sefara سفارة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“sefara” (سفارة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning embassy.
Meanings
- embassy
Usage
Sefara is the word used in Tunisia for an embassy, taken from Standard Arabic and perfectly common in speech. It is heard mostly in connection with visa, passport or residence procedures abroad: "mchit lel sefara", "sefaret França". In the construct state, the ending is pronounced -et: sefaret Italia (the embassy of Italy). It is distinct from qonsliya (consulate), often mentioned alongside it. The ambassador is the safir. In conversation, the French "ambassade" is also frequent, especially among people schooled in French.
Example
لازمني نمشي للسفارة على الفيزا
lazemni nemchi lel sefara 3al visa
“I have to go to the embassy for the visa.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “sefara” but also “sifara”, “safara” and “sfara”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “sefara” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “embassy”: sifara in Moroccan.