nafs نفس
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“nafs” (نفس) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning same, identical.
Meanings
- same, identical
- soul, self, ego
- breath; appetite, desire
Usage
Placed before a definite noun, nafs means "same": nafs el 3mor (the same age), nafs el7aja (the same thing). As a noun, it means the soul or the self: ennafs (the ego, self-esteem), ra7a nafsiya (inner peace). In the sense of breath, nfas is used more often: 9ta3li nfasi (it took my breath away). Ma 3andich nefs expresses a lack of desire or appetite.
Example
نفس ال عمر ؟
nafs l 3mor ?
“The same age?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “nafs” but also “nefs”, “nefss”, “nafss”, “nfas” and “nfass”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “nafs” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “same”; “breath”: nefs in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “breath, breathing”; “same (nefs + noun)”: nefs in Algerian.