la3ad لاعاد
Tunisian Derja · particle
“la3ad” (لاعاد) is a particle in Tunisian Derja meaning never again (wish).
Meanings
- never again (wish)
- may I no longer…
Usage
La3ad is a negative optative particle placed before an imperfect verb. It expresses a strong wish that something never happen again. It is used mostly with a first-person verb: la3ad nchoufou, "may I never see him again". The tone is often irritated or exasperated, as in sports commentary directed at a player or a referee. It differs from ma3adch, which simply states a fact ("no longer"). La3ad expresses a wish or a rejection. The register is informal.
Example
لاعاد نشوف وجهو في الفريق.
la3ad nchouf wejhou fel ferri9.
“May I never see his face on the team again.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “la3ad” but also “la3aad” and “le3ad”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent.