s7an اصحن
Tunisian Derja · noun
“s7an” (اصحن) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning plate.
Meanings
- plate
- serving dish
Usage
A relaxed spelling of ṣḥan, the usual word for "plate". The initial alif writes the short support vowel heard before the consonant cluster, but ṣḥan is normally written simply. The word is used for everyday tableware and in lists of household items, for example for a trousseau. It combines with adjectives: ṣḥan ghāreq (deep plate), ṣḥan kbīr (large plate, dish), ṣḥan mtawasseṭ (medium plate). The plural is ṣḥoun. Note: ṣḥan means the container, not the food; for a cooked dish, say mākla instead.
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “s7an” but also “sa7n”, “sahn”, “es7an” and “shan”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat.