mikaniki ميكانيكي
Moroccan Darija · noun
“mikaniki” (ميكانيكي) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning car mechanic, garage mechanic.
Meanings
- car mechanic, garage mechanic
- mechanical (adjective)
Usage
Mikaniki is the adapted and very common loanword for a mechanic, especially one who repairs cars and motorbikes. People often say l-mikaniki with the article. It is used to talk about the person and their trade: "khddam mikaniki" (he works as a mechanic). The garage is often called l-garage. The use as an adjective ("mechanical") exists, but it is rarer and mostly technical. The feminine and plural follow the usual rules: mikanikiya, mikanikiyin. The register is casual and neutral, and it is heard everywhere in daily life.
Example
ديت الطوموبيل للميكانيكي حيت ماكاتخدمش
dit tomobil l l-mikaniki hit makatkhdamch
“I took the car to the mechanic because it doesn't run.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “mikaniki” but also “mekaniki”, “mecaniki” and “mékaniki”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.