merji3 مرجع
Moroccan Darija · noun
“merji3” (مرجع) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning reference, reference work.
Meanings
- reference, reference work
- source, authority consulted
Usage
Merji3 means a reference: a book, textbook or source that one relies on, especially in school and university contexts ("chi merji3 f l'économie", a reference work in economics). The word comes from the written language and keeps a rather formal or technical register; in everyday conversation, many Moroccans simply say "référence" in French. The common plural is mraje3. Figuratively, a person can be called "merji3" in a field, meaning that people consult them as an authority.
Example
عطيني شي مرجع نقرا منو
3tini chi merji3 n9ra mno
“Give me a reference to study from.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “merji3” but also “marji3”, “mrji3”, “merje3” and “marje3”. 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.