t3is تعيس
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“t3is” (تعيس) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning pathetic, wretched.
Meanings
- pathetic, wretched
- unhappy, miserable
Usage
T3is is said mostly of a person one despises: someone mediocre, petty or ridiculous, who inspires no respect. It is often used in comments and arguments, for example "wa7ed t3is", "a pathetic guy". The literal sense "unhappy", inherited from Standard Arabic, exists but is less frequent in speech. The word is pejorative without being vulgar: it hurts without shocking. The feminine is "t3isa". It is also used as a noun: "ya t3is !", "you pathetic loser!"
Example
راجل تعيس، ما يعاون حتى حد
rajel t3is, ma y3awen 7atta 7ad
“He's a pathetic guy, he doesn't help anyone.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “t3is” but also “t3iss”, “ta3is” and “t3ys”. 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.