kbes كبس
Tunisian Derja · verb
“kbes” (كبس) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning to press, to push down.
Meanings
- to press, to push down
- to squeeze with the hand
- to pack down, to press in
Usage
Kbes is very commonly used for the action of pressing: a button, a doorbell, a pedal, or a wound one is applying pressure to. The most frequent construction is kbes 3la ("to press on"), but the verb can also take a direct object: kbes ideh, "he squeezed his hand", in the sense of pressing hard. It is also used for packing contents into a container. The word is in the everyday register and is not colloquial or slangy. Note: do not confuse it with kabbes, which can mean a raid or a show of force depending on the context.
Example
اكبس على الزرّ الأخضر باش تفتح الباب.
okbes 3al zer lakhdher bech tefta7 el beb.
“Press the green button to open the door.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “kbes” but also “kbas”, “okbes”, “kebes” and “kbs”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.