lillah لله
Tunisian Derja · expression
“lillah” (لله) is an expression in Tunisian Derja meaning to God, for God.
Meanings
- to God, for God
- for God's sake (plea)
Usage
Lillah is not a standalone word but the preposition "li" (to, for) followed by Allah. It is found mainly in fixed phrases: "el 7amdoulillah" (thank God), said in reply to "labes?", or "sallem amrou lillah" (he left his fate to God). On its own, "lillah" or "ya lillah" is used to plead or to ask for alms, in the sense of "for God's sake". Do not confuse it with "wallah" (I swear), an oath formula whose spelling is sometimes similar. The register is everyday, with no particularly religious connotation in "7amdoullah".
Example
الحمد لله، لاباس علينا
el 7amdoulillah, labes 3lina
“Thank God, we are well.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “lillah” but also “lilleh”, “lilah” and “lileh”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.