kdheb كذاب
Tunisian Derja · noun
“kdheb” (كذاب) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning lie, act of lying.
Meanings
- lie, act of lying
- liar (pronounced kaddheb)
Usage
Kdheb (or kedheb) means lying or falsehood in general. It is often used as an uncountable noun, for example in mel kdheb ("what a pack of lies!"). The corresponding verb is kdheb, "to lie". The same Arabic spelling can also be read kaddheb, "liar". This word is used as a direct accusation (enti kaddheb, "you are a liar") and is quite insulting, without being vulgar. To soften it, one sometimes adds 7achek. Context and pronunciation distinguish the two meanings, which can be confusing in writing.
Example
بربّي كرّهتونا في رواحنا مال كذاب ياسر مفبركة
Brabi karahtouna fi rwe7na mel ketheb yesser mfaberka
“By God, you've made us sick of ourselves, what a pack of lies, it's totally fabricated.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “kdheb” but also “kedheb”, “kdeb” and “kedb”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.