karrossa كروسة
Moroccan Darija · noun
“karrossa” (كروسة) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning handcart.
Meanings
- handcart
- animal-drawn cart
Usage
Karrossa means a cart, whether pushed by hand or pulled by a donkey or a horse. The word is very present in neighbourhood life: itinerant sellers of fruit, vegetables or odds and ends work with their karrossa. They are called mol l-karrossa, "the one with the cart". The word is feminine. Pitfall: don't equate it with French "carrosse" (a grand coach): it does not mean a luxury vehicle but a modest vehicle for transport or selling.
Example
مول الكروسة كيبيع الخضرة فالحومة
mol l-karrossa kaybi3 l-khodra f l-houma
“The cart seller sells vegetables in the neighbourhood.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “karrossa” but also “karossa”, “kerrossa”, “karoussa” and “korrossa”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “karrossa” on the Arabic keyboard
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “car, banger”; “cart”: karrossa in Algerian.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “horse-drawn cart or carriage”; “baby stroller, pram”: karrousa in Tunisian.