tbadel تبدل
Tunisian Derja · verb
“tbadel” (تبدل) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning to change, modify.
Meanings
- to change, modify
- to exchange, replace
- to get changed (clothes)
Usage
Tbaddel is the imperfect form for the second person ("you change") or the third person feminine ("she changes"). The verb is baddel, "to change, modify". It takes a direct object: tbaddel el kalma (change the word), tbaddel rayek (change your mind). Depending on the vocalisation, the same spelling can also correspond to tbaddal, "he changed, he was transformed". This intransitive sense is used of a person or a situation: tbaddal barcha (he has changed a lot). Context and pronunciation tell the two apart. Baddel is also used for exchanging an item or changing clothes.
Example
تنجم تبدل الوقت متاع الرنديفو؟
tnajjem tbaddel el wa9t mta3 el rendez-vous?
“Can you change the time of the appointment?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “tbadel” but also “tbaddel”, “tbadal”, “tbaddal”, “tbedel” and “itbadel”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find تبدل and اتبدل, all the same word.