chorta شرطة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“chorta” (شرطة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning police.
Meanings
- police
- police officer (rare)
Usage
Chorta is the official term, used by the media, the administration and on signs: chorta 3askaria, "military police", chorta fannia, "technical and forensic police". In everyday conversation, Tunisians much more often say el bouliss for the police and for an officer. A police officer is often called "a3wen" or "bouliss". Chorta is understood by everyone and is used in a neutral or formal register, for example to report an incident or talk about institutions. The national guard, which is distinct from the police, is called el haras.
Example
عيّط للشرطة، فما سرقة في الحومة
3ayyet lel chorta, famma sar9a fel 7ouma
“Call the police, there's been a theft in the neighborhood.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “chorta” but also “shorta”, “chourta” and “shurta”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.