hakeka هكاكة
Tunisian Derja · adverb
“hakeka” (هكاكة) is an adverb in Tunisian Derja meaning like this, thus.
Meanings
- like this, thus
- that's how it is (resignation)
- for no reason, just because
Usage
"Hakeka" is a lengthened variant of "hakka", "like this". It indicates manner ("a3melha hakeka", "do it like this") or closes a story ("w hakeka…", "and that's how…"). Used on its own, often with a drawn-out intonation, it expresses resignation or the obvious: "that's how it is". As a question, "hakeka?" shows surprise: "really, like this?". The long form is more expressive and more common in spoken storytelling than the short form "hakka".
Example
اعملها هكاكة
a3melha hakeka
“Do it like this.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “hakeka” but also “hakka”, “hakaka”, “hekka”, “hakkeka” and “hakek”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find هكاكة and هكاكا, all the same word.