sniya صينية
Tunisian Derja · noun
“sniya” (صينية) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning tray, large serving dish.
Meanings
- tray, large serving dish
- Chinese (feminine)
Usage
Sniya (or siniya) refers to the tray, often made of metal, on which tea, coffee or cakes are served. It also refers to the large round dish placed in the middle of the table. One says sniyet té (tea tray). The common plural is snewi. The same word written in Arabic also serves as the feminine of sini (Chinese): makla siniya means "Chinese cuisine". Only context distinguishes the two meanings. The "tray" sense is domestic and everyday, whereas the "Chinese" sense belongs to the standard register.
Example
جيب الصينية متاع التاي للصالة.
jib e-sniya mta3 etté lel sala.
“Bring the tea tray to the living room.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “sniya” but also “siniya”, “sinia”, “sniyya” and “senia”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.