bi ب

Tunisian Derja · preposition

“bi” (ب) is a preposition in Tunisian Derja meaning with, by means of.

Meanings

1. with, by means of
2. by, in (manner, means)
3. for, against (price, exchange)

Usage

B is a one-letter preposition, attached to the following word. It marks the instrument or means: "nekteb bel stylo" (I write with a pen), "nemchi bel karhba" (I go by car). It also marks manner ("bechwaya", slowly) and price ("chritha b 3achra": I bought it for ten dinars). With a pronoun, it gives bik, bih, biha, bina. Before the article, it becomes bel. It appears in set phrases: "marhba bik" (welcome), "bechfa" (enjoy your meal). It rarely translates the accompanying "with", which is said m3a.

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “bi” but also “b”, “eb” and “ib”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Type “bi” on the Arabic keyboard

In Moroccan Darija

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “with, by means of”; “in a manner: in, with”: bi in Moroccan.

In Algerian Darja

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “with, by means of”; “by (means of transport)”: bi in Algerian.