sidi سيدي
Tunisian Derja · noun
“sidi” (سيدي) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning sir (respectful address).
Meanings
- sir (respectful address)
- title of a saint, marabout
- element in place names
Usage
Sidi literally means "my lord". It is used to address a man politely, especially a stranger, a customer or a superior, often with "ya": "ya sidi". It also precedes the names of saints and marabouts (Sidi Mehrez, Sidi Bou Saïd), hence many town and neighborhood names such as Sidi Bouzid. Depending on tone, "ya sidi" can also serve as an interjection to stress a point or express polite irony. The feminine equivalent is "lella". The pronunciation varies between "sidi" and "seyyidi", the latter being more emphatic.
Example
مع كامل احتيرامي يا سيّدي ال مسؤول ,
ma3a kemil i7tirami ya seyidi el mes2oul ,
“With all my respect, sir, the person in charge,”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “sidi” but also “seyyidi”, “seyidi”, “sidy” and “seydi”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find سيدي and سيدى, all the same word.
Type “sidi” on the Arabic keyboard
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “sir, my lord (mark of respect)”; “title of saints and marabouts”: sidi in Algerian.