akhir أخير
Moroccan Darija · adjective
“akhir” (أخير) is an adjective in Moroccan Darija meaning last (in a series).
Meanings
- last (in a series)
- final, ultimate
Usage
Akhir is placed before the noun, without an article: "akhir mra" (the last time), "akhir wa7ed" (the last one), "akhir nhar" (the last day). It is invariable in this construction. Darija also uses lakhar, placed after the noun ("nhar lakhar"), which is more colloquial. Akhir remains common and a little more formal. It is also heard in "f l-akhir" (at the end, finally). Pitfall: do not confuse it with akhor, which means "other".
Example
نتا أخير واحد نتوقع هادشي منو
nta a5ir wa7ed ntwe93 hadchi menou
“You're the last person I'd expect that from.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “akhir” but also “a5ir”, “akhiir”, “akher” and “a5er”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 5 is kha (خ), like the ch in Scottish loch.