hbel هبال
Tunisian Derja · noun
“hbel” (هبال) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning madness, nonsense.
Meanings
- madness, nonsense
- awesome, amazing (informal)
Usage
Hbèl refers first of all to madness, in the sense of something unreasonable: hedha hbèl, "it's madness", "it's nonsense". In the informal speech of young people and on social media, it is also used as a highly complimentary invariable qualifier: film hbèl, "an awesome film", tbikh hbèl, "amazing cooking". This is the most frequent use online. Mind the tone: the same word can be a reproach or a compliment, and only context decides. Compare mahboul, "crazy".
Example
ينجّم يظهر لك هبال اللي باش نقول له
inajjem yodh'horlek hbèl elli bech n9oulou
“What I'm going to tell him may seem like madness to you.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “hbel” but also “hbèl”, “hbal” and “hbeel”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.