z3af زعاف
Algerian Darja · noun
“z3af” (زعاف) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning anger, irritation.
Meanings
- anger, irritation
- annoyance, bad mood
- falling-out, quarrel
Usage
Z3af means anger, irritation or annoyance, as well as the state of someone who is sulking or has gotten upset. From the same root come the verb "z3af / yaz3af", to get angry, and the adjective "z3fan", angry or irritated. The phrase "bla z3af" is widely used in greetings, notably for Eid or Ramadan, meaning "without quarrels" or "in peace". It is also used to calm someone down: "bla z3af", "calm down". The register is common and informal. Pitfall: the word does not describe violent rage but rather an upset mood.
Example
علاه راك في الزعاف اليوم؟
3lah rak fe z3af lyoum?
“Why are you angry today?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “z3af” but also “z3aaf”, “za3af”, “zaaf” and “z3eff”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent.