zhar الزهر
Algerian Darja · noun
“zhar” (الزهر) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning luck, good fortune.
Meanings
- luck, good fortune
- favorable fate (esp. marriage)
- fate, destiny
Usage
Ezzhar (zhar) is the common word for "luck". It is built with 3and: "3andek ezzhar" (you are lucky), "ma3andich ezzhar" (I have no luck). It often expresses a complaint about one's lot, particularly regarding marriage, and especially about women: "ma3andhach ezzhar". One also says "zhar el kelb" for insolent luck, and "mzahar" for someone lucky. Note: the word does not mean a flower. For the flower, one says nouwar or warda.
Example
والله عندك الزهر، ربحت مرة أخرى!
wallah 3andek ezzhar, rba7t marra okhra!
“Wow, you're lucky, you won again!”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “zhar” but also “ezzhar”, “zehr”, “zahr”, “zher” and “zhaar”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find الزهر and زهر and زهر الزهر, all the same word.
Type “zhar” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
The same word also exists in Moroccan Darija, written زهر, where it means “luck, good fortune”; “fate, favourable destiny”: zher in Moroccan.
In Tunisian Derja
The same word also exists in Tunisian Derja, written زهر, where it means “luck, good fortune”; “good fortune”: zhar in Tunisian.