7ekma حكمة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“7ekma” (حكمة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning wisdom.
Meanings
- wisdom
- maxim, saying
- hidden (divine) reason
Usage
7ekma means wisdom, but also a maxim or a sentence full of common sense. On social media, "7ekmet el youm" (thought of the day) often introduces a saying, serious or ironic. In a religious register, "rabbi 3andou 7ekma" or "7ekmet rabbi" expresses that a hardship has a reason that escapes us: it is said to show resignation or to console someone. For a person, the adjective 7kim (wise) is used instead. The word is in common use and does not sound learned, even though it also exists in Standard Arabic.
Example
ربي عندو حكمة في كل شي
rabbi 3andou 7ekma fi kol chay
“God has a reason for everything.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “7ekma” but also “hekma”, “7kma”, “hikma” and “7ikma”. 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.