How to say “first” in Darija
In Moroccan, you say “awwel” and “lowwel”; in Algerian, “lewel”; in Tunisian, “awel”, “lowel” and “lowlanin”.
In Moroccan Darija
awwel أوّل
An adjective meaning “first”; “the beginning, at first”.
أول مرة نشوفك: “It's the first time I've seen you.”
lowwel لوّل
An adjective meaning “first”; “first, firstly”; “mn lowwel: from the start”.
نهار لول عرفت السانك طويل: “On the first day I knew you had the gift of the gab.”
In Algerian Darja
lewel لول
An adjective meaning “first”; “at the beginning, at first”.
نهار لوّل في الخدمة كنت خايف.: “The first day at work, I was scared.”
In Tunisian Derja
awel اول
An adjective meaning “first”; “beginning (mel awwel: from the start)”.
لالناس الكلّ و اوّلهم خطيبي: “To everyone, and first of all to my fiancé.”
lowel لول
An adjective meaning “first”; “the beginning”.
هو كان اللوّل في القسم.: “He was first in the class.”
lowlanin لولانين
An adjective meaning “the first ones”; “the ancients, those of old”.
الأيامات اللولانين كانو صعاب.: “The first days were hard.”