markez مركز
Tunisian Derja · noun
“markez” (مركز) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning centre, institution.
Meanings
- centre, institution
- police station
- rank, position (standings)
Usage
Markez means a centre in the sense of an institution: markez sa7a (health centre), markez takwin (training centre). Markez echorta, or simply el markez, is the police station. The word is also used for a place in a ranking, especially in sport: el markez el lowel (first place). Beware of the homograph mrakkez, written with the same letters, which is an adjective meaning "focused, attentive" (mrakkez m3aya?: are you following me?) or "concentrated" for a liquid. Context and pronunciation tell them apart.
Example
هزّوه للمركز على خاطر ما عندوش الكارط
hezzouh lel markez 3la khater ma 3andouch el karta
“They took him to the station because he didn't have his ID card.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “markez” but also “markaz”, “mrakkez”, “mrakez” and “mrakkiz”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “markez” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “centre (place, establishment)”; “station, post (police, health)”: markaz in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “centre (facility, institution)”; “focused, concentrating (mrakkez)”: markaz in Algerian.