kifma كيفما
Tunisian Derja · conjunction
“kifma” (كيفما) is a conjunction in Tunisian Derja meaning as, just like.
Meanings
- as, just like
- such as
- the way that
Usage
A very common function word for comparing or giving an example: "kifma ngoullek" (as I tell you), "kifma el-ba3dh" (like the others). Before a noun, it is used to list examples. Before a verb, it means "the way that": "a3mel kifma t7ebb" (do as you like). It is close to kif, which is used mainly before a noun or pronoun (kifi, kifou), whereas kifma tends to introduce a clause. Do not confuse it with kifech, which is used to ask a question ("how?").
Example
اعمل كيفما تحب، أنا موافق.
a3mel kifma t7ebb, ana mwafe9.
“Do as you like, I agree.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “kifma” but also “kifmaa” and “kifme”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.