This page now gives each joke in English and also keeps a Darija version, so the Algerian rhythm and punchline remain visible.
The jewellery shop robbery
A man from Oran, a man from Mascara and a man from Algiers rob a jewellery shop. When the police arrive, they only find the man from Mascara. They tell him he could not have done it alone. He answers: Before the robbery we divided the work: the man from Algiers takes the jewels, the man from Oran takes the cash, and I take the whole shop.
Darija: Qalou: waḥed el-Wahrani, waḥed el-Maaskri w waḥed Dziri darou casse fi bijouterie. Ki jat la police, lqaw ghir el-Maaskri. Qaloulu: nta ma tqderch tdيرha waḥdek. Qalhom: qbel el-casse tfahmna: Dziri yeddi les bijoux, el-Wahrani yeddi liquide, w ana nedi el-local!
A man from Mascara at work
A man from Mascara arrives late at work. His boss asks why. He says his mother was hitting his little brother that morning. The boss says: But why does that make you late? He answers: She was hitting him with my shoes. Did you want me to come to work barefoot?
Darija: Waḥed nhar Maaskri wṣel lel khedma retard. Patron qallu: ʿlach jit retard? Qallu: yemma kanet tedreb fi khouya sghir b ssebti. Patron: bessah nta ʿlach jiti retard? Qallu: kanet tedreb fih b ssebbati, bghitni nji bla ssebat?
A man from Mascara and fashion
A man from Mascara goes to Oran and sees all the young men wearing caps. He buys one. The next day, he sees them wearing their caps backwards and wants to do the same. He asks his mother to remove the visor and sew it onto the back.
Darija: Waḥed Maaskri rah l Wahran, shaf gaʿ les jeunes b casquette. Ghedwa shafhom b casquette maqlouba, bgha ydir kifhom. Rah l yemmah: yemma, tnajmi tneḥili la visière w tkhayṭihali l mor?