ya7ren يحرن
Algerian Darja · verb
“ya7ren” (يحرن) is a verb in Algerian Darja meaning to be stubborn, dig in.
Meanings
- to be stubborn, dig in
- to refuse stubbornly to move
Usage
7ren is said of a person who digs in and refuses to give way, for example a child who won't walk any more or someone who stands firm on their position. The verb is also used for a riding animal that refuses to move forward. The register is informal. It is often found in the past tense: 7ren w ma 7abch. The connotation is rather negative, that of sulky stubbornness and not admirable determination. The link to French "hargne" proposed by some sources is not established. It is better not to adopt it.
Example
الطفل حرن وما حبّش يمشي
tfol 7ren w ma 7abch yemchi
“The child dug in and refused to walk.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “ya7ren” but also “ya7ran”. 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.