7ssi mssi حسي مسي
Moroccan Darija · expression
“7ssi mssi” (حسي مسي) is an expression in Moroccan Darija meaning on the sly, discreetly.
Meanings
- on the sly, discreetly
- secretly, without telling anyone
Usage
Hssi mssi is used like an adverb for an action done quietly, without drawing attention, often so that nobody notices. It usually goes after the verb: khrej hssi mssi, "he left on the sly". The phrase is informal and belongs to everyday spoken language. Depending on context, it can be neutral (acting discreetly so as not to disturb anyone) or slightly disapproving (doing something behind people's backs). It corresponds to "on the sly" or "on the quiet". It is not a noun: it is not used to mean a secret.
Example
دخل حسي مسي باش ما يفيقش الدراري.
dkhel hssi mssi bach ma yfiqch drari.
“He came in quietly so as not to wake the children.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “7ssi mssi” but also “hssi mssi”, “7essi messi” and “hsi msi”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat.