fddel فضّل
Moroccan Darija · verb
“fddel” (فضّل) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to prefer one thing to another.
Meanings
- to prefer one thing to another
- to favor someone, show favoritism
Usage
Fddel is used with the preposition 3la to mark what is passed over: fddel x 3la y, "to prefer x to y". It can be followed by a conjugated verb, with no infinitive: fddel t9ra 3la tel3eb, "to prefer studying to playing". With bin, or with a person as object, the meaning becomes "to favor": parents are often accused of fddel one child over the others. In everyday speech, people also readily say "kanbghi x ktar men y" to express a preference. Fddel has a slightly more measured tone, but it is still common.
Example
علاش مابغيتيش ت فضّل تقرا على تلعب
3lach mabghitich t fddel t9ra 3la tel3eb
“Why don't you want to prefer studying over playing?”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kanfDDel | fDDelt | |
| nta (you, m.) | katfDDel | fDDelti | fDDel |
| nti (you, f.) | katfDDli | fDDelti | fDDli |
| howa (he) | kayfDDel | fDDel | |
| hiya (she) | katfDDel | fDDlat | |
| 7na (we) | kanfDDlo | fDDlna | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | katfDDlo | fDDlto | fDDlo |
| homa (they) | kayfDDlo | fDDlo |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “fddel” but also “faddel”, “fdel” and “fddl”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “fddel” on the Arabic keyboard
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “to prefer”; “to favour someone”: feddel in Algerian.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “favor, grace (often divine)”; “merit, credit owed to someone”: fadhl in Tunisian.