3on9 عنق
Moroccan Darija · noun
“3on9” (عنق) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning neck.
Meanings
- neck
- nape
Usage
3n9 is the usual word for the neck. It is used with a possessive suffix: 3n9i (my neck), 3n9ek (your neck). The q is often pronounced g depending on the region, hence the spelling 3ng. Watch out: the same root also gives the verb "to hug". A sentence like sir 3n9 khouk means "go hug your brother" and has nothing to do with the neck. Only context distinguishes the noun from the verb.
Example
ضرني عنقي من النعاس
derrni 3n9i mn n3as
“My neck hurts from sleepiness.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3on9” but also “3n9”, “3ng”, “3ong” and “3eng”. 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.