tkellef تكلّف
Moroccan Darija · verb
“tkellef” (تكلّف) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning take charge of, handle.
Meanings
- take charge of, handle
- be put in charge of a task
Usage
Tkellef is almost always constructed with b: tkellef b chi haja, "to take charge of something". It is used to divide up tasks (preparations, shopping, paperwork) or to reassure someone: ana ntkellef, "I'll take care of it". The register is everyday, a little more measured than dar ("to do") or tla3 b ("to take on"). In an administrative setting, mtkellef b refers to the person in charge of a file. Note: the meaning "to cost", known in Standard Arabic, is not what you usually hear with this verb in darija.
Example
متخافش، أنا نتكلّف بالماكلة ديال العرس
matkhafch, ana ntkellef b lmakla dyal l3ers
“Don't worry, I'll take care of the food for the wedding.”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kantkellef | tkelleft | |
| nta (you, m.) | kattkellef | tkellefti | tkellef |
| nti (you, f.) | kattkellfi | tkellefti | tkellfi |
| howa (he) | kaytkellef | tkellef | |
| hiya (she) | kattkellef | tkellfat | |
| 7na (we) | kantkellfo | tkellfna | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | kattkellfo | tkellfto | tkellfo |
| homa (they) | kaytkellfo | tkellfo |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “tkellef” but also “tkallef”, “tkelef” and “tkalaf”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “tkellef” on the Arabic keyboard
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “to cost, be worth a price”; “to take charge of (tkallef b)”: tkallef in Tunisian.