Darija has a handy short form, had, which means "this" or "these" and goes before a noun with l- ("the").
had + l-: the everyday "this"
had never changes for gender or number:
- هاد الكتاب زوينhad l-ktab zwinThis book is nice.
- هاد البنت ختيhad l-bent khtiThis girl is my sister.
- هاد الناسhad n-nasthese people
"This is…"
Use the full forms, with the noun after them and no l-:
| This | That | |
|---|---|---|
| masculine | هادا hada | داك dak |
| feminine | هادي hadi | ديك dik |
| plural | هادو hadu | دوك duk |
- هادا كتابيhada ktabiThis is my book.
- هادي طوموبيل جديدةhadi tomobil jdidaThis is a new car.
"That"
dak, dik and duk work like had, before a noun with l-:
- داك الراجلdak r-rajelthat man
- ديك الدارdik d-darthat house