dhib ذيب
Tunisian Derja · noun
“dhib” (ذيب) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning wolf.
Meanings
- wolf
- cunning, shrewd person
Usage
Dhib means wolf, but it is heard mostly figuratively, for a cunning, experienced person who is hard to trap. "Siyesi dhib" describes a shrewd politician. It can be used with admiration or with wariness, depending on context. It also applies to a man who is pushy, even predatory, with women. The feminine "dhiba" exists, and the plural is "dhyab". The word appears in several proverbs. Pitfall for an English speaker: the figurative sense is more positive than in English, where "wolf" mainly suggests danger. In Tunisia it often praises resourcefulness.
Example
هاك الراجل ذيب، ما ينجم حدّ يضحك عليه.
hak er-rajel dhib, ma ynajjem 7ad yedh7ak 3lih.
“That man is a real wolf, nobody can fool him.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “dhib” but also “dib” and “dheeb”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.