twwel طوّل
Moroccan Darija · verb
“twwel” (طوّل) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to take long, to be late.
Meanings
- to take long, to be late
- to lengthen, to prolong
- to grow (hair, beard) long
Usage
Ṭewwel is the verb derived from ṭwil, "long". Used alone or with 3la, it means "to take long, to be late": ṭewwel 3lina, "he kept us waiting". With an object, it means "to lengthen": a garment, a conversation, a stay. Ṭewwel ch3ro applies to hair that one lets grow. In the negative imperative, ma ṭṭewwelch is a common way of hurrying someone. Do not confuse it with ṭwal, "to become long, to grow tall", nor with the noun ṭul, "length, height". The spelling Tol found online often covers this noun or another verb.
Example
ما تطوّلش، راه كنتسناوك
ma ttwwelch, rah kantsnawk
“Don't be long, we're waiting for you.”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kanTowwel | Towwelt | |
| nta (you, m.) | katTowwel | Towwelti | Towwel |
| nti (you, f.) | katTowweli | Towwelti | Towwli |
| howa (he) | kayTowwel | Towwel | |
| hiya (she) | katTowwel | Towwlat | |
| 7na (we) | kanTowwelo | Towwlna | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | katTowwelo | Towwlto | Towwlo |
| homa (they) | kayTowwelo | Towwlo |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “twwel” but also “towwel”, “tewwel”, “twel”, “towwl” and “tol”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “twwel” on the Arabic keyboard
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “to be late, take long”; “to lengthen, make longer”: tawel in Algerian.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “length, height (of a person)”; “straight ahead, directly”: toul in Tunisian.