khchen خشان
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“khchen” (خشان) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning fat, plump (plural).
Meanings
- fat, plump (plural)
- thick
Usage
Khchen is the plural of "khchin" (fat, plump; feminine "khchina"). It describes people, animals or thick objects. In the countryside and in markets, it is readily used for livestock. Sheep that are "khchen" are well-fleshed, which is a good thing. For a person, the word is blunt and can offend depending on the tone. The forms "mrabrab" or "m3abbi" are kinder. The verb "khchen" or "khchon" means "to put on weight". Pitfall: the same form can be an adjective plural or a verb, and only context tells which.
Example
العلالش هاذوما خشان، سومهم غالي.
el 3lalech hadhouma khchen, soumhom ghali.
“These lambs are plump, their price is high.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khchen” but also “5chen”, “khchan” and “5chan”. 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.