t7el تحل
Tunisian Derja · verb
“t7el” (تحل) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning you open / she opens.
Meanings
- you open / she opens
- loosen up, be generous
Usage
T7ell is a conjugated form of the verb 7all (to open). It corresponds to the second person masculine singular or the third person feminine singular of the imperfect. In Tunisian, 7all is the ordinary verb for opening a door, a window, a box or a shop. Note that 7all does not mean "to solve" as in Standard Arabic, except in a few contexts. Figuratively, "t7ell chwaya" can mean "loosen your purse strings a bit", i.e. be less stingy. The imperative is 7ell, and the opposite is sakkar (to close).
Example
كي تحلّ الباب ردّ بالك من القطّوس
ki t7ell el beb rodd belek mel 9attous
“When you open the door, watch out for the cat.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “t7el” but also “t7ell”, “thel” and “t7all”. 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.