mayel مايل
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“mayel” (مايل) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning tilted, leaning.
Meanings
- tilted, leaning
- crooked, not straight
- inclined to, fond of
Usage
Mayel (feminine mayla, plural maylin) describes what is not straight: a crooked frame, a leaning wall, a lowered or tilted head. It is used for objects as well as postures. Figuratively, mayel l followed by a noun indicates a preference or inclination: mayel lel 7aja hedhi, "he leans toward this thing". The word is common and neutral. Agreement in gender and number can be a trap: ryous mayla is used, in the feminine singular form, because plurals of things are often treated as feminine.
Example
ريوس الراجلة مايلة
Ryous erajela meyla
“The men's heads are bowed.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “mayel” but also “meyel”, “mayil”, “maayel” and “mayla”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.