kerres كرّس
Moroccan Darija · verb
“kerres” (كرّس) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning give (value, importance).
Meanings
- give (value, importance)
- devote, dedicate
Usage
The verb kerres is used mainly in the phrase kerres 9ima l-, "to give value or importance to someone or something". It is often found in a reproach or an expectation: being grateful to one's parents, respecting one's spouse, giving meaning to one's life. The person or thing is introduced by the preposition l- ("to"). The register is standard, with a slightly more formal tone than purely popular expressions. The general sense "to devote, to dedicate" is rarer in the spoken language. Pitfall: the verb is almost never used on its own, without the complement 9ima.
Example
كانتسنّا فيك ت كرّس قيمة لواليديك
kantsenna fik t kerres 9ima lwalidik
“I expect you to value your parents.”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kankerres | kerrest | |
| nta (you, m.) | katkerres | kerresti | kerres |
| nti (you, f.) | katkerrsi | kerresti | kerrsi |
| howa (he) | kaykerres | kerres | |
| hiya (she) | katkerres | kerrsat | |
| 7na (we) | kankerrso | kerrsna | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | katkerrso | kerresto | kerrso |
| homa (they) | kaykerrso | kerrso |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “kerres” but also “karres”, “krres”, “krrs” and “kerress”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.