karakouz كركوز
Tunisian Derja · noun
“karakouz” (كركوز) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning ridiculous person, laughingstock.
Meanings
- ridiculous person, laughingstock
- shadow-play puppet
- Karagöz, shadow-play puppet
Usage
Karakouz originally refers to the shadow-theatre character inherited from the Ottoman era, long performed during Ramadan evenings. Today the word is used mainly figuratively. It describes a ridiculous person, who makes a spectacle of themselves or whom people mock. The expression 3mal menou karakouz means "to make a laughingstock of someone". Saying of someone 3amel kif el karakouz is to judge them grotesque, particularly for their outfit or behaviour. The word is mocking and can hurt, but it remains much less violent than a vulgar insult.
Example
ضحكو عليه قدام الناس وعملو منو كركوز.
dh7akou 3lih 9odem ennes w 3amlou menou karakouz.
“They laughed at him in front of everyone and made a laughingstock of him.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “karakouz” but also “karakoz”, “karkouz”, “karakuz” and “qaraqouz”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find كركوز and كاراكوز and كراكوز, all the same word.