kifeh كيفاه
Tunisian Derja · adverb
“kifeh” (كيفاه) is an adverb in Tunisian Derja meaning how.
Meanings
- how
- what do you mean? (surprise)
Usage
Kifeh is the Tunisian interrogative for "how". It is used in direct questions (kifeh nemchi? "how do I get there?") as well as in indirect questions (ma fhemtch kifeh "I didn't understand how"). Used on its own, it expresses surprise or protest: kifeh?! ("what do you mean?!"). To ask how someone is, you say chniya a7welek or labes instead. The similar form kif means "like" or "when" and is not interrogative. The word is neutral and used throughout the country.
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “kifeh” but also “kifah” and “kifh”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.