el ال
Tunisian Derja · particle
“el” (ال) is a particle in Tunisian Derja meaning definite article: the.
Meanings
- definite article: the
Usage
El is the definite article, invariable in gender and number. Before the so-called sun consonants (t, d, s, ch, r, n…), the l assimilates to the following consonant: "ech-chams" (the sun), "en-nés" (the people). Depending on pronunciation, it is written in arabizi as el, l, or even e. It contracts with prepositions: "fil dar" (in the house), "bel bahi" (well, properly), "3al tawla" (on the table). In a possessive construction, it is the second noun that takes the article: "bab ed-dar" (the door of the house).
Example
صباح ال فلّ
Sbe7 el fol
“Good morning (literally: morning of jasmine).”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “el” but also “al”, “il” and “le”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.