3cha9 عشق
Tunisian Derja · verb
“3cha9” (عشق) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning to fall madly in love.
Meanings
- to fall madly in love
- to love passionately
- to adore (a thing, a place)
Usage
3cha9 (imperfective ya3ch9) denotes a strong, passionate love, more intense than 7abb (to love). It takes a direct object: 3ch9ha (he fell in love with her), n3ach9ek (I'm crazy about you), the latter being common in songs and messages. The corresponding noun is 3ach9 (passionate love), and the person who loves is 3ach9 or ma3chou9. By extension it is also used for a city, a team or a style of music. The word is emotional, even lyrical. In everyday speech, 7abb remains the neutral verb.
Example
من أول مرة شافها عشقها
men awwel marra chefha 3ch9ha
“The first time he saw her, he fell in love with her.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3cha9” but also “3ach9”, “aacha9”, “3chek” and “3sha9”. 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; 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.