2tter أتّر
Moroccan Darija · verb
“2tter” (أتّر) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to influence, have an effect on.
Meanings
- to influence, have an effect on
- to affect, move emotionally
Usage
2tter is used with the preposition "f" or "3la": "2tter fih" (it affected him, it influenced him), "2tter 3la ssa77a" (to have an effect on health). It applies to people and things alike and can express emotion: "2tter fiya had l-film" (this film moved me). The corresponding noun is "atar" (effect, trace). The register is everyday, with a slight Standard Arabic tinge. The digit 2 marks the initial glottal stop; the middle consonant is pronounced "t", not "th".
Example
داك الشي اللي وقع أتّر فيه بزاف
dak chi lli w9e3 2tter fih bzaf
“What happened affected him a lot.”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kan2ttr | 2ttrt | |
| nta (you, m.) | kat2ttr | 2ttrti | 2ttr |
| nti (you, f.) | kat2ttri | 2ttrti | 2ttri |
| howa (he) | kay2ttr | 2ttr | |
| hiya (she) | kat2ttr | 2ttrat | |
| 7na (we) | kan2ttro | 2ttrna | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | kat2ttro | 2ttrto | 2ttro |
| homa (they) | kay2ttro | 2ttro |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “2tter” but also “2atter”, “2ttr”, “atter”, “2etter” and “attar”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 2 is hamza (ء), a glottal stop.