t7a9er تحقر
Tunisian Derja · verb
“t7a9er” (تحقر) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning to belittle, look down on.
Meanings
- to belittle, look down on
- to underestimate something
Usage
Very common verb, almost always used with fi: "t7a9er fih", you belittle or despise him. The past tense is 7a9er and the action noun is t7a9ir. It is used to reproach someone for their disdain ("3lech t7a9er fiha ?"). It also applies to something judged worthless that turns out to be useful. The verb has a form without fi, but the construction with fi dominates in speech. Depending on context, the form t7a9er refers to "you" or "she".
Example
ما تحقرش في حدّ، ما تعرفش شنوّة يجيك منّو
ma t7a9erch fi 7add, ma ta3refch chnowa yjik mennou
“Don't despise anyone; you never know what they might bring you.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “t7a9er” but also “t7aqer”, “ta7qer”, “t7aker” and “tahqer”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat; 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.