kteb كتب
Tunisian Derja · verb
“kteb” (كتب) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning to write.
Meanings
- to write
- to conclude the marriage contract
Usage
Kteb (imperfect yekteb, imperative okteb) is the common verb for "to write". It is used for a text as well as for a message, a name or an address. In some regions you also hear the form biktib. In the context of marriage, kteb el-kteb or kteb es-sdeq refers to the official conclusion of the contract before a notary: a couple who are "katbin" are legally married. The past participle mektoub also means "fate", in the sense of "it was written".
Example
اشنوة تكتب اسمك بال مرتين مرّة وحدة يزّي
achnowa tekteb essmek bel marrtin marra wa7da yezzi
“What, you write your name twice? Once is enough.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “kteb” but also “ktib”, “yekteb” and “ktab”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “kteb” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “to write”; “to write to someone”: kteb in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “to write”; “to register, write down (a name)”: kteb in Algerian.