swi3a سويعة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“swi3a” (سويعة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning short while, a moment.
Meanings
- short while, a moment
Usage
Swi3a is the diminutive of sa3a ("hour"). It denotes a short, approximate length of time, roughly an hour or a little less. It is an affectionate, familiar word, typical of spoken Tunisian, that softens the idea of waiting: "ostor swi3a" means "wait a little while". It is also found in "swi3a w nji", "I'll be there in a while". It should not be taken literally, since the actual duration may be longer or shorter. The plural is rare.
Example
استنّاني سويعة ونجي.
stanneni swi3a w nji.
“Wait for me a little while, I'll be right there.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “swi3a” but also “souwi3a”, “swaya3a” and “swi3aa”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent.