w nos و نص
Tunisian Derja · expression
“w nos” (و نص) is an expression in Tunisian Derja meaning half past (the hour).
Meanings
- half past (the hour)
- and a half more
Usage
W nos is added after the hour to mean half past: "el wa7da w nos" (half past one), "l'arb3a w nos" (half past four). The hour takes the article, and "3al" is used for "at": "3al khamsa w nos" (at half past five). The system follows the same logic with "w rbo3" (quarter past), "ghir rbo3" (quarter to) and "w draj" (five past). Outside telling the time, the expression is also used for quantities: "kilo w nos" (a kilo and a half).
Example
نجيك على الخمسة و نص
njik 3al khamsa w nos
“I'll come by at half past five.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “w nos” but also “w noss”, “wnos”, “ou nos” and “w nous”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “w nos” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “half past (hour)”; “and a half (quantity)”: o ness in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “half past (for the time)”; “and a half”: w nass in Algerian.