tabr تابر
Moroccan Darija · verb
“tabr” (تابر) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to persevere, keep at it steadily.
Meanings
- to persevere, keep at it steadily
- to stick at (studies, work)
Usage
A verb used mainly for effort over time: studies, work, a project. It is often constructed with f: tabr f qraytek, "persevere in your studies." A direct object is also possible: tabr khdmtek. The word is frequent in advice and scolding from parents or teachers: khassek ttabr, "you have to stick at it." It is also very common in the negative, to talk about someone who gives up or loses heart. The register is everyday but fairly serious, close to Standard Arabic. In writing, the second-person prefix is sometimes detached (t tabr): this is simply ttabr.
Example
كانتسنّا فيك ت تابر باش تفرح واليديك
kantsenna fik t taabr bach tfre7 walidik
“We expect you to persevere so that you make your parents happy.”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kantaabr | taabrt | |
| nta (you, m.) | kattaabr | taabrti | taabr |
| nti (you, f.) | kattaabri | taabrti | taabri |
| howa (he) | kaytaabr | taabr | |
| hiya (she) | kattaabr | taabrat | |
| 7na (we) | kantaabro | taabrna | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | kattaabro | taabrto | taabro |
| homa (they) | kaytaabro | taabro |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “tabr” but also “taabr”, “tabar”, “ttabr” and “ttaabr”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.