7atta حتي
Tunisian Derja · particle
“7atta” (حتي) is a particle in Tunisian Derja meaning even, also.
Meanings
- even, also
- until, up to
- no, not any
Usage
7atta is a very common particle. Before a noun or pronoun, it means "even" or "also": 7atta ena, "me too". It means "until" in 7atta l ghodwa, "until tomorrow". In a negative sentence, it means "no" or "not any": ma 3andi 7atta flous, "I don't have a penny", or ma fama 7atta chay, "there is nothing at all". In writing, the word is spelled with either ي or ى at the end.
Example
حتّى أنا نحبّ نمشي معاكم
7atta ena n7ebb nemchi m3akom
“Me too, I want to go with you.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “7atta” but also “hatta”, “7ata”, “hata” and “7tta”. 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.