mit5alle9 متخلق
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“mit5alle9” (متخلق) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning polite, well-mannered.
Meanings
- polite, well-mannered
- decent, of good character
Usage
The adjective mitkhalle9 describes a proper, respectful person who speaks well and avoids rudeness. It is a common compliment, often paired with other qualities: "mitkhalle9 w mrabbi", "wled mitkhal9in". The feminine is mitkhal9a; the plural is mitkhal9in. The word comes from akhlé9 (manners, morals), but it is used far more often than that noun in everyday conversation. Its usual opposite is "ma3andouch akhlé9", said of someone with no principles or manners.
Example
ولدك متخلق برشا، ربي يخليهولك.
weldek mitkhalle9 barcha, rabbi y5allihoulek.
“Your son is very well-mannered, may God keep him for you.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “mit5alle9” but also “mt5alle9”, “met5alleg”, “mitkhalleq” and “mt5alla9”. 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; 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.