ghira غيرة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“ghira” (غيرة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning jealousy (romantic or envious).
Meanings
- jealousy (romantic or envious)
- protective devotion, sense of honour
Usage
Ghira first means jealousy, especially in a couple: 3andou ghira 3liha, "he is jealous about her". It is also used for envy between people or between groups. The word has a second, positive use, however: protective devotion towards one's family, city or country, as in ghira 3al bled, "jealous love of the country". It is often constructed with 3la. The corresponding adjective is ghayour, "jealous". Depending on the context, the word can therefore be a reproach or a praise, which may surprise an English speaker.
Example
عندها برشا غيرة على راجلها
3andha barcha ghira 3la rajelha
“She is very jealous over her husband.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “ghira” but also “8ira”, “ghayra” and “rira”. 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.
Type “ghira” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “jealousy (romantic or toward others)”; “protective pride, sense of honour”: ghira in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “jealousy, envy”; “romantic jealousy”: ghira in Algerian.