yakhod erray ياخذ الراي
Algerian Darja · expression
“yakhod erray” (ياخذ الراي) is an expression in Algerian Darja meaning to heed advice, obey.
Meanings
- to heed advice, obey
- to be well-behaved, docile
Usage
Literally, yakhod er-ray means "he takes the opinion". It is said mainly of a child or young person who listens to their parents and follows their advice. It is a compliment for respectful people who are easy to guide. The negative form ma yakhodch er-ray is very common: it describes someone stubborn, who does as they please or disobeys. The expression is conjugated: nakhod er-ray ("I listen"), khdit er-ray ("I listened"). The pitfall is to understand it as "make a decision". Here, er-ray is the opinion given by someone else, not one's own.
Example
ولدها مليح، ياخذ الراي
weldha mli7, yakhod erray
“Her son is a good boy, he listens to advice.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “yakhod erray” but also “yakhod rray”, “yakhed erray” and “yakhoud rray”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.