9as قاس
Moroccan Darija · verb
“9as” (قاس) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to touch, lay a hand on.
Meanings
- to touch, lay a hand on
- to attack, harm
- to concern, affect
Usage
A common verb for "to touch". The present is kay9iss, the imperative 9iss, and the past 9ast "I touched". It is often constructed with l: 9as lih "he touched him", or with f: ma t9issch f hwayji "don't touch my things". In a figurative sense, it means to go after someone or what belongs to them: li 9as wladi... "whoever touches my children...". It can also mean "to concern, affect": had lmochkil 9as bzaf dyal nnas. Do not confuse it with 9as "to measure" (same form in the past).
Example
كان كيسحاب ليا غادي تعدّو لكلبة ملي قاسّ ليها ولادها
kan kis7ab liya ghadi t3eddou lkelba mli 9ass liha wladha
“I thought the dog was going to attack him when he touched her puppies.”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kan9is | 9st | |
| nta (you, m.) | kat9is | 9sti | 9is |
| nti (you, f.) | kat9isi | 9sti | 9isi |
| howa (he) | kay9is | 9as | |
| hiya (she) | kat9is | 9ast | |
| 7na (we) | kan9iso | 9sna | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | kat9iso | 9sto | 9iso |
| homa (they) | kay9iso | 9aso |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “9as” but also “qas”, “9ass” and “kas”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.