n9ob نقب
Tunisian Derja · noun
“n9ob” (نقب) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning holes (plural of no9ba).
Meanings
- holes (plural of no9ba)
- to pierce, to drill (verb n9ab)
Usage
N9ob is the plural of no9ba, "hole". It is used for a wall, fabric, an electrical outlet, or a belt: thletha n9ob, "three holes". The verb n9ab means "to pierce" or "to drill", and the participle man9oub means "pierced, perforated". For example, one says oudhnih man9oubin for pierced ears. The synonym the9ba is also common, depending on the region. The register is neutral and everyday. Do not confuse this word with standard Arabic naqqaba, "to dig, to prospect".
Example
الحيط فيه برشا نقب، لازم نسكّروهم قبل الدهين.
el 7it fih barcha n9ob, lazem nsakrouhom 9bal ed-dhin.
“The wall has a lot of holes, we need to fill them before painting.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “n9ob” but also “nqob”, “noqob” and “n9ab”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.