khmis خميس
Tunisian Derja · noun
“khmis” (خميس) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning Thursday.
Meanings
- Thursday
- in khamsa w khmis: against the evil eye
Usage
Thursday is said nhar el khmis or simply el khmis. As with the other days, the article is almost always present: el khmis ejjey (next Thursday), nhar el khmis (on Thursday). The formula khamsa w khmis (3lik) is spoken to ward off the evil eye, often after a compliment, sometimes with an open hand. It plays on the number five. It is said kindly or as a joke. Khemaies is also a common male first name, which can cause confusion in writing, especially in sports commentary.
Example
نتلاقاو نهار الخميس الصباح
netle9aw nhar el khmis sbe7
“We'll meet on Thursday morning.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khmis” but also “khamis” and “5mis”. 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.