What does it mean word for word?
علاش joins على, 'about' or 'on', and اش, 'what', so it literally asks 'about what'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
علاش is used at every level of formality in speech, with no separate formal alternative needed in conversation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
علاش is distinctly Darija, quite different from the Standard Arabic لماذا (limadha) and from the words used for 'why' in the Levant or the Gulf.
How does it change in a sentence?
علاش does not change for gender or number, and can open a question or follow a statement, as in ما جيتيش، علاش؟, 'you didn't come, why?'
How do you pronounce it?
The word opens with the ain sound at the back of the throat, said 'la-SH' after a brief 'l' sound.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using the Standard Arabic لماذا in casual Darija conversation sounds distinctly formal next to the natural, everyday علاش.
Did you know?
- علاش literally breaks down into 'on' plus 'what', a compact structure typical of how Darija question words developed from Standard Arabic building blocks.
- Darija question words like علاش, فين and شحال each diverge from their Standard Arabic equivalents more sharply than most other parts of the dialect's vocabulary.
Examples in context
- علاش ما جيتيش البارح؟'lash ma jitish lbarh?Why didn't you come yesterday?
- علاش كتضحك؟'lash katdhak?Why are you laughing?
- علاش بغيتي تمشي دابا؟'lash bghiti tmshi daba?Why do you want to leave now?
Example conversation
Teacher Si Mohamed asks his student Rania about her late homework.
- Si Mohamedعلاش ما كتبتيش الواجب؟'lash ma ktebtish lwajib?Why didn't you write the homework?
- Raniaكنت مرضة البارح.kunt mradha lbarh.I was sick yesterday.
- Si Mohamedواخا، غادي نعطيك وقت زايد.wakha, ghadi n3tik waqt zayed.Okay, I'll give you extra time.
- Raniaشكرا بزاف أستاذ.shukran bzzaf ustaz.Thank you very much, sir.
