thejja تهجّا
Moroccan Darija · verb
“thejja” (تهجّا) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to spell out, read letter by letter.
Meanings
- to spell out, read letter by letter
- to read haltingly
Usage
Thejja means to read by separating the letters or syllables, like a child learning to read, or to spell a word out for someone. It is often used somewhat mockingly of someone who reads slowly and with difficulty. It takes its object directly: thejja smiytek (spell your name). The present tense is formed with ka-/ta-: kaythejja. Note that this verb does not mean "to stammer," a sense sometimes wrongly attributed to it.
Example
مابقيتش باغي ن تهجا خانبدا نقرا كتر
mab9itch baghi n thejja 5anbda ne9ra kter
“I don't want to spell things out anymore, I'm starting to read more.”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kant8ejja | t8ejjit | |
| nta (you, m.) | katt8ejja | t8ejjiti | t8ejja |
| nti (you, f.) | katt8ejjay | t8ejjiti | t8ejjay |
| howa (he) | kayt8ejja | t8ejja | |
| hiya (she) | katt8ejja | t8ejjaat | |
| 7na (we) | kant8ejjaw | t8ejjina | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | katt8ejjaw | t8ejjito | t8ejjaw |
| homa (they) | kayt8ejjaw | t8ejjao |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “thejja” but also “t8ejja” and “tehjja”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 8 is light ha (ه) or ghayn (غ), depending on the writer.