rajla راجلة
Moroccan Darija · adjective
“rajla” (راجلة) is an adjective in Moroccan Darija meaning strong, courageous woman.
Meanings
- strong, courageous woman
- mannish woman
Usage
Rajla is the feminine of rajel (man). Applied to a woman, it describes her as strong and courageous, able to face difficulties on her own: "hiya rajla", "mra rajla". In this most frequent use, it is a compliment. It is used especially of a woman who supports her family, stands her ground or does not complain. Depending on tone and context, it can also refer to a woman whose looks or manners are considered masculine, with a mocking nuance. The pitfall is to translate it as "mannish": the praising sense clearly dominates.
Example
هاد المرا راجلة، كتخدم على ولادها بوحدها
had lmra rajla, katkhdem 3la wladha bo7dha
“This woman is brave; she works alone for her children.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “rajla” but also “raajla”, “rajlaa” and “rajela”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.