khamsa خمسة
Tunisian Derja · numeral
“khamsa” (خمسة) is a numeral in Tunisian Derja meaning five.
Meanings
- five
Usage
Khamsa is the number five, used for counting and before a plural noun: "khamsa ktob" (five books). Before certain nouns, the linked form "khamsa t-" is often heard: "khamsa t-ayyem" (five days). The hand of Fatima, a widespread good-luck charm, is also called "khamsa". Saying "khamsa" or "khamsa w khmis" while holding out the hand is used to ward off the evil eye, especially after a compliment. In arabizi writing, kh is often written 5, hence spellings like "5amsa". Tens are formed with "w": "khamsa w ichrin" (twenty-five).
Example
عندو خمسة صغار
3andou khamsa sghar
“He has five kids.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khamsa” but also “5amsa”, “khamssa” and “5amssa”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 5 is kha (خ), like the ch in Scottish loch.
Type “khamsa” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “five”; “hand of Fatima (amulet)”: khmsa in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “five”; “hamsa (hand of Fatima, lucky charm)”: khamsa in Algerian.