khyena خيانة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“khyena” (خيانة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning betrayal.
Meanings
- betrayal
- infidelity (in a couple)
Usage
Khyena refers to betrayal in general. It is used for a friend who breaks his word, for treason against the homeland ("khyenet el watan") and very often for romantic infidelity. The word belongs to common vocabulary; it is frequent in songs, TV series and discussions about relationships. The corresponding verb is khan (to betray): "khanetni", she betrayed me. The person who betrays is called khayen, or khayna in the feminine. The expression "khyena 3odhma" (high treason) comes from the legal and political register.
Example
الخيانة ما تتنساش
el khyena ma tetnsech
“Betrayal isn't forgotten.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khyena” but also “5yena”, “khiyena”, “khiana” and “5iyana”. 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.