markhouf مرخوف
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“markhouf” (مرخوف) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning sluggish, listless.
Meanings
- sluggish, listless
- relaxed, loose (body, muscles)
- slack, not tight
Usage
A typically Tunisian adjective. It first describes a person with no energy, tired or slack: chbik markhouf? ("what's up with you, why so sluggish?"). It also describes a relaxed body or muscles, free of tension, for example in sport or at the physiotherapist. For a rope, a belt or a garment, it means "loose", "not tight". Depending on context, the word can be a reproach (lack of energy) or a neutral observation (nicely relaxed). The feminine is markhoufa. It is the opposite of mkabbes ("tight, tense").
Example
اليوم جيت مرخوف شوية، ما رقدتش مليح.
lyoum jit markhouf chwaya, ma rqadtech mli7.
“Today I'm a bit sluggish, I didn't sleep well.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “markhouf” but also “mar5ouf”, “markhoof” and “mer5ouf”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 5 is kha (خ), like the ch in Scottish loch.