hal هال
Tunisian Derja · pronoun
“hal” (هال) is a pronoun in Tunisian Derja meaning this, these (demonstrative).
Meanings
- this, these (demonstrative)
- hall (loanword, in names)
Usage
In Tunisian, hal is a demonstrative placed directly before the noun, which it makes definite: hal video, "this video", hal nes, "these people". It does not change for gender or number. It is equivalent to hedha el or hedhi el, but it is shorter and often carries an expressive nuance of surprise, annoyance or emphasis. It is never used on its own, always followed by a noun. The same Arabic spelling can also write the loanword "hall" in place names or shop signs, which is unrelated.
Example
شبيهم هال ناس؟
chbihom hal nes?
“What's wrong with these people?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “hal” but also “hel”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.