tehla تهلا
Algerian Darja · verb
“tehla” (تهلا) is a verb in Algerian Darja meaning to take care of, look after.
Meanings
- to take care of, look after
- to treat well, pamper
- take care of yourself (goodbye)
Usage
Tehla (or thella) means "to take care of, to look after". It is built with the preposition f-: "tehla fih" (take good care of him), "tehla f rouhek" (take care of yourself). It can also express welcoming or pampering someone well. On its own, "tehla!" is a warm farewell, especially between men and between friends, roughly "take care of yourself". It is also said to someone who is looking after a relative: "tehla f yemmak". Familiar, affectionate register.
Example
تهلا في روحك يا خو.
tehla f rouhek ya kho.
“Take care of yourself, brother.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “tehla” but also “thella”, “tahla”, “tehlla”, “tehala” and “tehalla”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find تهلا and تهل and تهلى, all the same word.