risala رسالة
Moroccan Darija · noun
“risala” (رسالة) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning letter, mail.
Meanings
- letter, mail
- message (text, messaging)
Usage
Risala refers to a written letter and, by extension, any message, including a text message or a message in an app. The plural is rasa'il, which is rather formal. In digital use, the French "message", pronounced missaj, or even English, is also often heard. Common constructions are kteb risala, "to write a letter", sifet risala, "to send a message", and ms7 risala, "to delete a message". With wa7ed in front (wa7ed risala), the indefinite character is stressed, like "a letter". The word is in a neutral register, usable everywhere.
Example
حسن كايكتب رسالة
7asan kaykteb risala
“Hassan is writing a letter.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “risala” but also “rissala”, “rsala” and “rissal”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “risala” on the Arabic keyboard
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “message sent to someone”; “written letter”: risala in Algerian.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “letter (mail)”; “message”: risela in Tunisian.