a3chiri عشيري
Tunisian Derja · noun
“a3chiri” (عشيري) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning my close friend, my buddy.
Meanings
- my close friend, my buddy
- my boyfriend
Usage
A3chiri is formed on 3chir (companion, close friend) followed by the possessive -i. It is a familiar, affectionate term, widely used among friends, particularly by young people and among men. It is often used to call out to someone: "ya a3chiri". The form with another possessive, such as 3chirou (his buddy), is just as common. In the feminine, 3chirti often means girlfriend, and 3chiri can likewise mean "my boyfriend" in the romantic sense. Context decides between friendship and a relationship. It is avoided in formal register.
Example
يا عشيري، تجي نشربو قهوة؟
ya a3chiri, tji nochorbou 9ahwa?
“Hey buddy, do you want to come have a coffee?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “a3chiri” but also “3chiri”, “achiri”, “a3chiry” and “3achiri”. 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.