m3attal معطّل
Moroccan Darija · adjective
“m3attal” (معطّل) is an adjective in Moroccan Darija meaning late.
Meanings
- late
- delayed, held up
Usage
M3attal is used for a person who arrives late or has fallen behind: ana m3attal, "I am late". The feminine is m3attla and the plural m3attlin. It is often combined with dima, "always", or with ba9i, "still". The verb t3attel means "to be late, to linger" and 3attel means "to delay someone". Do not confuse it with the idea of unemployment or breakdown: in everyday usage, the dominant meaning is indeed lateness.
Example
نتا ديما معطل
nta dima m3tl
“You are always late.”
Forms
| feminine | m3TTla |
|---|---|
| plural | m3TTlin |
| feminine plural | m3TTlat |
Forms as recorded in DODa, in its spelling.
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “m3attal” but also “m3tel”, “m3atal”, “m3ttel”, “m3etel” and “m3ttl”. 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.