3an عن
Tunisian Derja · preposition
“3an” (عن) is a preposition in Tunisian Derja meaning about, concerning.
Meanings
- about, concerning
- via, through (in "3an tri9")
Usage
In everyday derja, "3an" is much less frequent than in Standard Arabic. To "talk about" or "ask about" something, "3la" is most often used: "n7ki 3la…". "3an" is found mainly in fixed expressions such as "3an tri9" ("through, via") and "b3id 3an" ("far from"). It is also common in a formal register, close to the TV news or speeches. Using it everywhere will make your speech sound bookish.
Example
وصلني عن طريق صاحبي
woslni 3an tri9 sa7bi
“It reached me through my friend.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3an” but also “3n”, “an” and “3anna”. 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.