d3a دعا
Moroccan Darija · verb
“d3a” (دعا) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to pray to God for someone.
Meanings
- to pray to God for someone
- to curse someone (d3a 3la)
Usage
D3a means to address a supplication to God. The meaning depends on the preposition. D3a l (d3a lih) means to pray for someone and wish them well, often said of parents: d3at lih mmo. D3a 3la (d3a 3lih) means the opposite, to call down misfortune on someone, to curse them. The corresponding noun is d-d3a (the invocation, the blessing), very present in everyday expressions. Note: this verb is not commonly used to invite someone to a party. For that, one rather says 3red 3la.
Example
مّي ديما كتدعي ليا بالخير
mmi dima katd3i liya bl khir
“My mother always prays for my well-being.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “d3a” but also “da3a”, “de3a” and “d3aa”. 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.