stenna استنى
Moroccan Darija · verb
“stenna” (استنى) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to wait.
Meanings
- to wait
- wait! hold on!
Usage
Stenna is one of the most common verbs in darija. It is often conjugated as tsenna, kantsenna ("I wait"). The imperative stenna or tsenna ("wait") also works as an interjection to interrupt someone or ask for a moment: stenna chwiya ("wait a bit"). The object comes directly after the verb or is introduced by 3la: kantsennak ("I'm waiting for you"). Note that the verb can also express hope or expectation, as in kantsenna lkhbar ("I'm waiting for news").
Example
استنى شوية، جاي دابا
stenna chwiya, jay daba
“Wait a bit, I'm coming now.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “stenna” but also “stena” and “sstenna”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.