Why do Darija words contain numbers (3, 7, 9)?
Short answer: those aren't typos. In written Darija (Arabizi), the numbers 3, 7 and 9 stand for Arabic consonants the Latin alphabet doesn't have. That's how you read Darija on your phone without needing Arabic script.
What do the numbers 3, 7 and 9 mean in Darija?
Arabic has several consonants that simply don't exist in English, French or Dutch. To be able to write those sounds anyway with an ordinary keyboard, Arabic speakers developed a system often called "Arabizi": numbers that resemble the shape of the Arabic letter, or approximate its sound. In Dariyati's Darija, we use three of them:
- 3 stands for the Arabic letter ain (ع), as in 3afak (please).
- 7 stands for the Arabic letter 7a (ح), as in 7lib (milk).
- 9 stands for the Arabic letter qaf (ق), as in 9nina (rabbit).
Is this specific to Dariyati?
No, this writing system is widely used by Arabic speakers worldwide to type Arabic without an Arabic keyboard, for example in messaging apps and on social media. At Dariyati, every word comes from a native speaker, so you also hear exactly how these sounds actually sound, not just how they're written.
Check out the complete Darija word list to spot these sounds in more words.
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