fa9ir فقير
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“fa9ir” (فقير) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning poor, without means.
Meanings
- poor, without means
- a poor person, a destitute person
Usage
Fa9ir is used as an adjective ("poor") or as a noun ("a poor person"). The plural is fu9ara and the feminine is fa9ira. In everyday conversation, Tunisians often prefer zawali for a person of modest means or in need. Fa9ir sounds a little more formal: it is found in tales, religious expressions and talk about charity. It is the opposite of ghani, "rich". It is not used to express pity ("poor thing!"): for that, say meskin.
Example
ربي يعين الفقير
rabbi y3in el fa9ir
“May God help the poor.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “fa9ir” but also “faqir”, “fakir” and “fa9eer”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.
Type “fa9ir” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “poor, destitute”; “a poor person, someone in need”: fa9ir in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “poor, destitute”; “poor in something”: fqir in Algerian.