hayej هايج
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“hayej” (هايج) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning rough (sea).
Meanings
- rough (sea)
- worked up, agitated
Usage
Hayej is used mostly of the sea: el b7ar hayej, "the sea is rough". It is often heard in summer, when people wonder whether they can swim. The opposite is el b7ar rayeg or mhadden, "the sea is calm". Applied to a person, hayej means worked up, overexcited or beside oneself. Note: in some contexts it can also have a sexual connotation, "aroused". It is therefore best avoided when talking about a person if the context could cause confusion. The feminine is hayja.
Example
ما تعومش اليوم، البحر هايج برشا.
ma t3oumch elyoum, el b7ar hayej barcha.
“Don't swim today, the sea is very rough.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “hayej” but also “heyij”, “hayij”, “hayeg” and “haiej”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.