o ness و نص
Moroccan Darija · expression
“o ness” (و نص) is an expression in Moroccan Darija meaning half past (hour).
Meanings
- half past (hour)
- and a half (quantity)
Usage
O ness is placed after the hour to indicate the half hour: joj o ness ("half past two"), l'wahda o ness ("half past one"). The word ness means "half", and o is the conjunction "and". It is also used for quantities: kilo o ness ("a kilo and a half"), 3am o ness ("a year and a half"). In speech, the two elements are pronounced together, hence spellings such as "oness". For "quarter past", say o reb3, and for "quarter to", gher reb3.
Example
نتلاقاو مع جوج و نص
ntla9aw m3a jouj o ness
“We'll meet at half past two.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “o ness” but also “oness”, “onss” and “onass”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “o ness” on the Arabic keyboard
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “half past (for the time)”; “and a half”: w nass in Algerian.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “half past (the hour)”; “and a half more”: w nos in Tunisian.