tweffa توفّا
Moroccan Darija · verb
“tweffa” (توفّا) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to pass away, die (respectful).
Meanings
- to pass away, die (respectful)
Usage
Tweffa (present ytweffa) means "to pass away." It is the respectful verb for announcing a person's death, often followed by "llah yr7mo" (may God have mercy on him). The neutral verb mat is more direct. It is avoided for a close relative out of delicacy, and reserved for animals or general statements. Tweffa is never used for an animal. It therefore corresponds to "pass away" or "has left us." The bereaved person then receives condolences, called l-3za.
Example
توفّا جدّو البارح، الله يرحمو
tweffa jeddo lbare7, llah yr7mo
“His grandfather passed away yesterday, may God have mercy on him.”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kantwffa | twffit | |
| nta (you, m.) | kattwffa | twffiti | twffa |
| nti (you, f.) | kattwffay | twffiti | twffay |
| howa (he) | kaytwffa | twffa | |
| hiya (she) | kattwffa | twffat | |
| 7na (we) | kantwffaw | twffina | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | kattwffaw | twffito | twffaw |
| homa (they) | kaytwffaw | twffaw |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “tweffa” but also “twffa”, “toueffa”, “twaffa” and “tewffa”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “tweffa” on the Arabic keyboard
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “to finish, to end”; “to run out, be used up”: toufa in Tunisian.