ghatsa غطسة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“ghatsa” (غطسة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning dip, plunge.
Meanings
- dip, plunge
- quick swim
Usage
ghatsa is the unit noun derived from the verb ghtas (to dive, to immerse oneself). It refers to a single dip or immersion, most often in the sea or a swimming pool. The typical construction is "na3mel ghatsa" (I take a dip, I jump in). The word is colloquial and comes up a lot in summer. It does not refer to a long swimming session, which is called 3oum instead. In the plural or when counting, one says "ghatstin" (two dips). For an English speaker, "take a dip" or "jump in" captures the nuance of brevity well.
Example
نمشيو نعملو غطسة في البحر؟
nemchiw na3mlou ghatsa fel b7ar?
“Shall we go for a dip in the sea?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “ghatsa” but also “ghatssa” and “8atsa”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 8 is light ha (ه) or ghayn (غ), depending on the writer.