wach halek واش حالك
Algerian Darja · expression
“wach halek” (واش حالك) is an expression in Algerian Darja meaning how are you?, how's it going?.
Meanings
- how are you?, how's it going?
Usage
Wach halek is the usual polite question after a greeting. Halek literally means "your state". The form varies with the person addressed: halek (you, singular), halkom (you, plural), halha (her), halou (him). The usual answer is "labas, hamdoullah" (fine, thank God). The register is neutral and suits family and strangers alike. In a more informal register, "wach rak ?" or "cha rak ?" are also heard. Despite the word wach ("what"), the question should not be understood literally.
Example
السلام عليكم، واش حالك؟
salam alikoum, wach halek?
“Hello, how are you?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “wach halek” but also “wech halek”, “wach 7alek”, “wesh halek” and “wach halak”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat.