tsabeb تسبب
Tunisian Derja · verb
“tsabeb” (تسبب) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning to cause, bring about.
Meanings
- to cause, bring about
- to be responsible for
Usage
The verb tsabbeb is used mostly with the preposition fi: tsabbeb fi + noun, "to be the cause of, to bring about". The subject is a person or an event, such as an accident, a decision or an act of negligence. It often carries a nuance of blame: it points to someone responsible, usually for damage. It is heard a lot in the news, in discussions of current affairs and in arguments ("enti elli tsabbebt fi kol chay"). In casual speech, jéb, "to bring", is also used with the same meaning. The register is neutral and close to Standard Arabic, but the word is perfectly common in derja.
Example
هو اللي تسبب في المشكلة الكل
houwa elli tsabbeb fel mochkla lkoll
“He's the one who caused the whole problem.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “tsabeb” but also “tsabbeb”, “tsabbib”, “tsabib” and “tesabbeb”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.