w allahi اللهي

Tunisian Derja · interjection

“w allahi” (اللهي) is an interjection in Tunisian Derja meaning I swear, by God.

Meanings

1. I swear, by God
2. honestly, really

Usage

Common spelling of the second part of w allahi (by God), the most frequently used oath in everyday speech. It is not used on its own: it is preceded by w-, or written attached, wallahi. It is used to reinforce a statement (w allahi ma na3rfou, I swear I don't know him) or to insist politely (w allahi tetghadda m3ana, you're staying for lunch with us, I insist). The register is informal and very frequent. Often it carries the weaker value of "honestly" or "really" rather than that of a solemn oath.

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “w allahi” but also “wallahi”, “wallah”, “w allahy” and “walahi”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Type “w allahi” on the Arabic keyboard