m9ale9 مقلق

Tunisian Derja · adjective

“m9ale9” (مقلق) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning annoying, irritating.

Meanings

1. annoying, irritating
2. upset, in a bad mood

Usage

The same spelling corresponds to two forms. Read m9alle9, the word means "annoying" or "irritating" and applies to a person, a noise or a situation: "wled m9alle9" (an annoying kid). Read m9alla9, it means "upset" or "in a bad mood": "ena m9alla9 lyoum" (I'm in a bad mood today). The word is in common, informal register. It does not correspond to the standard adjective mouqliq ("worrying"): in derja, the dominant idea is irritation, not worry.

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “m9ale9” but also “m9alle9”, “mqaleq”, “mkalek” and “m9ala9”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.

Type “m9ale9” on the Arabic keyboard

In Moroccan Darija

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “upset, in a bad mood”; “angry at someone”: m9elle9 in Moroccan.