tawa توا
Tunisian Derja · adverb
“tawa” (توا) is an adverb in Tunisian Derja meaning now, currently.
Meanings
- now, currently
- right away, soon
- near-future marker
Usage
Tawa means "now". It is one of the most typical words of Tunisian speech. It refers to the present moment, or to the present time: "tawa el 7ala sa3iba" (now the situation is difficult). In the short form "taw", placed before an imperfective verb, it announces an imminent action, close to a future: "taw nji" (I'm coming right away, or I'm going to come). Note that "taw nji" can also be a vague promise that commits to nothing. "Tawa tawa" means "immediately".
Example
توّا اقلّ حاجة 500
tawa a9al haja 500
“Now the cheapest thing is 500.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “tawa” but also “taw”, “tawwa”, “twa”, “tawaa” and “attawa”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find توا and توة and توى, all the same word.