la9ab لقب

Tunisian Derja · noun

“la9ab” (لقب) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning surname.

Meanings

1. surname
2. title (sports, honorific)
3. nickname

Usage

In Tunisia, la9ab first of all means the family name, as opposed to the first name ("ism"). It is the word used on forms and in everyday questions: "chnowa la9abek?" (what is your surname?). In sports language it also means a title that has been won, as in "rbe7 el la9ab" (he won the title). The sense of nickname also exists. Pitfall: the word is not used to ask for someone's first name.

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “la9ab” but also “lakab”, “laqab”, “la9eb” and “lagab”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.

Type “la9ab” on the Arabic keyboard

In Moroccan Darija

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “title (sports, honorific)”; “nickname”: la9ab in Moroccan.

In Algerian Darja

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “title (sports, honorary)”; “family name”: l9ab in Algerian.