rigla ريڨلة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“rigla” (ريڨلة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning ruler (instrument for drawing lines).
Meanings
- ruler (instrument for drawing lines)
- order, being in order
Usage
Rigla is a loanword adapted from the French "règle". The most common sense is the school object used to draw straight lines or measure, alongside the more Arabic word mastra. It is heard a lot at school and in school supplies. It also appears in familiar expressions meaning that things are in order or compliant. The word is used in everyday and informal registers. The "g" sound is often written ڨ in Arabic script. Note: depending on context, the word can also evoke menstruation, like the French "règles".
Example
عطيني الريڨلة باش نخطّ
a3tini rigla bech nkhott
“Give me the ruler so I can draw a line.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “rigla” but also “regla” and “rigle”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.