jara جارة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“jara” (جارة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning female neighbour.
Meanings
- female neighbour
Usage
Jara is the feminine of jar, "neighbour". The word means a woman who lives next door, in the same building or in the same neighbourhood. It is very often used with a possessive: jartna, "our neighbour", jarti, "my neighbour". The plural jirén is used for neighbours in general. In Tunisian culture, neighbourly relations matter a great deal: people exchange dishes, visit each other, and also keep an eye on each other. The word poses no difficulty of meaning, but remember to use the feminine form.
Example
جارتنا جابتلنا صحن كسكسي
jaretna jabetelna sa7n kosksi
“Our neighbour brought us a plate of couscous.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “jara” but also “jaara” and “jarra”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.