rojla رجلة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“rojla” (رجلة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning manliness, dignified male conduct.
Meanings
- manliness, dignified male conduct
- courage, honor
- (predicate) a real man, an upright person
Usage
Rojla covers the full set of qualities expected of a man: courage, loyalty, keeping one's word, being able to stand up for others. It is often used as a moral judgment: "mehich rojla" (that's not worthy of a man). It is also used predicatively to praise someone: "houwa rojla" (he's a man, a real one). It can even be said of a woman to praise her integrity or outspokenness. The word is common and not vulgar. Pitfall: it does not mean physical or sexual virility, but honor and conduct.
Example
هاذاك علاش ماهيشي رجلة كيف تضرب ولاد بلادك ,
hedheke 3lesh mehyechi rojla kif tadhrab wled bledik ,
“That's why it's not manly to hit the children of your own country.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “rojla” but also “rajla”, “rojjla”, “roujla” and “rejla”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “rojla” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “manhood, manly qualities”; “courage, sense of honor”: rejla in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “manliness, manly qualities”; “courage, bravery”: rojla in Algerian.