mitnakker متنكر
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“mitnakker” (متنكر) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning disguised, hiding one's identity.
Meanings
- disguised, hiding one's identity
- concealing one's true intentions
Usage
Literally, mitnakker describes someone wearing a disguise or made unrecognizable. In everyday usage, especially in online political discussions, it is used figuratively for a person who hides their real beliefs or affiliation. It then follows the noun it qualifies, to say that appearances are deceiving. The tone is often accusatory. The feminine is mitnakra and the plural is mitnakrin. It should not be confused with nekker, "to deny, to disown", which belongs to the same word family but has a different meaning.
Example
جا للعرس متنكّر وحتى حد ما عرفو.
ja lel 3ors mitnakker w 7atta 7ad ma 3rafou.
“He came to the wedding in disguise and nobody recognized him.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “mitnakker” but also “metnakker”, “mtnakker” and “mitnaker”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.