rfa3 رفع
Tunisian Derja · verb
“rfa3” (رفع) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning to lift, raise.
Meanings
- to lift, raise
- to take along, carry off
- to pick up, clear away
Usage
Rfa3 first means "to lift, raise" an object or a part of the body: rfa3 idou "he raised his hand". In speech, the verb is also widely used to mean "to take along" or "to take": orfa3 hedha m3ak "take this with you". It is also used for clearing or putting away: orfa3 el mida "clear the table". The imperative orfa3 is frequent. The word is common and neutral. In a more formal register, it takes on the Standard Arabic senses, such as "raise" a level or "lodge" a complaint.
Example
أرفع الكرسي معايا
orfa3 el koursi m3aya
“Lift the chair with me.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “rfa3” but also “orfa3”, “erfa3”, “rfe3” and “rfaa”. 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.