behi باهي
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“behi” (باهي) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning good, fine.
Meanings
- good, fine
- okay, all right
Usage
"Behi" is one of the most characteristic words of Tunisian. As an adjective, it means "good": "mekla behya" ("a good dish"). Its forms are "behya" in the feminine and "behin" in the plural. It is also used as an adverb: "yekhdem behi" ("he works well"). Alone, it serves as an interjection of agreement, like "okay" or "all right", and can close a discussion. "Behi barcha" means "very good". The word is colloquial yet neutral, usable with anyone. It should not be confused with "bahi" in the classical sense of "splendid".
Example
معه كان باهي برشا .
maah ken behi barcha .
“With him it was very good.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “behi” but also “bahi”, “behy”, “bhi”, “bahy” and “bhy”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “behi” on the Arabic keyboard
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “good, nice”; “okay, alright”: bahi in Algerian.