bech باش

Tunisian Derja · particle

“bech” (باش) is a particle in Tunisian Derja meaning in order to, so as to.

Meanings

1. in order to, so as to
2. will, going to (future)
3. with what (bech + pronoun)

Usage

Bech has two very frequent uses. Before an imperfect verb, it expresses purpose: jit bech nchoufek ("I came to see you"). It also serves as a near future: bech nemchi ghodwa ("I'm going to leave tomorrow"), and ech bech ta3mel? means "what are you going to do?". Only context tells the two meanings apart. The verb that follows is always conjugated. In the negative, one says mech bech ("I'm not going to"). In arabizi, it is very often shortened to bch.

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “bech” but also “bch”, “bach”, “besh” and “bich”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find باش and بش, all the same word.

Type “bech” on the Arabic keyboard

In Moroccan Darija

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “in order to, so that”; “with what, by what”: bach in Moroccan.

In Algerian Darja

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “to, in order to, so that”; “with what?”: bach in Algerian.