3abba عبى
Tunisian Derja · verb
“3abba” (عبى) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning to fill a container.
Meanings
- to fill a container
- to pack, to bag
Usage
3abba means to fill a container: a glass, a bottle, a bag, a tank. People say 3abba el kes ("he filled the glass") or 3abba bel tasa ("he scooped with the bowl"). For a vehicle, 3abba essence means "to fill up". The verb is also used for filling bags or boxes, hence packing goods. The imperative is 3abbi and the imperfect y3abbi. The register is everyday. Not to be confused with 3abbar, "to express".
Example
عبّي الكاس ماء من فضلك.
3abbi el kes me min fadhlek.
“Fill the glass with water, please.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3abba” but also “3aba”, “3abbi”, “abba” and “3abbe”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent.