mitfahhem متفهم
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“mitfahhem” (متفهم) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning understanding, sympathetic toward others.
Meanings
- understanding, sympathetic toward others
- who understands, accepts (a situation)
Usage
Mitfahhem describes an open, understanding person who accepts others' reasons without getting angry: a parent, a boss or a friend. It is also used to say one understands a situation: "mitfahhem lel wadh3". The feminine is mitfahma, the plural mitfahmin. The word comes from standard Arabic but is common in speech, especially in a calm register. Written pitfall: the same sequence of Arabic letters can also spell ma tefhem, "(she) doesn't understand" or "you don't understand". This is a negation without -ch, often found with ken ("only").
Example
بوها راجل متفهّم، ديما يسمعلها.
bouha rajel mitfahhem, dima yesma3lha.
“Her father is an understanding man, he always listens to her.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “mitfahhem” but also “metfahem”, “mtfahem”, “mitfahem” and “metfahhem”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.