chafa9a شفقة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“chafa9a” (شفقة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning pity, compassion.
Meanings
- pity, compassion
- pitiful, sad sight
Usage
Chafa9a means the pity or compassion one feels for someone. It appears in phrases such as "ma 3andouch chafa9a" (he has no pity) or "la chafa9a la ra7ma" (neither pity nor mercy). The word often carries a negative nuance when it is other people's pity: many refuse to be looked at "bel chafa9a". As an exclamation, "chafa9a !" comments on a sorry situation. The related verb is "chfa9 3la" (to take pity on). To express regret, people more often say "ya 7asra" or "ya 7ram".
Example
ما عندوش شفقة على حتى حد.
ma 3andouch chafa9a 3la 7atta 7ad.
“He has no pity for anyone.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “chafa9a” but also “chafaka”, “chfa9a” and “shafaqa”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.