zayed زايد

Algerian Darja · adjective

“zayed” (زايد) is an adjective in Algerian Darja meaning born (in, at).

Meanings

1. born (in, at)
2. extra, surplus

Usage

In Algeria, zayed is very commonly used to mean "born". You say ana zayed f Wahran (I was born in Oran) or zayed f 2000 for a year. The feminine is zayda. This sense can be unexpected if you only know the meaning "extra, additional": hadi zayda (this one is extra). The word comes from the verb zad, which means both "to be born" and "to add, increase". Context, especially the presence of a place or a date, tells the two senses apart.

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “zayed” but also “zayd”, “zaid” and “zayad”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Type “zayed” on the Arabic keyboard

In Moroccan Darija

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “superfluous, one too many”; “extra, additional”: zayed in Moroccan.

In Tunisian Derja

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “superfluous, extra, in excess”; “pointless, no use (to)”: zeyed in Tunisian.