t7la تحلى
Tunisian Derja · verb
“t7la” (تحلى) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning to be pleasant, enjoyable.
Meanings
- to be pleasant, enjoyable
- to become prettier
- to become sweet
Usage
Verb derived from 7lou (sweet, beautiful, pleasant). The past is 7la, the imperfect ye7la or t7la. The most common use is "t7la fiha el 9a3da": it's a pleasant place, one feels good there. It is also said of a person "kol nhar t7la", they grow prettier day by day. The literal sense, to become sweet, is said of a ripening fruit. In "ma t7la el lamma ken bihom", the verb expresses that something only takes on its charm in the presence of certain people. Common and affectionate register.
Example
القعدة في الجنينة تحلى في الصيف
el 9a3da fel jnina t7la fel sif
“Sitting in the garden is lovely in summer.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “t7la” but also “te7la”, “tahla”, “t7ala” and “ti7la”. 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.