example
خليني فحالي، بلا تقرعيج
khellini f hali, bla t9ar3ij
“Leave me alone, mind your own business.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “t9ar3ij” but also “tqar3ij”, “tgar3ij” and “t9er3ij”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent; 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.