jouhhel جهال
Tunisian Derja · noun
“jouhhel” (جهال) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning ignorant people, uneducated people.
Meanings
- ignorant people, uneducated people
- thoughtless, immature people
Usage
Jouhhel is the plural of jehel (feminine jehla), "ignorant". The word is pejorative but not vulgar. It is used to disparage people seen as uncultured, narrow-minded or irresponsible, often in arguments or online comments: "ya jouhhel!". It targets lack of schooling less than behavior: acting without thinking, with narrow or immature ideas. Said directly to someone, it remains hurtful. Not to be confused with jhel, which refers to ignorance itself.
Example
ما تتعبش روحك معاهم، جهّال
ma tta3bech rou7ek m3ahom, jouhhel
“Don't wear yourself out over them, they're ignorant.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “jouhhel” but also “johhel”, “jouhel”, “johel” and “jhel”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.