mzayef مزيف
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“mzayef” (مزيف) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning fake, counterfeit.
Meanings
- fake, counterfeit
- rigged, falsified
Usage
Mzayyef (feminine mzayfa, plural mzaifin) means "fake" or "counterfeit". It is used for banknotes (flous mzayfa), documents (chahada mzayfa) or counterfeit brand products. Figuratively, it describes anything judged rigged or hypocritical: an election, a smile, an independence. The word comes from standard Arabic but is well established in everyday speech. In informal register, it competes with falso and with mfabrek. Note: it does not mean "wrong". For a wrong answer, one says ghalta.
Example
الفلوس هاذي مزيفة، ردّ بالك
el flous hedhi mzayfa, redd balek
“This money is fake, be careful.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “mzayef” but also “mouzeyef”, “mzayyef”, “mzeyef” and “mzaif”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.