7ka حكى
Tunisian Derja · verb
“7ka” (حكى) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning to talk, to speak.
Meanings
- to talk, to speak
- to tell, to say
Usage
7ka (imperfect ye7ki) is the common verb for "to talk" in Tunisian, along with tkallem. It is used with "m3a" for the person spoken to ("7kit m3ah", I talked with him) and with "3la" for the subject ("ye7kiw 3lik", they are talking about you). With a direct object, it means to tell or to say: "7ka el 8alet" (he talked nonsense). The expression "welli 7keh lsenek" is used to agree: "that's exactly right". The noun 7kaya (a story) comes from the same root.
Example
علاش تحكي عال مشاكل ,
3lesh ta7ki 3al mechekil ,
“Why are you talking about the problems?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “7ka” but also “hka”, “ye7ki” and “7kit”. 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.