How to say “mind” in Darija
In Moroccan, you say “bal”; in Algerian, “bal” and “3qel”; in Tunisian, “bel” and “3a9l”.
In Moroccan Darija
bal بال
A noun meaning “mind, attention, thought”; “to be aware, in the know”; “bale of second-hand clothes”.
كون على بال: “Be warned! / Watch out!”
In Algerian Darja
bal بال
A noun meaning “mind, thought”; “attention”.
ماعلاباليش وين راح: “I don't know where he went.”
3qel عقل
A noun meaning “mind, intelligence”; “reason, common sense”; “wisdom, maturity”.
خمّم بعقلك قبل ما تهدر: “Think with your head before you speak.”
In Tunisian Derja
bel بال
A noun meaning “mind, attention”; “maybe (balek)”.
ما كانش في بالي إلّي إنتي تونسية: “I didn't know that you were Tunisian.”
3a9l عقل
A noun meaning “mind, reason, intelligence”; “wisdom, good sense, maturity”.
ﻭلاﻮا ﺗﻔﺘﺢ ﻋﻘله تلاقي حمار صغير متمد: “Or you open his mind and find a small donkey stretched out.”