9ahr قهر
Tunisian Derja · noun
“9ahr” (قهر) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning oppression, injustice suffered.
Meanings
- oppression, injustice suffered
- helpless rage, bitter frustration
Usage
9ahr refers to oppression suffered and, above all, the bitter feeling it leaves: contained anger in the face of an injustice you can do nothing about. The phrase "9ahr er-rjel", taken from a religious invocation, is very well known. The corresponding verb is common in speech. "Ma b9herni ghir..." means "the only thing that makes me sick with rage is...". "9harni" translates as "it made me sick with rage". The word is stronger than "annoyance": it implies helplessness and a wrong suffered.
Example
حسّيت بالقهر كي ظلموني قدّام الناس
7assit bel 9ahr ki dhalmouni 9oddam ennes
“I felt a helpless rage when I was treated unjustly in front of everyone.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “9ahr” but also “qahr”, “kahr” and “9ahar”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.