dhif ضيف
Tunisian Derja · noun
“dhif” (ضيف) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning guest, person received in one's home.
Meanings
- guest, person received in one's home
- passing visitor, traveller taken in
Usage
Dhif refers to a person one receives at home, for a meal or for a few days. The usual plural is dhyouf. The word is very present in hospitality formulas. Dhif rabbi, literally "God's guest", is used for an unexpected visitor or a stranger passing through whom one is bound to welcome and feed. One also says dhif charaf for a guest of honour, notably on television. Note: dhif always refers to the person who is received. It never refers to the one who receives.
Example
عندنا ضيف الليلة، حضّري العشاء.
3andna dhif el lila, 7adhri el 3cha.
“We have a guest tonight, get dinner ready.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “dhif” but also “dhaif”, “dheif” and “dyf”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “dhif” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “guest, person being hosted”: dif in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “guest, person received as a host's visitor”: dif in Algerian.