khana خانة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“khana” (خانة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning box on a form, cell.
Meanings
- box on a form, cell
- category, slot
Usage
The word khana first means the box to fill in on a form or in a table, for example in 3ammer el-khana (fill in the box). Figuratively, it is used to put something into a category: 7attouh fi khanet... means "they put him in the category of...". This figurative sense is common in political and media discourse. In the construct state it is khanet, as in khanet el-esm (the name box). Pitfall in writing: a verb form of khan (to betray) is sometimes spelled the same way in online comments. Do not confuse them.
Example
عمّر الخانة هاذي باسمك.
3ammer el khana hedhi b esmek.
“Fill in this box with your name.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khana” but also “5ana”, “khanet” and “5anet”. 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.