la3na لعنة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“la3na” (لعنة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning curse.
Meanings
- curse
- imprecation against someone
Usage
La3na means a curse, in the sense of a fatal spell weighing on a person or a place. The word appears mainly in imprecations such as "la3nat allah 3lih" (may God curse him). This formula is violent and is used only in anger. It is best avoided outside close company. The verb "la3en" means to curse; "la3en chitane" (curse the devil) is used to calm someone down. In the neutral sense, an object or a house is said to be "fih la3na" (bring bad luck).
Example
الدار هاذي كيف فيها لعنة.
ed-dar hedhi kif fiha la3na.
“This house seems to have a curse on it.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “la3na” but also “laana”, “la3nat” and “la3ne”. 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.