wah واه
Algerian Darja · interjection
“wah” (واه) is an interjection in Algerian Darja meaning yes.
Meanings
- yes
- well yes (agreement, emphasis)
Usage
Wah is the typical "yes" of western Algeria (Oran, Tlemcen, Mostaganem…), where central and eastern Algeria say ih or iyeh. It is used to answer a question, but also to approve or to stress a point at the start of a sentence (wah sahbi, "yes, my friend"). Said in a drawn-out or ironic way, it can express doubt or reproach. Using it is enough to mark the speaker as from Oran. The reference definition, which points to Yemen, does not match Algerian usage.
Example
واه، غادي نجي معاك غدوة.
wah, ghadi nji m3ak ghodwa.
“Yes, I'll come with you tomorrow.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “wah” but also “wa”, “waah”, “ouah” and “wh”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “wah” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “yes”; “oh! (surprise, exclamation)”: wah in Moroccan.