chwia شويا
Moroccan Darija · adverb
“chwia” (شويا) is an adverb in Moroccan Darija meaning a little.
Meanings
- a little
- a little of (quantity)
Usage
Chwia is a very common spelling of chwiya. After a verb, it means "a little": "tsenna chwia" (wait a little). Followed by dyal and a noun, it expresses a small quantity: "chwia dyal l-flouss" (a little money). The expression "men daba chwia" means "in a moment". This one, "chwia b chwia", translates as "little by little". The word belongs to the everyday register and also serves to soften a request. Doubling it softens the tone further: "chwia chwia".
Example
أجي ندويو شويا.
aji ndwiw chwia.
“Come, let's chat a little.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “chwia” but also “chwiya”, “shwiya” and “chwya”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “chwia” on the Arabic keyboard
In Algerian Darja
The same word also exists in Algerian Darja, written شوية, where it means “a little, a bit of”; “slowly, gently”: chwiya in Algerian.
In Tunisian Derja
The same word also exists in Tunisian Derja, written شوية, where it means “a little, a bit”; “a moment, a while”: chwaya in Tunisian.