fannen فنان
Tunisian Derja · noun
“fannen” (فنان) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning artist.
Meanings
- artist
- skilled, gifted, clever
- crafty, smooth talker (ironic)
Usage
Fannen first means an artist: singer, musician, actor or painter. The feminine is fannena and the plural is fannena or fannanin. In colloquial speech, the word is also used to compliment someone who is skilled: enti fannen means "you're gifted, you know your stuff". It often takes on an ironic value for a person who manipulates or lies with talent. Thus, fannen fel kdheb means "a talented liar". Context and tone show whether it is praise or mockery.
Example
خويا فنّان، يرسم ويغنّي
khouya fannen, yersem w ighanni
“My brother is an artist, he draws and sings.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “fannen” but also “fanen”, “fannan”, “fenen” and “fennen”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “fannen” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “artist (singer, actor, painter)”; “very talented person in their field”: fennan in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “artist (singer, actor, painter…)”; “very gifted person, ace”: fennan in Algerian.