3dawa عداوة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“3dawa” (عداوة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning enmity, hostility.
Meanings
- enmity, hostility
- grudge, feud
Usage
3dawa refers to lasting hostility between people, families, or groups. The typical construction is 3andou 3dawa m3a, "he is in conflict with". One also says bnathom 3dawa, "there is enmity between them". The word is common in all registers and is used as much for a neighborhood or football rivalry as for real hatred. The opposite is s7ab or mo7ebba. For an English speaker, "enmity" sounds formal while 3dawa is an ordinary word: "to be on bad terms" or "to be at odds" often conveys the idea better.
Example
عنده عداوة مع جيرانه من سنين
3andou 3dawa m3a jiranou men snin
“He has been at odds with his neighbors for years.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3dawa” but also “adawa”, “3adawa” and “3dewa”. 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.