3ibra عبرة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“3ibra” (عبرة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning lesson, example to reflect on.
Meanings
- lesson, example to reflect on
- cautionary example for others
Usage
3ibra refers to a lesson drawn from an event, often an unfortunate one, or to a person whose fate should serve as a warning. The fixed formula "3ibra li men ya3tabir", taken from Classical Arabic, is very common in speech and in writing. One also says "yrja3 3ibra" or "ykoun 3ibra": to become an example, to be punished as an example. The register is rather formal or moralizing, but the word remains perfectly common. Pitfall: do not confuse it with 3abra (tear, sob), even though the two are written the same way without vowels.
Example
اللي صارلو يلزم يكون عبرة للناس الكل.
elli sarlou yelzem ykoun 3ibra lennes lkol.
“What happened to him must serve as a lesson to everyone.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3ibra” but also “ibra”, “3ebra” and “aibra”. 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.