dhawi ضاوي
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“dhawi” (ضاوي) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning bright, well-lit.
Meanings
- bright, well-lit
- lit, switched on (lamp)
Usage
Dhawi describes what is full of light: a well-lit room, a sunny day ("nhar dhawi"), a lit lamp. The feminine is dhawya: "dar dhawya" (a bright house). The word comes from "dhaw", which means both light and electricity: "ta7 el dhaw" (there is a power cut). It is used in everyday conversation. It also exists as a family name, Dhaoui. The opposite is "dhlem" (dark).
Example
البيت هاذي ضاوية برشا في الصباح.
el bit hédhi dhawya barcha fi sbe7.
“This room is very bright in the morning.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “dhawi” but also “dhaoui” and “dawi”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.