tha3louba ثعلوبة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“tha3louba” (ثعلوبة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning vixen, female fox.
Meanings
- vixen, female fox
- sly, cunning woman
Usage
Tha3louba is the feminine of tha3leb ("fox"). It refers to a vixen or, more loosely, a small fox. It is often used with an affectionate or playful nuance, and the phrase "tha3leb w tha3louba" is common. Figuratively, like the fox in English, it describes a sly or cunning woman. Depending on the tone, it is a teasing compliment or a reproach. The register is informal. Context shows whether it refers to the animal or a person.
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “tha3louba” but also “tha3loba”, “tha3luba”, “th3louba” and “ta3louba”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent.