3la men على من
Tunisian Derja · expression
“3la men” (على من) is an expression in Tunisian Derja meaning of whom, about whom.
Meanings
- of whom, about whom
- on whom, against whom
- for whom, who (are you looking for)
Usage
3la men combines the preposition 3la and the interrogative men (who). The meaning depends on the verb. With "t7ki" or "tetkallem", it means "about whom": "3la men t7ki?" (who are you talking about?). With "tlawwej" or "testanna", it means "who": "3la men tlawwej?" (who are you looking for?). It can also indicate a target: "3la men te7seb?" (who are you counting on?). Avoid translating it word for word as "on whom": follow the construction of the Tunisian verb.
Example
على من تحكي؟ ما فهمتكش.
3la men t7ki? ma fhemtekch.
“Who are you talking about? I didn't understand you.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3la men” but also “3la mén”, “3ala men” and “3la min”. 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 “3la men” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “about whom, concerning whom”; “on whom”: 3la men in Moroccan.