How to say “life” in Darija
In Moroccan, you say “denya” and “7ayat”; in Algerian, “hayat” and “3icha”; in Tunisian, “7ya”.
In Moroccan Darija
denya دنيا
A noun meaning “life, this world”; “the weather”; “belongings, mess around”.
الدنيا دوارة: “Life keeps turning.”
7ayat حياة
A noun meaning “life, existence”; “way of life”.
كنت عايشة حياة صعيبة: “I was living a hard life.”
In Algerian Darja
hayat حياة
A noun meaning “life, existence”; “way of life”.
الحياة في الغربة ماشي ساهلة.: “Life abroad is not easy.”
3icha عيشة
A noun meaning “life, way of living”; “standard of living, livelihood”.
العيشة ولات غالية بزاف: “Life has become very expensive.”
In Tunisian Derja
7ya حياة
A noun meaning “life, existence”; “personal affairs, private life”.
ما قالت لهش شف حياتك ؟: “Didn't she tell him: mind your own business?”