khfef خفاف
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“khfef” (خفاف) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning light (plural).
Meanings
- light (plural)
- quick, nimble
- pleasant, easygoing
Usage
khfef is the plural of khfif, "light." It applies to objects that are not heavy, to light meals ("mekla khfifa", "wajbet khfef") or to thin clothing. Applied to people, it can mean quick and agile. It can also mean pleasant, not tiresome ("khfef dam", "who have a sense of humour"). As a familiar imperative, "khfef !" tells someone to hurry up. For the feminine singular, khfifa is used.
Example
جيب حاجات خفاف للعشا
jib 7ajet khfef lel 3cha
“Bring something light for dinner.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khfef” but also “5fef”, “khfaf” and “5faf”. 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.