khtare3 ختارع
Moroccan Darija · verb
“khtare3” (ختارع) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to invent, create something new.
Meanings
- to invent, create something new
- to make up (a story)
Usage
The verb khtare3 means to invent, in a technical or creative sense. It comes from Standard Arabic and keeps a somewhat polished tone: you hear it mostly when talking about inventions, science or projects. The related noun is ikhtira3, "invention". In casual use it can point at someone who makes up stories, but for "to lie" or "to spin tall tales", people rather say kedheb or use colourful expressions. In the present you say kaykhtare3; in the past, khtar3t (I invented). The construction is direct: khtare3 + object.
Example
كون غير قدرت ن ختارع شي حاجة مفيدة فهاد البلاد
koun ghir 9dert n 5tare3 chi 7aja mofida fhad lblad
“If only I could invent something useful in this country.”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kankhtar3 | khtar3t | |
| nta (you, m.) | katkhtar3 | khtar3ti | khtar3 |
| nti (you, f.) | katkhtar3i | khtar3ti | khtar3i |
| howa (he) | kaykhtar3 | khtar3 | |
| hiya (she) | katkhtar3 | khtar3at | |
| 7na (we) | kankhtar3o | khtar3na | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | katkhtar3o | khtar3to | khtar3o |
| homa (they) | kaykhtar3o | khtar3o |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khtare3” but also “khtar3”, “5tare3”, “5tar3” and “khtara3”. 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; 5 is kha (خ), like the ch in Scottish loch.