tzayen تزين
Tunisian Derja · verb
“tzayen” (تزين) is a verb in Tunisian Derja meaning to shave, get a haircut.
Meanings
- to shave, get a haircut
- to become nice, improve (tzin)
Usage
The spelling covers two distinct verbs. Tzayyen, the more common one, means "to get a shave or a haircut," usually at the barber's (zayyen): "mchit ntzayyen" (I went to the barber's). Despite the root, it does not mean "to put on makeup" or "to dress up." Tzin, a form of the verb zan, means "to become nice, to sort itself out," often for a situation that is improving: "el-ahwel bech tzin" (things will work out). Context and vocalisation tell them apart. Both verbs belong to everyday speech.
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “tzayen” but also “tzayyen”, “tzayan” and “tzin”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.