How to say “world” in Darija
In Moroccan, you say “l3alam” and “3alam”; in Algerian, “3alem” and “dounia”; in Tunisian, “denya” and “3alem”.
In Moroccan Darija
l3alam لعالم
A noun meaning “world, the whole earth”; “people, everyone”.
بغيت نسافر لعالم: “I want to travel around the world.”
3alam عالم
A noun meaning “world, universe”; “world, sphere ("the world of…")”; “scholar, knowing (3alem)”.
هادا عالم خور: “This is another world.”
In Algerian Darja
3alem عالم
A noun meaning “world”; “God knows (rabbi 3alem)”; “scholar, learned person”.
دار الدورة تع العالم: “He went around the world.”
dounia دنيا
A noun meaning “the world, life here below”; “life, fate”; “the weather”.
هادي هي الدنيا، ما تدوم لحتى واحد: “That's life, it doesn't last for anyone.”
In Tunisian Derja
denya دنيا
A noun meaning “the world, worldly life”; “the weather”; “life, things in general”.
احلى شلّة و احلى ناس في دنيا: “The best group and the best people in the world.”
3alem عالم
A noun meaning “world, universe”; “people (ya 3alem!)”; “scholar, learned person”.
ب رجوليّة درس كبير قدمته تونس ال عالم: “With courage, Tunisia gave the world a great lesson.”