zeyyer زيّر
Moroccan Darija · verb
“zeyyer” (زيّر) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to tighten, squeeze.
Meanings
- to tighten, squeeze
- to be strict with someone
Usage
Zeyyer means to tighten in the literal sense: to tighten a belt, a screw, a knot, or to squeeze something. Figuratively, it means to keep someone on a tight rein, to be strict or demanding. In this sense one says "zeyyer 3la" or "zeyyer m3a" someone, notably about children or employees. The English gloss "wind" in the sources is wrong. The verb conjugates regularly: zeyyert, kayzeyyer, zeyyer! The corresponding adjective is mzeyyer (tight, taut). It is also found in the expression "zeyyer s-semta" (to tighten one's belt).
Example
زيّر السّمطة مزيان
zeyyer ssemta mzyan
“Tighten the belt well.”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kanziyyer | ziyyert | |
| nta (you, m.) | katziyyer | ziyyerti | ziyyer |
| nti (you, f.) | katziyyri | ziyyerti | ziyyri |
| howa (he) | kayziyyer | ziyyer | |
| hiya (she) | katziyyer | ziyyrat | |
| 7na (we) | kanziyyro | ziyyrna | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | katziyyro | ziyyerto | ziyyro |
| homa (they) | kayziyyro | ziyyro |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “zeyyer” but also “ziyyer”, “zayer”, “zyyer” and “zier”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “zeyyer” on the Arabic keyboard
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “to tighten, squeeze”; “to pull oneself together, take care”: zayer in Algerian.
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “tighten, squeeze”; “put pressure on someone”: zayyer in Tunisian.