3achek عاشق
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“3achek” (عاشق) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning in love, smitten.
Meanings
- in love, smitten
- passionate about, devoted to
Usage
An active participle used as an adjective or a noun: "in love", "smitten". The forms are "3achek" (masculine), "3achka" (feminine) and "3achkin" (plural). The word is common in songs and popular poetry, and it has a more lyrical and intense colouring than "y7eb" ("to love"). It takes a direct object or "fi": "3achek fiha" ("crazy about her"). It is also used for a non-romantic passion: "3achek el kora" ("passionate about football"), or "3achek" of a sports club.
Example
هو عاشق فيها من نهار اللي شافها
howa 3achek fiha men nhar elli chefha
“He has been in love with her since the day he saw her.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3achek” but also “achek”, “3ashek” and “3achk”. 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.