s7ar سحر
Tunisian Derja · noun
“s7ar” (سحر) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning witchcraft, spell.
Meanings
- witchcraft, spell
- magic, charm (figurative)
Usage
S7ar first means witchcraft, in the sense of an occult practice. People say "3amlolha s7ar" (a spell was cast on her) or "ya3mel s7ar" (he practises witchcraft). The subject is taken seriously in many families. Figuratively, s7ar expresses admiration for exceptional beauty or talent, like the English "it's magical". The sorcerer is called sa77ar. Do not confuse this word with s7our, the meal eaten before dawn during Ramadan.
Example
قالو عملولها سحر.
9alou 3amlolha s7ar.
“They say a spell was cast on her.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “s7ar” but also “sihr”, “s7or”, “sehr” and “s7er”. 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.