dhba7 ذبح
Tunisian Derja · verb
“dhba7” (ذبح) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning to slaughter, cut the throat of.
Meanings
- to slaughter, cut the throat of
- to ruin, hurt badly
Usage
The verb dhba7 is used first for the ritual slaughter of an animal, notably the Eid sheep: "dhba7na l3allouch" (we slaughtered the sheep). The related noun, dhbi7a, refers to the sacrificed animal. Figuratively, it expresses the idea of ruining or crushing someone. It is heard, for example, for exorbitant prices or a heavy defeat: "dhba7na", he crushed us or bled us dry. In ordinary Tunisian pronunciation, the initial dh is often pronounced like the th of English "this".
Example
بابا ذبح العلوش نهار العيد
baba dhba7 el 3allouch nhar el 3id
“Dad slaughtered the sheep on the day of Eid.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “dhba7” but also “dba7”, “dhbe7” and “zba7”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat.