itar إطار
Moroccan Darija · noun
“itar” (إطار) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning framework (context, limits of an action).
Meanings
- framework (context, limits of an action)
- executive, qualified staff member
Usage
iTar is a learned word, taken from Standard Arabic. It is heard mainly in formal darija: TV news, speeches, meetings, administration. The most common phrase is "f iTar", which corresponds exactly to "within the framework of": f iTar l-mocharaa, f iTar l-khidma. In the plural, aTor refers to the managerial staff of a company or administration. In casual conversation, simpler phrasings are often preferred, or the French word "cadre" directly. Pitfall: for the frame of a painting or a photo, people rather use "cadre" or "lkadr".
Example
هاد الشي داخل فإطار الخدمة ديالي
had chi dakhel f iTar lkhedma dyali
“This is part of my job.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “itar” but also “itaar” and “etar”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.