t7ifa تحيفة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“t7ifa” (تحيفة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning a real character, a one-off.
Meanings
- a real character, a one-off
- little gem, treasure
Usage
T7ifa is the diminutive of to7fa, "masterpiece, precious object". The diminutive adds an affectionate or amused nuance. It is used mainly to talk about a funny, original, endearing person: hedheka t7ifa, "that one is a real character". Depending on the tone, it can be openly admiring, for example for a talented artist, or slightly ironic, for an eccentric person. The register is informal and warm. It also applies to an object or a successful work.
Example
خوك تحيفة، يضحك برشا
khouk t7ifa, ydha77ek barcha
“Your brother is a real character, he's very funny.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “t7ifa” but also “thifa” and “tehifa”. 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.