3errif عريف
Tunisian Derja · noun
“3errif” (عريف) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning corporal (military rank).
Meanings
- corporal (military rank)
- workshop foreman, master craftsman
Usage
3arif primarily denotes a rank in the army or security forces, equivalent to corporal. "3arif awwel" corresponds to lance-corporal or senior corporal. The word often comes up in discussions about the army, the police and their salaries. With a doubled r (3errif), it also refers to the head of a workshop, the master of a traditional trade who supervises the workers. It can then be used to address someone, sometimes ironically. Context distinguishes the two senses.
Example
وين كنت يا عرّيف في عهد المخلوع
Win Kont Ya 3errif Fi 3ahd LMA5LOU3
“Where were you, corporal, during the deposed president's rule?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3errif” but also “3arif”, “3rif”, “arif” and “3arrif”. 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.