f33al فعّال
Moroccan Darija · adjective
“f33al” (فعّال) is an adjective in Moroccan Darija meaning effective.
Meanings
- effective
- active, dynamic (person)
Usage
F33al belongs to a somewhat polished register, close to Standard Arabic. It is heard mostly when talking about a remedy, a method or a product: "had ddwa f33al bzaf" ("this medicine is very effective"). It is also found in the media and in advertising. The feminine is f33ala. In casual conversation, people often say more simply "kaynfe3" ("it works, it's useful") or "mzyan". Applied to a person, f33al describes someone active and involved, for example in an association. This last use is of a rather formal tone.
Example
هاد الدوا فعّال بزاف
had ddwa f33al bzaf
“This medicine is very effective.”
Forms
| feminine | f33ala |
|---|---|
| plural | f33alin |
| feminine plural | f33alat |
Forms as recorded in DODa, in its spelling.
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “f33al” but also “fa33al”, “f3al”, “f33aal” and “fa33ala”. 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.