9bet قبط
Moroccan Darija · verb
“9bet” (قبط) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to catch, grab.
Meanings
- to catch, grab
- to hold
- to capture, arrest
Usage
Qbet is a very common verb meaning "to catch" or "to grab". The present is kayqbet and the imperative is qbet. It is used for catching a thrown object, holding something, or arresting someone: qbtoh lboulis, "the police arrested him". It can also mean "to hold, to take charge of": qbet lia hadi, "hold this for me". The register is familiar and neutral. Do not confuse it with qbel, "to accept", whose Latin spelling is close.
Example
علاش مابغيتيش ت قبط داك الساك لي لحت ليك
3lach mabghitich t 9bet dak sak li le7t lik
“Why don't you want to catch that bag I threw you?”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kan9bT | 9bTt | |
| nta (you, m.) | kat9bT | 9bTti | 9bT |
| nti (you, f.) | kat9bTi | 9bTti | 9bTi |
| howa (he) | kay9bT | 9bT | |
| hiya (she) | kat9bT | 9bTat | |
| 7na (we) | kan9bTo | 9bTna | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | kat9bTo | 9bTto | 9bTo |
| homa (they) | kay9bTo | 9bTo |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “9bet” but also “9bt”, “qbet”, “9bat” and “qbat”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.