9al3a قلعة
Moroccan Darija · noun
“9al3a” (قلعة) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning fortress, citadel.
Meanings
- fortress, citadel
- castle, fortified castle
Usage
The word 9al3a means a fortress or citadel. It applies in particular to the old fortified structures that people visit in Morocco. It is neutral in register and understood everywhere. Its plural is 9la3. The term appears in many place names, such as Kelâa des Sraghna or Kelâat Mgouna. It should not be confused with qasba, "kasbah", which refers more to a citadel or a traditional fortified quarter. For a "castle" in the sense of a European-style luxury residence, other words are more commonly used, such as qṣer, "palace".
Example
مشينا نشوفو القلعة القديمة
mchina nchoufou l9al3a l9dima
“We went to see the old fortress.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “9al3a” but also “9l3a”, “9el3a”, “qal3a” and “kal3a”. 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 “9al3a” on the Arabic keyboard
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “fortress, citadel, castle”; “stronghold (figurative)”: 9al3a in Tunisian.