How to say “bogeyman” in Darija
In Algerian, you say “bou3ou”; in Tunisian, “fazza3a”.
In Algerian Darja
bou3ou بوعو
A noun meaning “bogeyman, imaginary monster”; “scary or ugly person”.
ارقد ولا نعيطلك لبوعو: “Go to sleep, or I'll call the bogeyman.”
In Tunisian Derja
fazza3a فزاعة
A noun meaning “waved threat meant to scare”; “scarecrow (in a field)”.
الإرهاب ولّى فزّاعة يستعملوها السياسيين: “Terrorism has become a bogeyman that politicians use.”