hlel هلال
Tunisian Derja · noun
“hlel” (هلال) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning crescent moon, new moon.
Meanings
- crescent moon, new moon
- crescent (symbol)
Usage
Hlel refers to the crescent moon, in particular the new moon that is watched for to set the start and end of the month of Ramadan. Before the fast or Eid, people commonly ask: chefou el hlel ? ("did they see the crescent?"). The word also refers to the crescent as a symbol, for example the one on the Tunisian flag, or that of the Red Crescent (el hlel el a7mar). It is used in all registers. It must be carefully distinguished from 7lel, "lawful", which is pronounced with a strong h and sounds similar.
Example
قالوا الهلال ما بانش، غدوة مازال رمضان.
9alou el hlel ma banech, ghodwa mazel ramdhan.
“They said the crescent wasn't seen, tomorrow is still Ramadan.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “hlel” but also “hilal”, “hlal” and “helal”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.