qtii3 قطيع
Tunisian Derja · noun
“qtii3” (قطيع) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning herd, flock (of sheep, goats).
Meanings
- herd, flock (of sheep, goats)
- herd of followers (pejorative)
Usage
Qtii3 first means a herd of animals: qtii3 ghnem, "a flock of sheep". Figuratively, it describes a group of people who follow without thinking. This sense is common in online political arguments, where opposing supporters are called qtii3. This use is contemptuous and hurtful: it is best avoided in polite conversation. The farming sense, by contrast, is neutral. The plural qta3i is rare in everyday use.
Example
الراعي خرج بالقطيع للجبل
erra3i khrej bel qtii3 lel jbal
“The shepherd went out with the herd to the mountain.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “qtii3” but also “9ti3”, “gtii3” and “kti3”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent; 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.