modda مدة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“modda” (مدة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning duration, period.
Meanings
- duration, period
- a good while, a long time
Usage
Modda means a duration or a period of time. It is often qualified: modda chhar (a duration of one month), modda twila (a long time). Used alone, it means "a certain time": ba3d modda (after a while). The phrase 3andi modda ma… corresponds to "it's been a long time since I last…". Be careful not to confuse modda with madda (matter, substance, news item), which is written the same without vowels. The register is everyday and neutral.
Example
عندي مدّة ما ريتكش، وينك؟
3andi modda ma ritekch, winek?
“It's been a while since I saw you, where were you?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “modda” but also “mouda”, “modde”, “moudda” and “mdda”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.