Greetings
السلام عليكم / Salam alaykoum
sa-LAM a-lay-KOOM
The standard greeting. Algiers is more formal in register than Tunis and the full form is used far more often.
واش راك؟ / Wesh rak?
wesh RAK
'How are you?' — the everyday Algerian opener, to a man; 'wesh raki' to a woman.
Social
صح / Sahha
SAH-ha
'Health' — used as thanks, as congratulations, and after someone eats or finishes work. Enormously versatile.
قهوة / Qahwa
QAH-wa
Coffee, and the social unit of Algiers. Meetings, negotiations and introductions all happen over one.
إن شاء الله / Inchallah
in-sha-ALLAH
'God willing'. Devotional, and also the polite way to leave a commitment open. Do not read it as a firm yes.
Daily life
بزاف / Bezzaf
bez-ZAF
'A lot' or 'too much'. Shared across the Maghreb and just as useful here.
بطاقة الإقامة / Carte de résident
kart duh ray-zee-DON
The residence card, issued by the wilaya. It comes after the work permit, not before — the sequence is not negotiable.
الولاية / El wilaya
el wi-LA-ya
The province and its administration. In Algiers the wilaya is where residence cards, professional cards and most foreigner formalities are decided.
Work
رخصة العمل / Permis de travail
per-MEE duh tra-VAY
The work permit, obtained by your employer from the employment services. Capped at two years under loi 81-10 and renewable.
الدينار / Dinar
dee-NAR
The Algerian dinar. Not convertible; the official rate and the parallel-market rate differ substantially, and only the official one is legal.
Emergency
17 / 14 / 1055
—
17 for police secours, 14 for the protection civile (fire, rescue and emergency ambulance), 1055 for the Gendarmerie Nationale. The DGSN also runs 1548.
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