a3lem اعلم
Tunisian Derja · expression
“a3lem” (اعلم) is an expression in Tunisian Derja meaning God alone knows (Allah a3lem).
Meanings
- God alone knows (Allah a3lem)
- more knowledgeable
Usage
A3lem is used almost only in the formula allah a3lem, "God knows best" or "God alone knows". It is often placed at the end of a sentence to qualify a statement and admit you are not sure, a bit like "but then, I really don't know". It can also express doubt or worry: allah a3lem chnouwa sar, "God knows what happened". Outside this formula, a3lem in the sense of "more knowledgeable" belongs to standard Arabic. The Tunisian pronunciation is a3lem, the standard form is a3lam.
Example
يقولوا باش يرجع الشهر الجاي، الله أعلم
y9oulou bech yarja3 echhar ejjey, allah a3lem
“They say he'll come back next month, God knows.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “a3lem” but also “a3lam” and “a3lm”. 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.