7lal حلال
Moroccan Darija · adjective
“7lal” (حلال) is an adjective in Moroccan Darija meaning lawful, permitted by religion.
Meanings
- lawful, permitted by religion
- honestly earned, legitimate
- deserved, well deserved
Usage
7lal describes what is permitted by religion, as opposed to "7ram". It applies to food ("l7em 7lal") but also very much to money and work: "flous 7lal" means honest earnings, and "l7lal" used as a noun means "what is lawful", as in "kay9elleb 3la l7lal". The phrase "7lal 3lik" means "you deserved it", "it's your right", often after an effort. It is also used in blessings: "llah yrze9na l7lal". Common register, very frequent.
Example
تجارة راها حلال
tijara raha helal
“Trade is lawful.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “7lal” but also “hlal”, “halal”, “7alal” and “7elal”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat.
Type “7lal” on the Arabic keyboard
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “lawful, permitted by religion”; “honest, of good family (wlad lahlal)”: hlal in Algerian.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “permitted, halal”; “well-deserved, rightfully earned”: 7lel in Tunisian.