3awen عاون
Tunisian Derja · verb
“3awen” (عاون) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning to help, assist.
Meanings
- to help, assist
- to help oneself
Usage
3awen is the most common verb for "to help" in derja. It takes a direct object, often an attached pronoun: "3awenni", help me; "y3awnek", he helps you. What one helps with is introduced by b-: "y3awen bel flous", to help financially. The expression "3awen rou7ek" means "help yourself" or "fend for yourself". The related noun is m3awna, help. The verb is used in all registers, within the family as well as in appeals for solidarity.
Example
شكون ينجّم يعاوّنه و اللي عنده معلومة يفيدوا بها مرسي
Chkoun ynjim y3awnou w ela 3ndo m3louma yfidou beha merci
“Who can help him? And whoever has any information, please share it, thanks.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3awen” but also “3awn”, “y3awen”, “3aweni” and “awen”. 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.
Type “3awen” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “to help, assist”; “to lend a hand”: 3awen in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “to help someone”; “to assist, lend a hand”: 3awen in Algerian.