mahouch هواش
Tunisian Derja · expression
“mahouch” (هواش) is an expression in Tunisian Derja meaning he is not, it is not.
Meanings
- he is not, it is not
Usage
Houwech exists only in the negation "ma houwech" (or mahouch). It is the pronoun "houwa" (he) framed by the negation ma…ch. It replaces the verb "to be" in the negative for a masculine singular subject: "ma houwech ghali" (it is not expensive). There is a form for each person: ma hiyech (she), ma homech (they), ma nich (I), ma intech (you). Do not use "mouch" everywhere. Ma houwech puts more emphasis on the subject and often serves to correct an idea: "it is not X, it is Y".
Example
ما هواش في الدار، خرج.
ma houwech fi dar, khraj.
“He isn't at home, he went out.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “mahouch” but also “ma houwech”, “mahouwech”, “ma hwech” and “mahuch”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.