zawali زوالي
Algerian Darja · adjective
“zawali” (زوالي) is an adjective in Algerian Darja meaning poor, destitute.
Meanings
- poor, destitute
- humble, ordinary person
- poor thing, unfortunate
Usage
Zawali is the most common word for "poor" in the material sense. It is used as an adjective (rajel zawali, a poor man) or as a noun (le zawali, the poor man). The feminine is zawalia, the plural zawalia or zwawla. The word carries a strong emotional charge: it also refers to ordinary people, the simple man, often with sympathy or pride ("ana zawali w nchebba3": I am poor but dignified). It is heard a lot in raï and in jokes about the cost of living. Depending on tone, it can also express pity ("the poor thing!"). It is not an insult, but it can be condescending.
Example
هو زوالي بصح قلبو كبير
howa zawali bessah galbou kbir
“He is poor, but he has a big heart.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “zawali” but also “zaouali”, “zewali”, “zawli”, “zawalia” and “zawaali”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find زوالي and الزاولي and زاوالي, all the same word.
Type “zawali” on the Arabic keyboard
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “poor, destitute person”; “poor, without means”: zawali in Tunisian.