9a3ed قعد

Tunisian Derja · verb

“9a3ed” (قعد) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning to sit down.

Meanings

1. to sit down
2. to stay, remain
3. to keep on, be doing (auxiliary)

Usage

9a3ed (imperfect yo93ed, imperative o93ed) means "to sit down". It also means "to stay" somewhere: 9a3ed fi darhom, "he stayed at their place". The participle 9a3ed / 9a3da, placed before a verb, serves as an auxiliary for an ongoing or repeated action: 9a3da ta7ki, "she is talking". This usage is very frequent. The noun 9a3da refers to a friendly get-together among friends, often at a café. The register is neutral and everyday. The 9 stands for the sound "q", which some regions pronounce "g" (ga3ed).

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “9a3ed” but also “93ad”, “9a3d”, “ga3ed” and “o93ed”. 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; 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.

Type “9a3ed” on the Arabic keyboard

In Algerian Darja

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “to stay, remain somewhere”; “to keep on, go on (doing)”: g3ad in Algerian.