nker نكر
Moroccan Darija · verb
“nker” (نكر) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to deny, refuse to admit.
Meanings
- to deny, refuse to admit
- to disown, be ungrateful
Usage
The verb nker (imperfective ynker) means to deny a fact or refuse to acknowledge something. It is used mainly in the context of an argument or accusation: nker dakchi lli dar, "he denied what he did." It is also used for disowning a kindness. The expression nker lkhir refers to someone who forgets the good done to them, in other words an ungrateful person. The corresponding noun, nkar, means "denial." In everyday conversation, for a simple "no," people rather say la or nfa. Nker keeps a nuance of bad faith.
Example
شفتو بعينيا وبقا كينكر
chefto b3inia w b9a kaynker
“I saw him with my own eyes and he keeps denying it.”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kannkr | nkrt | |
| nta (you, m.) | katnkr | nkrti | nkr |
| nti (you, f.) | katnkri | nkrti | nkri |
| howa (he) | kaynkr | nkr | |
| hiya (she) | katnkr | nkrat | |
| 7na (we) | kannkro | nkrna | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | katnkro | nkrto | nkro |
| homa (they) | kaynkro | nkro |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “nker” but also “nkar”, “nkr” and “nkir”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.