In
Norway(and perhaps other places) the word is used to give example of something not very cool, or not very "western". In other instances the word might actually be used to describe everything, and it is like common to believe others understand what you mean when you use it.
As what i know, the word came from the middle eastern countries in the middle of
the 1990's, and was mostly used by teenagers(13-18 year
old's). Today it is rather commonly known all around Norway.
The original word jalla means hurry, and comes from
Iran and some other middle eastern countries. The reason the word is used as a slang-word must have something to do with how the word is proanounced, since it may sound funny for Norwegians.
Iranian usage of the word:
- When someone comes in a room or a apartment when there might be some women not covering themselves with a
shal, Iranian men shout out
jalla to warn them about their arrival. This kind of usage of the word is becoming more and more obsolete lately.
- "
Jalla! We dont have all the time in the world!"
Norwegian usage of the word:
- NO: "
Faen du er lite jalla." E: "Fuck, you are so jalla!"
- NO: "Så du på den filmen som
ble sendt på tv3 på søndag
eller? Jeg lo meg skakk. Den var skikkelig jalla!" E: "Did you see that movie the other day? I almost shitted in my pants. It was so damn jalla!"
- NO: "1: Hva dreiv dere med den forrige
dagen? 2: Næ
sj... vi bare jalla
litt rundt på kjøpesenteret
vel, som vanlig." E: "1: What was you guys doing the other day? 2: Uhm... we just jalla a bit at the mall, as usual."
- NO: "Den
bilen der er så jalla." E: "That car over there is so jalla."
As you can see, it is versatily used.
