siter سيطر
Moroccan Darija · verb
“siter” (سيطر) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to dominate, control.
Meanings
- to dominate, control
- to bring (a situation) under control
Usage
SiTer, imperfect ysiTer, means to dominate or take control. It takes 3la: "siTer 3la lmatch" (he dominated the match), "ma 9derch ysiTer 3la a3SaBo" (he couldn't control his nerves). The word comes from Standard Arabic and keeps a slightly formal tone; it is often heard in sports commentary, on the radio or on television. In everyday conversation, people also readily say "7kem 3la" or "ched". The participle msiTer (dominant, in control of the situation) is common.
Example
الفريق سيطر على الماتش من الأول
lferi9 siTer 3la lmatch mn lowl
“The team dominated the match from the start.”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kansyTer | syTert | |
| nta (you, m.) | katsyTer | syTerti | syTer |
| nti (you, f.) | katsyTri | syTerti | syTri |
| howa (he) | kaysyTer | syTer | |
| hiya (she) | katsyTer | syTrat | |
| 7na (we) | kansyTro | syTrna | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | katsyTro | syTrto | syTro |
| homa (they) | kaysyTro | syTro |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “siter” but also “syter”, “sitar”, “sytr” and “siyter”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.