dhen دهن
Tunisian Derja · noun
“dhen” (دهن) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning paint (for walls, buildings).
Meanings
- paint (for walls, buildings)
- grease, fat
- ointment, cream
Usage
In Tunisia, dhen first means building paint, the kind used on walls and doors. You say kouch dhen (a coat of paint) and 7akket dhen (a tin of paint). The corresponding verb is dahhen, "to paint", and a house painter is called dahhen. The older sense "grease, fat" survives, as does the sense of an "ointment" or "cream" applied to the skin. Pitfall: dhen is not used for artistic painting. The register is neutral.
Example
لازمنا نشريو دهن جديد للصالة.
lazemna nechriw dhen jdid lel sala.
“We need to buy new paint for the living room.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “dhen” but also “dhan”, “dahn” and “dehn”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.