chayeb شايب
Tunisian Derja · noun
“chayeb” (شايب) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning old man, elder.
Meanings
- old man, elder
- white-haired, elderly
Usage
Chayeb, feminine chayba and plural chyab, refers to an elderly person, primarily because of their white hair (chib). The word is used as a noun or as an adjective: rajel chayeb ("an elderly man"). Depending on the context, it can be affectionate and refer to a grandfather or an old man of the neighbourhood. It can also be disparaging, especially as a form of address in an argument: ya chayeb! It is not a verb, contrary to the source's label. To speak politely about an elderly person, kbir fi 3omrou is preferred.
Example
جارنا شايب، ديما قاعد قدام الدار.
jarna chayeb, dima ga3ed 9odem ed-dar.
“Our neighbour is an old man, he is always sitting in front of the house.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “chayeb” but also “chayb”, “shayeb” and “cheyeb”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.