bous بوس
Tunisian Derja · noun
“bous” (بوس) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning kissing, kisses.
Meanings
- kissing, kisses
- respectful kiss (hand, head)
Usage
Bous refers to the act of kissing, in general. For a specific kiss, bousa is used, and bousét in the plural. As a verb, bés/ybous means "to kiss", and the imperative bous looks like the noun. For example, "bousli 3la mama" (give mum a kiss for me), a frequent phrase at the end of a call or message. The word is also used for marks of respect: "bous el yed" (kissing the hand) or "bous er ras" (a kiss on the forehead of an elder). The register is informal and affectionate, and the word is not vulgar.
Example
عملولو البوس والتعنيق كي رجع من فرانسا
3amloulou el bous wel ta3ni9 ki rja3 men fransa
“They showered him with kisses and hugs when he came back from France.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “bous” but also “bouss”, “bos” and “boss”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.