39el عقل

Moroccan Darija · noun

“39el” (عقل) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning mind, reason, intelligence.

Meanings

1. mind, reason, intelligence
2. common sense, wisdom
3. (verb 39el 3la) to remember

Usage

39el means the faculty of thought, reason or common sense. It is often used to judge someone's behavior. "3ndo 39el" means he is sensible, and "na9so 39el" that he lacks common sense. "Dir 39lek" means "be sensible". The same word is also a verb: "39el 3la" means "to remember": "39elti 3liya ?", do you remember me? Do not translate this verb as "to think" or "to reflect"; that would be wrong. With possessive suffixes you get 3e9li (my mind), 3e9lek (your mind), etc.

Example

Forms

Forms as recorded in DODa, in its spelling.

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “39el” but also “3a9l”, “39l”, “3qel” and “39al”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent; 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.

Type “39el” on the Arabic keyboard

In Algerian Darja

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “mind, intelligence”; “reason, common sense”: 3qel in Algerian.

In Tunisian Derja

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “mind, reason, intelligence”; “wisdom, good sense, maturity”: 3a9l in Tunisian.