amana امانة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“amana” (امانة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning item or property entrusted to someone.
Meanings
- item or property entrusted to someone
- honesty, trustworthiness
Usage
Amana means what you leave in someone's keeping, trusting that it will be returned intact: an object, money, a message, even a child. One says 3andek amana, "you have something of mine in your keeping", or khalli 3andi amana. The word also refers to the moral quality of someone who faithfully keeps what is entrusted to them: rajel fih amana, "an honest man". The phrase bel amana, "in all honesty", is used to stress a statement. The register is neutral, often carrying a moral or religious weight.
Example
خليتلك الساك هاذا أمانة، ما تحلّوش.
khallitlek es-sak hedha amana, ma t7allouch.
“I'm leaving this bag with you for safekeeping, don't open it.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “amana” but also “amena”, “amanaa” and “emena”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.