tlata تلاتة
Moroccan Darija · numeral
“tlata” (تلاتة) is a numeral in Moroccan Darija meaning three.
Meanings
- three
Usage
The form tlata is used on its own, for example when counting or answering a question, and before d + a definite noun: tlata d l-merrat, "three times". Before a plural noun without an article, the short form tlat is used instead: tlat iyyam, "three days". For the time, you say t-tlata, "three o'clock". In arabizi, the digit 3 is also used to write the letter ʿayn, which can be confusing when reading. Finally, don't confuse tlata with tlat, "Tuesday".
Example
تحت تلاتة دلمرّات
t7t tlata dlmerrat
“I fell three times.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “tlata” but also “tlate”, “tleta” and “tlatta”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.