mchdoud مشدود
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“mchdoud” (مشدود) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning held, tied, fastened.
Meanings
- held, tied, fastened
- arrested, detained
- taut, tight (face, skin)
Usage
Mchdoud is the passive participle of chadd ("to hold, to grab"). It first describes something held or fixed in place: "mchdoud bel binas" (held by clothes pegs). It also means "arrested" or "detained" by the police: "kén mchdoud" (he was arrested). Finally, it can describe a taut face or skin. The pitfall is not recognizing the sense of arrest, which is very frequent in conversation. The feminine is mchdouda and the plural mchdoudin.
Example
الحبل مشدود مليح ما يطيحش
el 7bal mchdoud mli7 ma yti7ch
“The rope is tied well, it won't fall.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “mchdoud” but also “mchdoude”, “mechdoud” and “mshdoud”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.