7rayfi حرايفي
Moroccan Darija · adjective
“7rayfi” (حرايفي) is an adjective in Moroccan Darija meaning skilled, talented, professional.
Meanings
- skilled, talented, professional
- craftsman, tradesman
Usage
7rayfi is said of someone who has perfect command of their trade or a skill: a mechanic, a carpenter, but also a technical footballer or a resourceful person. It is a familiar compliment, close to "a real pro". Used as a noun, it refers to the craftsman who earns a living from manual work. Feminine 7rayfiya, plural 7rayfiya. It is often heard with an intensifier: "7rayfi bezzaf", "7rayfi ga3". In an ironic context, it can target someone too clever or cunning.
Example
هاد الميكانيسيان حرايفي، صلح ليا الطوموبيل ف دقيقة
had lmikanisyan 7rayfi, sle7 lia tomobil f d9i9a
“This mechanic is a real pro, he fixed my car in a minute.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “7rayfi” but also “hrayfi”, “7rayfiya” and “7arayfi”. 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.