3leh علاه
Tunisian Derja · adverb
“3leh” (علاه) is an adverb in Tunisian Derja meaning why.
Meanings
- why
Usage
3leh is a variant of 3lech, the interrogative adverb meaning "why". It is heard frequently, especially in informal speech or in tales. It comes at the start of a question: 3leh jit ?, "why did you come?". It can also express reproach or surprise, as in 3leh, chbik ?, "why, what's wrong with you?". It takes a suffix when it refers to someone: 3leh ena ?, "why me?". For the answer, use 5ater, "because".
Example
علاه ما جيتش البارح؟
3leh ma jitech lbera7 ?
“Why didn't you come yesterday?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3leh” but also “3lah”, “3léh”, “aleh” and “3lih”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent.
Type “3leh” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “why”: 3lah in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “why”: 3lah in Algerian.