houni هوني
Tunisian Derja · adverb
“houni” (هوني) is an adverb in Tunisian Derja meaning here.
Meanings
- here
Usage
Houni is the Tunisian adverb for “here”. It contrasts with ghadi (over there). It combines with prepositions: mel houni (from here, this way), lel houni (up to here), houni w ghadi (here and there). In a question, it often marks the location of the person you are talking to: fama 7anout houni? (is there a shop here?). It is one of the most typical markers of Tunisian speech, not to be confused with forms from other dialects. It is not used for time: “by tomorrow” is said differently.
Example
استنّاني هوني
stannani houni
“Wait for me here.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “houni” but also “honi”, “houny” and “hony”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.