7arfi حرفي
Tunisian Derja · noun
“7arfi” (حرفي) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning craftsman, artisan.
Meanings
- craftsman, artisan
- pro, skilled professional
Usage
7arfi (or 7irafi) first refers to a craftsman, someone who works a manual trade: shoemaker, carpenter, etc. It is often heard in talk about the economy and commerce. In a familiar register, it is also used as an adjective or noun to describe someone very competent in their field, a "pro". In this sense it can be complimentary or ironic depending on tone. Be careful not to confuse it with 7arfiyan, "literally", which comes from standard Arabic.
Example
خويا حرفي في الخشب
5ouya 7arfi fil 5chab
“My brother is a carpenter by trade.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “7arfi” but also “7irafi”, “harfi” and “7erfi”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat.