s3ab صعب
Tunisian Derja · verb
“s3ab” (صعب) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning to be hard on someone.
Meanings
- to be hard on someone
- to sadden, to grieve
Usage
The verb s3ab is almost always constructed with 3la: s3ab 3liya, "it was hard on me". It is mainly used to express sorrow or compassion. Thus, s3abet 3liya means "it saddened me about her" or "I felt sorry for her". It can also describe a task that becomes difficult. Do not confuse it with the adjective s3ib, "difficult", which is very common. For the intensive, you say s3ib barcha. To say "to make difficult", the form sa33ab is used.
Example
الحالة متاعو صعبت عليّ برشا.
el 7ala mte3ou s3abet 3liya barcha.
“His condition really saddened me.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “s3ab” but also “sa3ab”, “s3eb”, “sa3eb” and “s3ib”. 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.